Those who follow my post know that I do like my rock-n-roll. Yet, what I find most fulfilling is good music paired with great lyrics. While I love Eric Clapton, Styx, Heart, Stevie Ray Vaughan, et al, I am equally thrilled to listen to Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, etc.
On the softer side of all of this is a band called “Bread,” whose lead singer and songwriter, David Gates wrote some terrific lyrics. He mostly sang of love lost, so his music will take you down a melancholy path.
My favorite of Bread’s is simply called “If.” Here is a sample of the lyrics from memory.
“If a man could be two places at one time, I’d be with you
Tomorrow and today, beside you all the way
If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die,
I’d spend the end with you and when the world was through
Then, one by one the stars would all go out
Then you and I would gently fly away.”
One of his more painful songs is called “Diary,” about a boy who feels his love is unrequited until he finds his girlfriend’s diary. He is surprised by the intensity of her feelings and then he reads on.
“I found your diary underneath a tree, and started reading about me,
The words you’d written took me by surprise, you’d never read them in your eyes.
They said the love you’d found was someone else, not me.
Wouldn’t you know it, she wouldn’t show it.”
A little more upbeat song is called “The Guitar Man.” Here is a sample of the lyrics:
“Who draws a crowd and plays so loud,
Baby, it’s the guitar man.
Who’s on the radio, who steals the show,
Baby, it’s the guitar man.”
A few other favorites include “It don’t matter to me,” “Everything I own,” “Make it with you” and “Baby I’m a want you.” Later Gates had a solo hit when he wrote “The Goodbye Girl” for the Neil Simon movie with Marsha Mason and Richard Dreyfus.
If you are not familiar with their music and like the softer side, check them out. If you want to rehash some old memories, break out the CDs, albums or add to your playlist. A little Bread goes a long way.
musingsofanoldfart 
Oooh, I can’t tell you how much Bread means to me. These songs were the gift of my first love & ‘Aubrey’ was me. Thanks for the memories — I’m going to put a Bread album on. 😉 😉
Vanessa, thanks for sharing your memory. When my kids were little I would sing a few Bread songs along with other favorites as I rocked them. I hope you enjoy listening to the album. Thanks again for commenting. Keith
PS – If you have time, check out the “Wordsmithing and Storytelling” post link at the bottom. More good songs.
With such good music it often doesn’t go far enough.
Hugs
David, maybe some good music and good food will go further. My wife and I had to cut back on our bread, so we will just need to listen to the group. Keith
Yes, Bread gifted us with lots of special music; recently I listened to lots of Three Dog Night as well – different rhythm but still lots of nostalgia there!
Very true Z. I have been kicking around a Three Dog Night post. Lots of songs to digest into one post. A TDN CD made for a good road trip with the kids singing along.
Note to Readers: It is not inappropriate that David Gates wrote the title song to the movie “The Goodbye Girl.” The story is of a woman who feels she is always being left (told goodbye) and does not want to commit to a man she must room with as her ex-boyfriend rented his apartment (as he left town) without telling her. It was vintage Neil Simon. I won’t spoil the ending, but it is worth the watch.
Bread is such a great band, and I have an older sister to thank for that introduction.
Lisa, isn’t that usually how we younger siblings get acclimated to new groups? My older brother was big into the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, etc. Keith
We are 15 years apart, and I must admit the poster of Mick Jagger rising from a pile of stones made me cry … lol! We can’t even discuss the Bowie poster. Nonetheless, I love both artists.
Can’t go wrong with Jagger and Bowie.