The precursor to BTO was the band Brave Belt, which was formed in 1970 by Randy Bachman and Chad Allan (both of The Guess Who), Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner. An original form of the group included musician Keith Emerson of The Nice (and later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer), but he was dropped due to illness. After two moderately successful Brave Belt albums came out, Allan was replaced by Tim Bachman, the third of the Bachman brothers, and the band changed its name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada as stated before, BTO released their first album under that name in the spring of 1973. Their second album was Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, and it became a massive hit in the US and their native Canada. It also yielded their best-remembered single, "Takin' Care of Business" written by Randy Bachman. BTO were one of the early hard rock bands which opted for songs backed by catchy melodies and powerful riffing. The band also promoted a strait-laced lifestyle due to the Mormon religious beliefs of Randy Bachman.
Tim Bachman left because of limited performance skills and personal lifestyle issues, and was replaced by Blair Thornton. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974's Not Fragile became a hit, including the #1 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". The band continued to steadily produce successful albums through the mid-1970s including Four Wheel Drive and Head On (both 1975).
After the release of Freeways in 1977, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and another band, Ironhorse. Randy was replaced by Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine, and BTO released a pair of albums before breaking up in 1979. They reunited in 1983, leading to a lawsuit between the brothers, as one group, led by Randy, toured as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and another, led by Robbie, toured as BTO (Robbie Bachman, Fred Turner, Blair Thornton, and Randy Murray). Interestingly enough, in 1984 the line up for Bachman-Turner's first studio LP in 5 years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner and Garry Peterson on drums. In 1986 they were the opening band for the newly reformed Van Halen. By that time Fred Turner had left the band, probably to join the "other" BTO. Robbie Bachman's BTO toured and performed until early 2005.
Musicians Randy Bachman and Fred Turner reunited in 2010 for a tour and collaboration on new songs. In 2010, they notably played the half-time show at the Grey Cup in Edmonton, AB.
Website: http://www.bachmanandturner.com/
My Wheels Won't Turn
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wherever his feet would tread
He asked me to El Paso
Said I could stay on his spread
He has horses and cows and tractors and plows
And all kinds of money to burn
But how can I get to Texas
When my wheels won't turn
There was a lady from Spain
Who had a fine frame
Then she moved to Hollywood
She said come and stay for a week and a day
I said I did not think I could
She said the sunshine's fine
I could spend some time
There are lessons I could learn
But how can I get to L.A.
When my wheels won't turn
How can I get to L.A.
When my wheels won't turn
I'm standin' still
'Cause my wheels won't turn
I'm not in love
And my fuel won't burn for you
At a college of knowledge I tried to learn
All the tricks to beat the system
I'd hide nooks and memorize my books
'Till I knew I'd never never miss them
Eventually I got my degree
But the real thing I did learn
You just can't hit your home run
If your wheels won't turn
There was a man in white
Who did things right
Now he watches from above
He said here's the way that I want you to pray
And the way to live and love
So I saw the light and did things right
But the candle would not burn
Tell me, how can I get to heaven
If my wheels won't turn
How can I get to heaven
If my wheels won't turn
The song "My Wheels Won't Turn" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive discusses the various obstacles the singer has faced in his journey through life. The song uses a series of disconnected vignettes to demonstrate the challenges that the singer has faced at different points in his life. The first verse discusses the singer's desire to travel to Texas but his inability to do so because his "wheels won't turn." This can be understood both literally, as a reference to his inability to drive, and metaphorically, as a reference to his inability to move forward in his life for some reason. The second verse discusses a woman who invites him to Los Angeles, and again the singer is unable to take her up on the offer because he is immobilized in some way.
The third verse transitions from physical obstacles to more abstract ones. The singer discusses his attempts to "beat the system" by studying intensely and memorizing everything he could. He ultimately earns a degree, but the lesson he learns is that even with a degree, success is still elusive if one's "wheels won't turn." Finally, the last verse introduces a spiritual aspect, discussing a man who did everything right and now "watches from above." The singer has seen the light and wants to follow the man's footsteps, but again he is held back by his immobility. The song is a meditation on the challenges that people face in their lives and the importance of finding a way to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a man who bought up land
I encountered a person who acquired numerous properties
Wherever his feet would tread
This man traveled extensively to purchase land
He asked me to El Paso
The man offered to let me stay in his El Paso property
Said I could stay on his spread
He let me live on his property with horses, cows, tractors, and plows
He has horses and cows and tractors and plows
The man's property was well-equipped with livestock and farm machinery
And all kinds of money to burn
He had plenty of wealth to spare
But how can I get to Texas
My inability to move prevents me from traveling to Texas
When my wheels won't turn
My mode of transportation is not functional
There was a lady from Spain
I met a woman from Spain
Who had a fine frame
She had an attractive figure
Then she moved to Hollywood
She relocated to Hollywood
She said come and stay for a week and a day
She invited me to visit her for a brief period
I said I did not think I could
I declined the invitation
She said the sunshine's fine
She spoke of the pleasant weather in Hollywood
I could spend some time
She encouraged me to take some time off
There are lessons I could learn
She mentioned learning opportunities in Hollywood
I'm standin' still
I am immobile
'Cause my wheels won't turn
My vehicle cannot function, leaving me stranded
I'm not in love
I am not romantically involved
And my fuel won't burn for you
I cannot expend energy for your sake
At a college of knowledge I tried to learn
I attended school to gain knowledge
All the tricks to beat the system
I aimed to learn how to surpass established rules and constraints
I'd hide nooks and memorize my books
I would seek secluded spaces to study and commit material to memory
'Till I knew I'd never never miss them
I continued to learn until I was confident in my abilities and knowledge
Eventually I got my degree
I successfully obtained a college degree
But the real thing I did learn
There was a valuable lesson I learned
You just can't hit your home run
You cannot achieve your goals
If your wheels won't turn
Your ability to move forward is hindered
There was a man in white
A man who was something of a spiritual leader
Who did things right
This man behaved ethically and honorably
Now he watches from above
He has passed away and now observes from the afterlife
He said here's the way that I want you to pray
He shared his preferred method of prayer
And the way to live and love
He imparted advice on how to live and love others
So I saw the light and did things right
I had an epiphany and began living ethically
But the candle would not burn
I could not maintain my newfound morals
Tell me, how can I get to heaven
I am wondering how to reach the afterlife
If my wheels won't turn
If I am unable to progress
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind