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 Is My Life And This Is My Song
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's the life I choose
No use in asking me to slow down
Cause I got nothing to lose
But time and time is all I've got
You know I born standing up with a guitar in my hand
I'm not trying to come on like Hollywood
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air
When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar
Rock is my life and this is my song
It's a crying shame
That some of us have not survived
No use in asking how it happened
But very few are left alive
I just wanna keep on makin' music
We gotta keep on keepin' on
You're only as good as your last record
I know that someday we'll be gone, gone
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air
When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar
Rock is my life and this is my song
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Candles light the air
When the music's over, over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar, my only friend
Rock is my life and this is my song
The lyrics of "Rock Is My Life And This Is My Song" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive are rich in meaning and offer an insight into the life of a rock star. The song begins by acknowledging the fast-paced lifestyle that the singer has chosen for themselves but points out that there's no point in asking them to slow down as they have nothing to lose but time - a subtle reminder that time is the most precious resource we all have. The lyrical journey then delves into the rock star lifestyle and the fact that this is all that the singer has ever been and all that they ever will be. The fame that they have achieved might have been incidental, but the fact remains that they are now a part of the Hollywood scene. The singer goes on to express their desire to keep making music and their dedication to remaining relevant in the ever-changing world of the music industry, where artists are only as good as their last record. Throughout the song, the singer muses about how fleeting their moment in the spotlight could be and how they hope to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Overall, "Rock Is My Life And This Is My Song" is a poignant tribute to the rock star lifestyle and what it truly means to be a part of the music industry. The song acknowledges the highs and lows of the industry but ultimately reminds us that music brings people together and is a powerful force that transcends time and space.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a hurried up life
Life is fast-paced and busy
But it's the life I choose
I have actively decided to live this way
No use in asking me to slow down
There's no point in asking me to change my lifestyle
Cause I got nothing to lose
I have no attachments or responsibilities holding me back
But time and time is all I've got
Time is a precious resource, and I have limited amount of it
You know I born standing up with a guitar in my hand
I was destined to be a musician from birth
I'm not trying to come on like Hollywood
I'm not trying to portray myself as someone glamorous or fake
But Hollywood is what I am
I'm a performer and part of the music industry
When we come into a new town
Whenever we perform in a new city
Everybody's there
Everyone comes out to see us play
When we play our music
During our performance
Hands are in the air
The audience is excited and energized by our music
When the music's over
After the performance is finished
You wonder where we are
People may wonder where we go when we're not on stage
I'm standing in the silence
I'm quiet and reflective when not performing
With my old guitar
I find comfort and solace in my instrument
Rock is my life and this is my song
Music is an integral part of my identity
It's a crying shame
It's unfortunate
That some of us have not survived
Some of our fellow musicians have passed away
No use in asking how it happened
Asking about their death won't change the outcome
But very few are left alive
There are only a handful of us still around
I just wanna keep on makin' music
My passion is to continue creating and performing music
We gotta keep on keepin' on
We must persist and persevere despite challenges
You're only as good as your last record
Success is fleeting, and one must continue creating to stay relevant
I know that someday we'll be gone, gone
I'm aware that eventually we'll all pass away
Candles light the air
People hold lit candles at our concerts
With my old guitar, my only friend
My guitar is my most trusted companion and source of comfort
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RANDY BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind