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.
Dismal Day
Bread Lyrics
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And it reveals some things to me that I had not been able to see
I saw someone that I'm not sure I want to be
An empty lonely face was starin' back at me
All and all, I would have to say
It's been a rather dismal day
I drug myself outside the face that people that I knew would be there
And though they walked along pretending not to care
I knew behind my back they'd point and laugh and stare
All and all, I would have to say
It's been a rather dismal day
And now the evening shadow's falling
I guess it's best I lay my hopes to rest for no one's calling my name
I sit and wait behind a door that's never knocked on
I live in silence like my phone that's never talked on
All and all, I would have to say
It's been a rather dismal day
All and all, I would have to say
It's been a rather dismal day
All and all, I would have to say
It's been a rather dismal day
The song "Dismal Day" by Bread is a melancholic and reflective piece that speaks to the listener about the difficulties of self-realization and the inevitability of disappointment in life. The lyrics reveal the singer's insights into his own life, as he looks into the mirror and sees someone he doesn't recognize, an empty and lonely figure with whom he does not want to identify. The verses are filled with images of isolation and rejection, as the lyrics describe the singer's interactions with others who pretend not to care, but who will ultimately laugh and judge him behind his back. In the end, the song is a meditation on the fragility of the self and the struggles to maintain a sense of worth in a world that can be hostile and indifferent.
The message of "Dismal Day" is beautifully captured by the song's haunting melody, which is built around a simple acoustic guitar pattern and rising vocal harmonies that add to the sense of quiet desperation expressed in the lyrics. The overall recording is spare and intimate, with strong emotional performances from the band that add depth to the song's message. The song ends on a mournful note, with the repetition of the chorus underscoring the sense of sadness and defeat conveyed throughout the piece.
Line by Line Meaning
I look into my morning mirror
I analyze myself while standing in front of the mirror
And it reveals some things to me that I had not been able to see
I discover a few things about myself that I didn't realize before
I saw someone that I'm not sure I want to be
I recognized a part of myself that I'm uncertain about wanting to continue being
An empty lonely face was starin' back at me
I see a face with a lack of emotional depth reflecting back at me
All and all, I would have to say
Overall, my conclusion is that
It's been a rather dismal day
This has been a gloomy and depressing day for me
The afternoon was slow in coming
The afternoon didn't seem to arrive quickly enough
I drug myself outside the face that people that I knew would be there
I forced myself to go outside, even though I knew people who made me feel uncomfortable would be there
And though they walked along pretending not to care
They acted like they didn't care and ignored my presence
I knew behind my back they'd point and laugh and stare
I was certain that they would gossip and mock me as soon as I turned away
And now the evening shadow's falling
Now that the sun is setting, it marks the end of the day's hopefulness
I guess it's best I lay my hopes to rest for no one's calling my name
I give up waiting for anyone to contact me or acknowledge me at all, as it won't happen
I sit and wait behind a door that's never knocked on
I sit behind a door, hoping for someone to visit, but no one ever does
I live in silence like my phone that's never talked on
I'm as silent and lonely as my phone that never rings
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID 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