The Guitar Man

Bread

About The Guitar Man

"The Guitar Man" is a song written by David Gates and originally recorded by the rock group Bread. It first appeared on Bread's 1972 album, Guitar Man. The song is a mixture of the sounds of soft rock, including strings and acoustic guitar, and the addition of a wah-wah effect electric guitar, played by Larry Knechtel. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and their third number-one hit on the easy listening chart, (following "If" and "Baby I'm-a Want You").  


Year:
2007
3:45
3,424 

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Who draws the crowd and plays so loud,
Baby it's the guitar man.
Who's gonna steal the show, you know
Baby it's the guitar man,

He can make you love, he can make you cry
He will bring you down, then he'll get you high
Somethin' keeps him goin', miles and miles a day
To find another place to play.

Night after night who treats you right,
Baby it's the guitar man
Who's on the radio, you go listen
To the guitar man

Then he comes to town, and you see his face,
And you think you might like to take his place
Somethin' keeps him driftin' miles and miles away
Searchin' for the songs to play.

Then you listen to the music and you like to sing along,
You want to get the meaning out of each and every song
Then you find yourself a message and some words to call your own
And take them home.

He can make you love, he can get you high
He will bring you down, then he'll make you cry
Somethin' keeps him movin', but no one seems to know
What it is that makes him go.

Then the lights begin to flicker and the sound is getting dim
The voice begins to falter and the crowds are getting thin
But he never seems to notice he's just got to find
Another place to play,
Anyway got to play, anyway got to play.

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Bread

Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. more »

3 fans

Written by: David Gates

Lyrics © DAVID GATES D/B/A KIPAHULU MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Creation
"The Guitar Man" is a song written by David Gates and originally performed by the American soft rock band 'Bread'. It was recorded and released in 1972.
Album Release
The song was part of Bread's fifth album, "Baby I'm-a Want You".
Music Ranking
"The Guitar Man" peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Billboard Easy Listening
The song enjoyed popular success and was a top-10 hit on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, where it reached No. 7.
Song Theme
The song revolves around the theme of how important a musician, specifically a guitarist, can be in people's lives.
Musical Style
This song is typical of the soft rock style that characterized Bread's music, with its mellow, emotive tone.
David Gates’ View
The lead singer of Bread, David Gates, stated that the song was about the powerlessness of being a musician—providing joy and inspiration for others but often lacking the same in their personal lives.
UK Chart
"The Guitar Man" also gained prominence in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No.16.
Song Covers
"The Guitar Man" has been covered by several artists including Cake in 2004 for their album "Pressure Chief".
Recognized Signature
"The Guitar Man" remains a recognized and frequently played track, thus becoming one of Bread's signature songs.
Album Track Length
The song has a duration of approximately 3 minutes and 46 seconds on the album.
Continuity
The track is known for its innovative arrangement, where there is no break between the first and second verses, helping to maintain the song's flow.
Song Credit
Although being a product of the band, Bread, David Gates was the sole writer of "The Guitar Man".

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    The Guitar Man

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1972

    Billboard #11


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