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/
Take It Like A Man
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyone a one night stand
Workin' for a man down South Louisiana
'Cause ZZ ain't his only band
Business ain't been good or bad
But sittin' here will drive me mad
And I'm gonna get back where they want me
Get back where they want me
Make a stand
I'm gonna take it like a man
Met a stray woman I think it was in Texas
She was made for those who'd pay
Gotta little drunk, I raised a mild ruckus
The city said I could not stay
I guess I'm gonna have to change until my life is rearranged
You know, I'm gonna get back where they want me
Get back where they want me
Get back where they want me
Make a stand
I'm gonna take it like a man
I guess I'm gonna have to change until this life is rearranged
I'm gonna get back where they want me
Get back where they want me
Get back where they want me
Make a stand
I'm gonna take it like a man
Take it like a man, yeah
I'm gonna take it like a man
I'm gonna take it like a man
(Play it Richard)
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
The lyrics to "Take It Like A Man" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive tell a story of a musician on the road, playing one-night stands throughout Alabama and Louisiana. He's trying to make ends meet as ZZ Top's not his only gig, but the constant traveling and lack of stability are affecting him mentally. He encounters a woman in Texas who seems to be a prostitute, and after getting drunk and causing trouble, he's forced to leave the city. The singer realizes that he must change his ways and get back on track to achieve success in the music industry. The phrase "take it like a man" suggests that the singer must face his problems head-on and persevere through hardship, rather than giving up or running away.
The song's exploration of the gritty realities of musician life on the road may stem from the band's own experiences. BTO was formed in Winnipeg, Canada, and quickly gained popularity in the United States with their hard-rock sound. They were known for their energetic live shows, and they toured extensively across North America throughout the 1970s.
Line by Line Meaning
Only three stops to make in Alabama
We're only making three stops in Alabama.
Everyone a one night stand
We're only staying for one night in each of the three stops.
Workin' for a man down South Louisiana
We're working for someone in South Louisiana.
'Cause ZZ ain't his only band
The person we're working for also has other bands.
Business ain't been good or bad
The business is doing okay.
But sittin' here will drive me mad
But sitting here doing nothing is not good for me.
And I'm gonna get back where they want me
I'm going to return to a place where I'm needed.
Get back where they want me
I'm going to return to a place where I'm needed.
Make a stand
I'm going to stand up for myself.
I'm gonna take it like a man
I'm going to handle this situation with strength and dignity.
Met a stray woman I think it was in Texas
I met a woman who was not from Texas.
She was made for those who'd pay
She was a prostitute.
Gotta little drunk, I raised a mild ruckus
I got a bit drunk and caused a small disturbance.
The city said I could not stay
I was asked to leave the city.
I guess I'm gonna have to change until my life is rearranged
I need to change myself until I can improve my situation.
Take it like a man, yeah
I will handle everything with strength and dignity.
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Blair Thornton, Charles Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind