David Gates was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to a band director and a piano teacher on December 11, 1940. Surrounded by music from birth, he was proficient in piano, bass and guitar by the time he was in high school. In 1957, he received a musical break when Chuck Berry came to Tulsa; Gates had his first hit, Jo-Baby, with Chuck Berry. The song was written for Gates' high school sweetheart Jo Rita, whom he married and had children with while enrolled at the university of Oklahoma. In 1961, the family moved to Los Angeles, and Gates embarked on a career of songwriting and producing. By the end of the '60s, he had worked with Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin and Merle Haggard, and produced the 1965 Glenn Yarbrough hit Baby the Rain Must Fall. Realizing that the only way his songs were sure to be recorded was to sing them himself, Gates founded Bread in 1968; the group consisted of Gates, James Griffin, Robb Royer, and later, drummer Michael Botts and keyboardist Larry Krechtel. The group's first album, Bread, was released in 1969 with hits It Don't Matter to Me, Dismal Day and Make It with You. Soft rock hits became the band's trademark and made them legends. Greater success and recognition came with the 1971 album, Manna, with the smash hit If. With the popular albums Guitar Man and Baby, I'm a Want You, the band's success led the members in different directions. The group disbanded in 1973 to pursue their own solo interests and careers, but regrouped in 1977 to produce the album Lost Without Your Love. David Gates produced albums of his own, First Album and Never Let Her Go in 1975; his songs landed him on the contemporary music charts every time, including The Goodbye Girl, from Neil Simon's play of the same name. Several of his songs have been recorded by artists such as Julio Iglesias and Boy George. Everything I Own, a tribute to his father as his greatest influence, was recorded by Nashville artists The Kendalls and Joe Stempley and then by pop rocker Boy George. His incredible songwriting ability offers versatility and a crossing over of musical genres. With a recording studio on his California ranch, David Gates continues to write and produce
vanity
David Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sanity
One of us has gone and lost our sanity
That's the only reason you could ever say goodbye to me
But maybe it was vanity
Vanity
Couldn't understand why you would ever spend a moment's time with me
But maybe it's society
So long… bye-bye
Hold on… why try?
Society
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
But maybe it's just vanity
solo
Society
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
It's insanity, vanity, or society
But whatever it is
It's happening to you and me
So long… bye-bye
Hold on… let us try
In David Gates's song "Vanity," the singer is trying to understand why his partner has left him. He wonders if it's due to insanity, vanity, or society's influence. The singer acknowledges that perhaps society doesn't consider him a suitable match for his partner, but he also recognizes that his own vanity could have contributed to the end of their relationship. He questions whether he was too focused on himself and how he appeared in his partner's eyes, rather than genuinely connecting with her. Ultimately, the singer concludes that whatever caused their separation, it's happening to both of them and they have to say their goodbyes.
These lyrics are a reflection on the complexities of modern relationships and the various factors that can lead to their breakdown. The song speaks to the tendency of individuals to prioritize their own self-interest, even at the expense of their relationships. It also captures the struggle to find meaning and understanding in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Sanity
One of us has lost their mind leading to our departure. However, it's quite possible that it was due to a trait of being vain
That's the only reason you could ever say goodbye to me
The only reason you found to separate from me was because of my newfound traits that might be associated with excessive prides and self-admiration.
Maybe it was vanity
Perhaps this act of being vain has seeped in and caused our bond to break.
Maybe some would say that you're the cutest thing that ever they'd seen
There are some who might consider you as the most lovely creature that ever existed
Couldn't understand why you would ever spend a moment's time with me
I'm at loss as to why an attraction between us could ever occur
But maybe it's society
The reason for our romantic failure is that society has set some standards that we failed to match
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Perhaps lifelong relationships are not meant to exist and people are naturally wired to change their mates.
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
Each one of us is responsible for their own path in life and we should pursue what we think is best
It's insanity, vanity, or society
Our parting might have been influenced by craziness, excessive pride, societal norms, or all of the above
But whatever it is, It's happening to you and me
Regardless of what's driving us apart, this separation is happening to both of us
Hold on… why try?
Why should we try to maintain our relationship if the forces that drive us apart are beyond our control?
So long… bye-bye
Our paths must diverge, and we must say farewell to each other.
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cinderella2171
Will never get enough of this man's music. He actually drank a beer with me on the hood of my galaxy 5oo in 77. David Gates Rocks.
@d.iinmobiliaria7685
Tantos años y tan actual ! Gracias David ! Genio total
@stebct
Vanity - David Gates
Sanity
One of us has gone and lost our sanity
That's the only reason Sanity
One of us has gone and lost our sanity
That's the only reason you could ever say goodbye to me
But maybe it was vanity
Vanity
Maybe some would say that you're the cuttest thing that ever they'd seen
Couldn't understand why you would ever spend a moment's time with me
But maybe it's society
So long… bye-bye
Hold on… why try?
Society
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
But maybe it's just vanity
Society
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
It's insanity, vanity, or society
But whatever it is
It's happening to you and me
So long… bye-bye
Hold on…n you could ever say goodbye to me
But maybe it was vanity
Vanity
Maybe some would say that you're the cuttest thing that ever they'd seen
Couldn't understand why you would ever spend a moment's time with me
But maybe it's society
So long… bye-bye
Hold on… why try?
Society
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
But maybe it's just vanity
Society
Maybe no one's ever supposed to stay together permanently
Go and gotta go looking for what's best for me and me
It's insanity, vanity, or society
But whatever it is
It's happening to you and me
So long… bye-bye
Hold on…
Let us try
Cordura
Uno de nosotros ha ido y perdido nuestra cordura
Esa es la única razón
Uno de nosotros ha ido y perdido nuestra cordura
Esa es la única razón por la que puedes decirme adiós
Pero tal vez fue vanidad
vanidad
Tal vez algunos dirían que eres la cosa más cuttest que nunca habían visto
No podía entender por qué pasas un momento conmigo
Pero tal vez es la sociedad
Hasta luego, adiós
Espera ... ¿por qué intentarlo?
Sociedad
Tal vez nadie debería estar juntos permanentemente
Ve y busca lo mejor para mí y para mí
Pero tal vez es sólo vanidad
Sociedad
Tal vez nadie debería estar juntos permanentemente
Ve y busca lo mejor para mí y para mí
Es locura, vanidad o sociedad
Pero sea lo que sea
Nos está sucediendo a ti ya mí
@paulbaldry4460
I loved this song it was a great Album on Arista . Why is never been Released on CD would love to have it . good fast moving song & guitar sound too
@markevans8558
It is on CD, but I had to get it out of either Canada or UK - can't remember. I live in the U.S.
@giuseppeambrosacchio8293
musica fantastica
@otomanjimmy1686
wow, one of my fav. from his 1980 album take me now, twas during my high school days..