The true story of the writing of this song is that they were playing a show in Kitchener, Ontario and Randy Bachman, the lead guitarist (who later founded Bachman Turner Overdrive) broke a string and so they took a short break…When Bachman had the new string on , he started tuning his guitar on stage by himself and he came up with that killer riff and one by one the other guys in the Band came back on stage to join him….Burton Cummings - the lead singer - started singing some of those great lyrics on the spot and the epic song was born
This is a good telling of this story with a small correction needed: According to Burton Cummings (during his interview on the YT channel Professor of Rock he states that this incident happened in Bramton, Ontario during a show at the Broom and Stone curling rink.
About "war machines" - this song came out in 1970 when the Vietnam War was going on and American teenagers were being drafted to go fight (and, often enough, die) in it. So "war machines" were a very real and personal concern to his audience.
They are from my home town of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Also from Winnipeg is Bachman Turner Overdrive, and Neil Young grew up in Winnipeg where is started his first band called The Squires.
You’re a great reactor with a beautiful accent. And I loved your “ooo!” lol This is a song from my country, Canada, and I’m so proud of the Guess Who! 🇨🇦
Burton Cummings is one of the greatest singers ever. This song is the best of the best in music history. Many very good songs I believe he's still performing in his mid 70s. Fantastic voice 🎉🎉
Burton Cummings, the lead singer, did a ton of excellent solo work too, and is still touring today. He has a very distinct voice. One song you should check out by him is Heavenly Blue. It is beautiful song.
It’s not a woman but a anti war protest song. With that said it’s a killer song. Listen to all the great Guess Who songs and Burton Cummings as an individual artist. As was already said he has one of the best voices of his generation. Check out “Stand Tall”.
Great reaction to a premiere CANADIAN group! Another Canadian you should react to is Nova Scotia's Anne Murray. She has many great songs, but give "You Needed Me" a listen. Many have tried to cover this song but she is the only one to give it justice!
The Guess Who...............great band.......Burton Cummings amazing vocals.....Randy Bachman....one of the most under rated bands in Rock history. Listen to "No Sugar Tonight" totally incredible song !!
Awesome… keep that Canadian content coming….The Guess Who are a great band…A few other songs of theirs to check out are These Eyes ….No Time… No Sugar Tonight/ New Mother Nature (there is a good live version on You Tube)….Hand Me Down World…Share The Land
As someone else touched on, this is actually a protest song. When it was written, America was in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, threatening the entire world with nuclear armageddon. America was also embroiled in the Vietnam War, and sending its young men into what was widely regarded - especially by the young people being sent off to fight - as a meat grinder. This is the “war machines” mentioned in the song; the “ghetto scenes” is a reference to the poverty, the protests, and the general chaos that was happening in the hearts of major cities across America in 1966, when the song was released. During the next 4 years, the War in Vietnam was massively escalated by the US, sending tens of thousands of more troops to Vietnam, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, President Kennedy’s younger brother, then the US Attorney General, was assassinated, and protests exploded. Like today, the US was socially torn in two, but back then it was much more heavily based on age. Young people opposed a lot that the US was doing, and their parents loudly and strongly disagreed with them. This song caught the wave with young people as things got worse, and became a massive hit, almost an anthem among the youth of the day (like me.)
I grew up with this great Canadian band. Glad you are doing the studio version of "American Woman" with the intro. Some of their other hits are "Laughing" "No Time", "These Eyes", "Undun", "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature", "Hand Me Down World", "Share The Land", "Bus Driver", "Star Baby", "Albert Flasher", "Rain Dance" etc. Burton Cummings has one of the best voices out there. Randy Bachman later left to form (BTO) Bachman Turner Overdrive & had many hits. And Burton Cummings had a great solo career with lots of great songs.
The true story of the writing of this song is that they were playing a show in Kitchener, Ontario and Randy Bachman, the lead guitarist (who later founded Bachman Turner Overdrive) broke a string and so they took a short break…When Bachman had the new string on , he started tuning his guitar on stage by himself and he came up with that killer riff and one by one the other guys in the Band came back on stage to join him….Burton Cummings - the lead singer - started singing some of those great lyrics on the spot and the epic song was born
This is a good telling of this story with a small correction needed: According to Burton Cummings (during his interview on the YT channel Professor of Rock he states that this incident happened in Bramton, Ontario during a show at the Broom and Stone curling rink.
About "war machines" - this song came out in 1970 when the Vietnam War was going on and American teenagers were being drafted to go fight (and, often enough, die) in it. So "war machines" were a very real and personal concern to his audience.
So glad that you played this version with the long introduction. They shaved it down for radio play, cutting the intro off in some msrkets.
They are from my home town of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Also from Winnipeg is Bachman Turner Overdrive, and Neil Young grew up in Winnipeg where is started his first band called The Squires.
You’re a great reactor with a beautiful accent. And I loved your “ooo!” lol This is a song from my country, Canada, and I’m so proud of the Guess Who! 🇨🇦
Burton Cummings is one of the greatest singers ever. This song is the best of the best in music history. Many very good songs I believe he's still performing in his mid 70s. Fantastic voice 🎉🎉
I grew up listening to this 🏆👑🏆👑🏆
1970 i was just 5 years old.
Im happy to see the youth of today enjoying the greatest music on earth 🌍❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
Burton Cummings, the lead singer, did a ton of excellent solo work too, and is still touring today. He has a very distinct voice. One song you should check out by him is Heavenly Blue. It is beautiful song.
This is KICK ASS Rock Music!
I love this song, forgot all about it, thanks!!!
Fantastic song!! Wonderful band!! 😅 Try These Eyes! Great song
It’s not a woman but a anti war protest song. With that said it’s a killer song. Listen to all the great Guess Who songs and Burton Cummings as an individual artist. As was already said he has one of the best voices of his generation. Check out “Stand Tall”.
True Rock & Roll classic!!! By a great band. Appreciate Sarah my dear. Great selection Richard.
Always loved this song !
Sarah. Your interpretation is spot on about the meaning of
As an American male, true words .....LOL
Great reaction to a premiere CANADIAN group! Another Canadian you should react to is Nova Scotia's Anne Murray. She has many great songs, but give "You Needed Me" a listen. Many have tried to cover this song but she is the only one to give it justice!
The Guess Who...............great band.......Burton Cummings amazing vocals.....Randy Bachman....one of the most under rated bands in Rock history. Listen to "No Sugar Tonight" totally incredible song !!
Thanks Sarah for a great song.
Awesome… keep that Canadian content coming….The Guess Who are a great band…A few other songs of theirs to check out are These Eyes ….No Time… No Sugar Tonight/ New Mother Nature (there is a good live version on You Tube)….Hand Me Down World…Share The Land
As someone else touched on, this is actually a protest song. When it was written, America was in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, threatening the entire world with nuclear armageddon. America was also embroiled in the Vietnam War, and sending its young men into what was widely regarded - especially by the young people being sent off to fight - as a meat grinder. This is the “war machines” mentioned in the song; the “ghetto scenes” is a reference to the poverty, the protests, and the general chaos that was happening in the hearts of major cities across America in 1966, when the song was released.
During the next 4 years, the War in Vietnam was massively escalated by the US, sending tens of thousands of more troops to Vietnam, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, President Kennedy’s younger brother, then the US Attorney General, was assassinated, and protests exploded. Like today, the US was socially torn in two, but back then it was much more heavily based on age. Young people opposed a lot that the US was doing, and their parents loudly and strongly disagreed with them. This song caught the wave with young people as things got worse, and became a massive hit, almost an anthem among the youth of the day (like me.)
Good pick! A true blast from the past.
Great Canadian band. Anti-war protest song.
Thanks!
Much appreciated Mike!
I use to love that song back in the day... the music, not so much the lyrics. I don't really think he was talking about a women. 😉
My first concert in 75
The song is a icon .
The great Burton Cummings on lead vocals.
K. D. Lang!! Check out her singing at the Canadian Olympics.
I wonder if he ended up with a woman from the U.K.? rock n roll
Great song and reaction
Burtram Cummins is an awesome singer and his lead guitar player Randy bachman is the greatest player. The guess who is a Canadian group
I grew up with this great Canadian band. Glad you are doing the studio version of "American Woman" with the intro. Some of their other hits are "Laughing" "No Time", "These Eyes", "Undun", "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature", "Hand Me Down World", "Share The Land", "Bus Driver", "Star Baby", "Albert Flasher", "Rain Dance" etc. Burton Cummings has one of the best voices out there. Randy Bachman later left to form (BTO) Bachman Turner Overdrive & had many hits. And Burton Cummings had a great solo career with lots of great songs.
You need to dance more you are fabulous
American Woman is the Statue of Liberty maybe?
It is about the Statue of Liberty and all it stands for
Hey sweets! 👍