Jimmy also won an Academy award for writing the song 'For All We Know', under the pseudonym Arthur James. This became a major international hit for the Carpenters in the 1970's.
Bread reunited in 1976 for a last album - 'Lost Without Your Love' - which featured many exceptional Griffin songs, but the group dismantled again after touring.
After Bread split up, he produced a couple of solo albums, including 1977's 'Breakin' Up Is Easy', which featured some great songs, including the title song and 'She Knows'. He also collaborated with Terry Sylvester of the Hollies as 'Griffin & Sylvester', and formed 'Black Tie' with Randy Meisner of the Eagles.
In later life he returned to his country roots and joined The Remingtons, who had a degree of success in the U.S. He again became a member of Bread for their final reunion tour in 1996-1997, after which they parted ways.
James Griffin died in 2005.
Father And Son
James Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was free runnin wild
And my mother said
Look what your father's done
You will not obey
Won't do nothin' I say
Then she shook her head
I was my father's son
Father and son
We were a lot like each other
Father and son
You know the blood is thicker than water
Night after night
My parents would tight
Till my mother said
Hush up you'll wake the kid
And then came the day when he just west away
And I sat and I cried
And wondered why he did
Father and son
We couldn't be together
Father and son
You know the blood is thicker than water
_____ years later
But as I go wanderin' on
I still believe he'll come along
And we could talk as if nothin' were wrong
Of things that we done
Only to talk to him father to son
The lyrics of James Griffin's song "Father & Son" revolve around the complicated relationship of a father and his son. The song narrates the experiences of the singer when he was a child and how his mother complained about his disobedience and how he was his father's child. As the song progresses, the singer recalls the fights between his parents, and the day when his father left, never to come back. The singer's pain and disappointment become evident in the lyrics as he wonders why his father left and why they could not be together. The father's absence leaves an unfulfilled void in the singer's heart, and he longs for the day when he would be able to talk to his father again and reminisce the things they did together.
The song's title "Father & Son" aptly reflects its core theme: a relationship that is as complex as it is simple. The singer's memories of his father are of love and affection, and yet, his father's leaving creates a void that cannot be filled. As the singer grows up, he still yearns for his father, and the memories of his childhood haunt him. This song is a poignant reminder that the bond between a father and his son remains unbreakable, regardless of the circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a child
Back when I was young
I was free runnin wild
I was a carefree child
And my mother said
My mom told me
Look what your father's done
See the damage your dad has caused
You will not obey
You won't follow my rules
Won't do nothin' I say
You won't listen to me
Then she shook her head
She showed her disapproval
I was my father's son
I took after my dad
Father and son
My dad and I
We were a lot like each other
We had many similarities
Father and son
My dad and I
You know the blood is thicker than water
Family is more important than anything else
Night after night
Every evening
My parents would tight
My parents would argue
Till my mother said
Until my mom had enough
Hush up you'll wake the kid
Be quiet or you'll wake up the child
And then came the day when he just west away
Then the day came when he left
And I sat and I cried
I cried and mourned
And wondered why he did
Wondering why he left me
Father and son
My dad and I
We couldn't be together
We couldn't be with each other anymore
Father and son
My dad and I
You know the blood is thicker than water
Family is more important than anything else
_____ years later
Many years later
But as I go wanderin' on
As I continue with my life
I still believe he'll come along
I still hope to see him again
And we could talk as if nothin' were wrong
We could have normal conversations
Of things that we done
About things we have done
Only to talk to him father to son
To have a conversation as a son with his father
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@genewebb8396
james was sooo underated in the group BREAD. there wouldnt have been the total sound without him. don't get me wrong. david gates was the main force behind the group but james contributed so much to them. his solo stuff is amazing. so if interested find all you can on james. there is much out there if you look.
@joeg5361
This entire album was in my opinion better than all bread albums
@jezebeljones659
The guitars in the background -- reminiscent of the fast part of "McArthur Pak." Jimmy Webb is not a bad source of inspiration, you can do a hell of a lot worse! But James is all his own, and this is a piece of brilliance typical of ihis oujtput. His unmatchable voice alone would make a song like this, but there's so much more -- he's the best.
@mkruup
There's also the melody of Brainwashed by The Kinks.
@michelleNixonWelburn
keep these boys alive
@phillipbrown8571
there music will never die no fear of that
@jorgeribeiro4873
Far much better voice than David’s. Jimmy was the soul of Bread
@admiralkirk1701
O.75x speed sounds great.
@waynethomas4728
Utterly utterly brilliant!