David Gates (guitar, keyboards, bass and vocals) and Jimmy Griffin (guitar and vocals) formed the group in 1968, adding Robb Royer (guitar, bass and vocals of Pleasure Faire) before signing to Elektra Records. Bread, the band's debut album as a trio, was a failure. The band became a quartet beginning with their second album, On The Waters, bringing in Mike Botts as permanent drummer. This time their efforts quickly established Bread as a major act, hitting the mainstream with the #1 hit "Make It With You" in 1970. Bread began touring and recording the 1971 album titled Manna, which included their most enduring hit, "If."
Royer left the group after three albums to pursue other interests. He was replaced by Larry Knechtel (keyboards, bass, guitar, harmonica), a top session player from the Los Angeles scene. Knechtel's credits included records by Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, The Mamas and the Papas, The Monkees, Jan and Dean, Johnny Rivers and Simon & Garfunkel. In 1972 Bread released the highly successful album titled Baby I'm-a Want You, followed by another hit album, Guitar Man. Tensions existed between Gates and Griffin, however. Elektra had been invariably choosing Gates' songs for the A-sides of the singles; Griffin felt that the singles should have been split between the two, however.
By 1973 the band members sensed that they had taken Bread as far as they could, so they disbanded. Gates and Griffin then began solo careers, with mixed results. After reuniting in 1976, Bread released the album Lost Without Your Love in January 1977. The title track was the band's last top-ten hit, peaking at number 9 on the singles chart. The comeback album was also RIAA-certified Gold®.
2. Bread (Joe Kosnow) is a rapper from Portland, ME.
Anyway You Want Me
Bread Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I need your love to see me through
You can make me anyway you want me
That's all that I can offer you
I have tried so hard to please you
But I just can't seem to reach you
Tried, tried a little kindness
But you can take me, yes and you can leave me
But I always stayed, and you knew I would
Come on, come on closer now
I will get to you somehow
Come on, come on closer now
I will get to you somehow
But you got to show me how
Please, please baby, please
Please, baby show me the way to your heart
You got to take me anyway you want me
Or take me just, just the way I am
Take me, or you can make me
The lyrics to Bread's song "Anyway You Want Me" describe a person's desire to be loved and accepted by their significant other, even if it means changing who they are. The singer is willing to be molded and changed by their partner because they need their love to "see [them] through." Despite their efforts to please their partner, they feel as though they cannot reach them. The lyrics express the singer's plea for their partner to show them the way to their heart, acknowledging that their partner has the power to take them however they want, but ultimately it is up to their partner to show them the way.
The song's lyrics explore the idea of compromising one's true self in order to please someone else. The singer acknowledges that they have tried to be kind and please their partner, but ultimately feel like they are unable to reach them. The idea of molding oneself to fit someone else's ideal is a common theme in love songs, but Bread's "Anyway You Want Me" takes a more self-aware approach by acknowledging that the singer is willing to change, but ultimately it is up to their partner to show them the way.
Overall, "Anyway You Want Me" is a heartfelt and emotional plea for love and acceptance, with a nuanced exploration of the idea of changing oneself to fit someone else's ideal. The song's lyrics are set to a soft and melodic tune, making it a classic love song that has endured over time.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me anyway you want me
I am willing to be molded into what you desire because I need your love in order to survive.
Cause I need your love to see me through
Without your love, I am lost and need you to guide me through life's struggles.
You can make me anyway you want me
I am open to the changes you want to create in me, as long as it helps to strengthen our relationship.
That's all that I can offer you
All I have to give you is my willingness to be transformed in ways that help us both.
I have tried so hard to please you
I have done my best to satisfy your wants and needs, but feel that I have fallen short.
But I just can't seem to reach you
Despite my efforts, I feel like I am failing to connect with you on a deeper level.
Tried, tried a little kindness
I have attempted to act with compassion and generosity towards you in hopes of improving our relationship.
Every night and day like I knew I should
I have strived to be kind and loving towards you both day and night, because I feel it is the right thing to do.
But you can take me, yes and you can leave me
You have the power to accept me for who I am or to reject me completely.
But I always stayed, and you knew I would
I have always been dedicated and committed to our relationship, and you are aware of my unwavering loyalty.
Come on, come on closer now
I am imploring you to draw closer to me, so that we might connect on a deeper and more meaningful level.
I will get to you somehow
I am determined to reach you emotionally and find a way to bridge the gap between us.
But you got to show me how
I need you to help guide me towards the path of emotional bonding that you desire from me.
Please, please baby, please
I am begging you to open up to me and give me the opportunity to connect with you on a deeper level.
Please, baby show me the way to your heart
I am pleading with you to reveal the key to your heart to me, so that I might unlock the deeper feelings and emotions that exist within.
You got to take me anyway you want me
I am asking you to mold me into what you desire, and love me no matter the shape I take.
Or take me just, just the way I am
Alternatively, I am offering myself up to you with all my flaws and imperfections, hoping that you will accept me for who I am.
Take me, or you can make me
Either way, I am putting myself in your hands because I love you and want to make you happy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES ARTHUR GRIFFIN, ROBB ROYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hunter Sullivan
on Lost Without Your Love
Lost and all alone
I always thought that I could make it on my own
But since you left I hardly make it through the day
My tears get in the way, and I need you back to stay
I wonder through the night
And search the world for the words to make it right
All I want is the way it used to be
With you here close to me
And I've got to make you see,
That I'm lost with out your love
Life without you isn't worth the trouble of
I'm as helpless as a ship without a wheel,
A touch without a feel
I can't believe its real
And someday soon I'll wake and find my heart won't have to break
Yes, I'm lost with out your love
Life without you isn't worth the trouble of
All I want is just the way it used to be
I need you here with me
Oh darling can't you see,
If we had love before we can have it back once more