Despite not winning the competition, he was soon signed up with Simon Cowell's record label BMG, alongside the Pop Idol winner, Will Young. (Cowell had been one of the Pop Idol judges, and had been notorious for his harsh criticisms of many of the contestants.) His first single, a cover of Unchained Melody, entered the UK Top 40 at number one, knocking Will Young's first single - the double A-sided "Evergreen"/"Anything is Possible" - off the top of the chart (as Young's single was intended for the winner of Pop Idol Gates also recorded versions of both songs, which were used as B-sides for Unchained Melody). These were possibly the fastest covers, having been released only three weeks after Will Young's record breaking versions. The single was voted 2002's Record of the Year by ITV viewers.
With The Kumars, Gates sang the 2003 Comic Relief charity single, "Spirit In The Sky", another cover of an old song. This was also a new entry at number one, and stayed there for two weeks. He also appeared in the charity's Celebrity Driving School.
Gareth also suffers from a stammer, but with the help of the McGuire program he has almost overcome it. He now works with the McGuire program passing on the things he has learnt to others suffering from stammers.
In 2002, Smash Hits magazine dedicated the 7th of November as International Gareth Day for his fans. On this day, fans around the world light candles and pay homage to the singer.
Gareth infamously lost his virginity in a London hotel to glamour model Jordan who was pregnant at the time. Despite initially denying the incident, he later admitted the affair.
The first single from Gates' third album was "Changes" which was released on 9 April 2007. The single peaked at Number 14. A second single, "Angel on My Shoulder", was released on 18 June 2007, peaking at Number 22. Both singles remained in the UK Top 40 for only one week. Gates' third album, Pictures of the Other Side, was released on 25 June 2007. It proved to be Gates' lowest selling album to date and spent only two weeks on the UK album chart, entering at Number 23 before falling to Number 66 the following week, then dropping out of the chart altogether.
The Long and Winding Road
Gareth Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Leads me to your door
The wild and windy high
That rain has washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Why leave me standing here?
Let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
Many times I've cried
Anyway you'll never know
The many ways of pride
And still they lead me back
To the long and winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
Still they lead me back
To the long and winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
Lead me to your door
In Gareth Gates's song The Long and Winding Road, the lyrics depict a sense of yearning and longing to be led to a particular destination. The opening line, "The long and winding road, will never disappear", represents the difficulties and obstacles one may face on their journey through life, but despite them, the road remains. The following lines, "I've seen that road before, it always leads me here, leads me to your door", suggest that the singer is searching for someone or something that they believe is at the end of this difficult road. They have gone down this path before, and it always seems to lead them to the person they are addressing in the song.
The next verse begins with "The wild and windy high, that rain has washed away, has left a pool of tears crying for the days". Here, the singer references the emotional turmoil that has been brought on by the harshness of the journey. Despite this, they still feel the pull towards this person, saying "why leave me standing here, let me know the way". They then describe feeling alone and crying many times, but ultimately confessing that they have pride and that those emotions have led them back to the long and winding road. The chorus repeats the plea to "lead me to your door", and the final verse expresses their fear of being left waiting alone again.
Overall, this song portrays a sense of emotional vulnerability and the hope to find someone to guide them to a place of safety and security. It speaks to the human desire for connection and the search for meaning in the struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
The long and winding Road
Life's journey is full of twists, turns and uncertainties
Will never disappear
No matter how much one wishes for an easier path, the challenges persist
I've seen that road before
Life's struggles are not new and have been seen before
It always leads me here
Despite the hardships, there is always a destination in mind
Leads me to your door
The destination is often a person or a meaningful connection
The wild and windy high
Life's ups and downs are often tumultuous
That rain has washed away
Difficult times can wash away the good and leave behind sadness
Has left a pool of tears
Sadness and heartache often linger after difficult times
Crying for the days
Longing for happier times and wishing to go back to the past
Why leave me standing here?
Questioning why one is alone in their journey
Let me know the way
Asking for guidance and direction
Many times I've been alone
The journey can be a lonely one
Many times I've cried
The difficult and emotional nature of life's journey
Anyway you'll never know
Others can never truly understand one's own struggles
The many ways of pride
Pride can make it difficult to ask for help or admit to challenges
And still they lead me back
Despite everything, the journey keeps moving forward
To the long and winding road
The journey continues with all of its challenges and unpredictable nature
You left me standing here
Feeling abandoned or lost on the path
A long long time ago
The feeling of being lost has persisted for a while
Don't leave me waiting here
Asking for support and feeling a need for help
Lead me to your door
Asking for someone to guide or help them find their way
Still they lead me back
Despite everything, the journey continues to follow its twists and turns
Don't keep me waiting here
Feeling the need for change or support to move forward
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susie Parker
Still love this song and loved pop idol - will young is utter wow! one of the best acts to come out of the show.
Charmaine Baines
What a trip down memory lane! Still love this, still makes me cry. Gareth Gates had such a sweet voice + Will = magical. I wish they’d made an album together. Each is so talented, but something extra beautiful happens when together. Those harmonies are breathtaking! Wow guys. Best version ever imo.
The Original
The standard of talent when these shows first started versus nowadays is absolutely stunning. I remember the nation torn on who was going to win. Both extremely talented and beautiful together
Tressala
I love their voices together. I think it is beautiful
Tony Crofts
Will is fantastic. Went to see him last year. He put on a great show.
Lewis Snell
One of the best performances even after 21 years.
Mihaela
Will young does effortless singing. Top singer.
Jay Sherriff
Both were amazing at this point. True competion.
R G
Possibly the two best singers to ever enter the Idols competition, and they competed in the same year, and incredibly, finished first and second. They were streets ahead of the others that year!
Joanna Pocock
Two fantastic voices love them both and this song really suited their voices