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.
Been Too Long on the Road
Bread Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you get to believin' it's true,
Then you know that you're on your way
People tug on your shirt, say you're lucky
You've got ev'rything you want, but you don't
Yet you dare not say
Go downtown people runnin' around
They climb slowly draggin' you downtown,
Plush rooms make a blindin' your eye to see,
Blindin' me. Light, lovely light,
Won't ya' shine in my window
Love, precious love won't ya' fill ev'ry room,
Been too long on the road.
Maybe cynics veins are my life blood
Maybe bitin' the hand that I feed so I'll try
Try to understand what it is that devours your freedom,
Makes you drop what you used to hold in your heart.
All the things you planned
Go upstairs with a someone who says she cares,
Like the devil she does,
What comes ever into your mind?
Then gone, leavin' you with the coldest room,
Oldest gloom. Warm, won't you be,
Please be there in my winter.
Love, precious love won't ya' come full circle,
Been too long on the road.
How can I do this to myself?
Have I taken leave of my senses?
What kind of changes make a man
Want to tear down all his fences
Whoa, I'd like to know. Home ever home,
How could I ever doubt you
Love, precious love, how could I live without you?
Been too long on the road.
The first verse of the song "Been Too Long on the Road" by Bread talks about how people often appear to have everything they want on the outside but there is more to them than meets the eye. The singer talks about how people compliment and envy those who seem to have it all, but in reality, those people aren't completely satisfied with their lives. Downtown is mentioned, and how it can be a chaotic environment that drags people in slowly, and the horns create a dent in people's minds. The second verse mentions how the singer begins to feel like a cynic and ends up biting the hand that feeds him. The once-held beliefs and plans start to disappear as someone encouraging on the outside drags him along.
The chorus talks about the singer's longing for warmth, light, and love. He's been on the road for too long and wants to feel the presence of things that matter in life. The third verse talks about the singer questioning his own sanity and understanding of life. He wonders what changes make a man want to tear down all his fences, indicating that the singer wants to make a change in his life. He then talks about how he's realized how much he needs the concept of "home" in his life and how love is something that he cannot live without.
Overall, the song reflects how people can appear one way on the outside, but deep inside their desires are different. The lyrics capture the yearning for the love, warmth, and comfort that home can bring after being on the road for too long.
Line by Line Meaning
Always look so good on the outside
Appearances can be deceiving, even when everything might seem perfect on the surface.
When you get to believin' it's true, Then you know that you're on your way
Once you start to believe that your success is real, you're headed towards a path of disillusionment.
People tug on your shirt, say you're lucky, You've got ev'rything you want, but you don't, Yet you dare not say
Others may see you as having everything and being lucky, but you know that deep down, you're not as content as you seem.
Go downtown people runnin' around, They climb slowly draggin' you downtown, Horns make a dent in your mind
The hustle and bustle of city life can be overwhelming and leave a lasting impact on your mental state.
Plush rooms make a blindin' your eye to see, Blindin' me. Light, lovely light, Won't ya' shine in my window Love, precious love won't ya' fill ev'ry room
The glamour and luxury of a posh lifestyle can make it hard to see what's truly important in life, and only love can truly fill the emptiness within you.
Been too long on the road.
The constant grind of travel and work can take a toll on a person, leaving them worn out and in need of a break.
Maybe cynics veins are my life blood Maybe bitin' the hand that I feed so I'll try Try to understand what it is that devours your freedom, Makes you drop what you used to hold in your heart.
Perhaps being jaded and critical is just a part of who you are, but it's important to try and understand what's causing you to lose sight of the things you once cared about.
All the things you planned Go upstairs with a someone who says she cares, Like the devil she does, What comes ever into your mind? Then gone, leavin' you with the coldest room, Oldest gloom.
Even the best laid plans can fall apart when you trust the wrong person, leaving you feeling alone and empty.
Warm, won't you be, Please be there in my winter. Love, precious love won't ya' come full circle, Been too long on the road.
In times of darkness and cold, all you can hope for is for the warmth and love in your life to return to you, especially after being away for so long.
How can I do this to myself? Have I taken leave of my senses? What kind of changes make a man Want to tear down all his fences Whoa, I'd like to know. Home ever home, How could I ever doubt you Love, precious love, how could I live without you?
At times, it's hard to make sense of why we do the things we do and make the changes we make. But no matter how lost we may feel, the love and comfort of home will always be there to bring us back to ourselves.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GATES
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