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/
Rock And Roll Nights
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are what you are
I am what I am
Can we all come together
With some kind of plan
I want you to laugh
But you want me to cry
Hey, why don't we try
Can we all come together
Can we reach across the sea
There are worlds in between us
The sky is all we see
So let's all come together
Let's all come together
Why do we like different things
And we live different ways
Can we come together
For happier days
I want you to smile
But you let me down
Can we come together
Let's do it right now
I see you live for the sun
I live for the rain
Can we come together
Can we be the same
I want to settle down
But you want to run
Can we come together
Can we be like one
The lyrics to Bachman-Turner Overdrive's song Rock And Roll Nights are about the desire for unity and peace despite differences among people. The lyrics ask whether we can all come together, despite our contrasting personalities, interests and ways of living, by finding a common plan. The lyrics also highlight the frustrations and disappointments that arise in relationships and communities when the desire to experience different emotional responses clashes. The song suggests that we can only come together if we try, that we need to reach out to one another and get past the exterior differences to find the common ground.
The song can be seen as a call to arms for a more harmonious society. It's a plea to people to put aside their differences and work together for a common goal. It's a reminder that despite our differences, we are all human and have much in common. The song encourages people to be more understanding and compassionate towards one another. The message is that through our shared humanity, and by looking beyond the superficial, we can all come together and make the world a better place.
Overall, the lyrics of Rock and Roll Nights are a powerful articulation of the need for unity in a divided world. The song encourages listeners to put aside their differences and find common ground. It acknowledges that this is not an easy task, but it insists that the effort is worth it for the sake of a more harmonious and fulfilling future.
Line by Line Meaning
Can We All Come Together
The lead singer is asking if everyone can come together.
You are what you are
Each person is unique and individual.
I am what I am
The lead singer is also unique and individual.
Can we all come together
Everyone, despite their differences, should come together.
With some kind of plan
There should be a plan in place for everyone to work towards.
I want you to laugh
The lead singer wants to see others happy and laughing.
But you want me to cry
Others may not feel the same way and may want to see the lead singer unhappy.
Can we all come together
Despite these differences, everyone should still come together.
Hey, why don't we try
The lead singer is offering a suggestion to try to come together.
Can we all come together
Once again emphasizing the importance of coming together.
Can we reach across the sea
Can people from different parts of the world come together?
There are worlds in between us
There are cultural, geographical, and other differences between people.
The sky is all we see
Despite these differences, everyone still looks at the same sky above us.
So let's all come together
This is a call to action for everyone to come together.
Let's all come together
Repeating the call to action.
Why do we like different things
People have different preferences and interests.
And we live different ways
People also have different lifestyles and ways of living.
Can we come together
Despite these differences, can everyone come together?
For happier days
Coming together can lead to happier times for everyone.
I want you to smile
The lead singer wants to see others happy and smiling.
But you let me down
Others may not feel the same way or may not be able to make the lead singer happy.
Can we come together
Emphasizing the importance of everyone coming together regardless of differences.
Let's do it right now
An urgent call to action to come together immediately.
I see you live for the sun
The lead singer observes how others find happiness in certain things.
I live for the rain
The lead singer finds happiness in something different than the person they are observing.
Can we come together
Despite these differences, can everyone still come together?
Can we be the same
This line questions if everyone can be identical in their preferences.
I want to settle down
The lead singer wants to find contentment and peace.
But you want to run
Others may not feel the same way and may want to keep moving or changing.
Can we come together
Despite these differences, everyone should still come together.
Can we be like one
This line asks if everyone can be united in their goals and desires.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind