♫ Everything I Own ♫

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According to the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, at his father’s funeral, a friend took David Gates aside and said, “Your dad was so proud of what you were doing.” David agreed by replying, “My success would have been so special to him as he was my greatest influence. So I decided to write and record Everything I Own about him. If you listen to the words, ‘You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm, gave my life to me, set me free,’ it says it all.”

In 1974 at the suggestion of his producer Lloyd Chambers, Jamaican singer Ken Booth recorded a smooth reggae cover version, which topped the UK charts. Booth sang “Anything I Own” instead of “Everything” but retained the original title, making it one of the few UK #1s not to have the actual title featured in the lyrics. In 1987 Boy George recorded his electronic dance-pop version, this time singing “Everything” not “Anything,” and again it topped the UK charts.

I have only heard Bread’s version, and I’m of the old school that thinks, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.  And frankly, although daughter Chris is a huge fan of Boy George (he is the background scene on her computer, and her bedroom walls are plastered with his mug!), I don’t much care for his music.  So, I shall stick with the Bread version.

Everything I Own
Bread

You sheltered me from harm
Kept me warm, kept me warm
You gave my life to me
Set me free, set me free
The finest years I ever knew,
Were all the years I had with you

And I would give anything I own
I’d give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own,
Just to have you back again

You taught me how to love
What it’s of, what it’s of
You never said too much,
But still you showed the way
And I knew from watching you

Nobody else could ever know,
The part of me that can’t let go

And I would give anything I own,
I’d give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own,
Just to have you back again

Is there someone you know,
Your loving them so,
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away,
And they don’t hear the words you long to say

I would give anything I own,
I’d give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own,
Just to have you back again
Just to touch you once again

Songwriters: David Gates
Everything I Own lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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36 thoughts on “♫ Everything I Own ♫”

    • You NEVER read my blog, but wouldn’t I know that this would be the one you’d read? 😀 Thanks for the addition … I’ll stick with Bread, however! 😉 Love you darling daughter!! ❤

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  3. Anyone who sees the stomach knows I like my Bread. I haven’t seen the feet in so many years. OK, get to the point I know….. I quite liked the song done by Bread but it’s only a hair’s width away from me calling the Ken Boothe one as my favourite.. I haven’t heard the Boy George version so can’t comment on that but I think he lacked something when Culture Club broke up.
    Cwtch

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    • Ha ha … your belly and feet are just fine, as is your sense of humour! I did not go in search of the Ken Booth version, but it you think it’s a close second, and knowing that you like Bread, it’s likely worth a listen. I shall still pass on the Boy George one, although I’m sure Chris has heard it and would recommend it above all others.
      Cwtch Mawr

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  4. Jill, we love Bread in this household! “If” is my favorite, but the songs mentioned in your post and comments are awesome as well. Another is “Guitar Man” and Gates’ solo song called “The Goodbye Girl,” which was written for the movie.

    Nice memories. Keith

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    • I had a feeling Bread was a winner in your house. Truthfully, ‘If’ is also my favourite, and you will be seeing it in this space soon … I was just in the mood for this one last night. Stay tuned …

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      • Jill, I look forward to it. When I look at some of my more frequented posts – the ones which highlight wordsmith singers – Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger, CSNY, Paul McCartney et al – seem to do well. If you ever saw the great movie “Eddie and the Cruisers,” a key line of why the two songwriters needed each other was “words and music” while Eddie crossed two finders. Keith

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        • Ahhh … you just named a couple that I had forgotten about … Seger and Lightfoot! Thanks, I needed some new ideas. Herb keeps asking me to play Nine Inch Nails … and I suppose I will one day soon, but it is definitely NOT my sort of music! Are you familiar with them? Very dark & brooding.

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  6. I love Bread! The list of favorites is endless and this definitely is one of them. I bought the 1970 On The Waters album because of the song “Make It With You”, many years later the track “Look What You’ve Done” became the most played. Your choice is from another great album, Baby I’m-a Want You. And, who can forget another favorite of mine “If”?! My oldest brother, being a huge Kojak fan, loved the Telly Savalas later spoken version of that song better…it did have it’s charm. Thank-you!

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    • I didn’t know Telly Savales even sang!!! I learn something new every day from you! (I loved Kojak too … Telly was so … cool 😎 “If” is also my favourite and you’ll be seeing it on this page soon … stay tuned!

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      • You love Kojak and do not own a Telly Savalas album?!? My brother had the 1974 album, Telly, that has “If” as one of the tracks. “If” is spoken words, but he does speak/sing and sing some of the others on the album, including “A Song For You” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” among others. He also had the first album, This is Telly Savalas and the later Who Loves Ya Baby. Those three vinyl albums and some singles are now in my Son’s collection. I have the 1980 Best of Kojak and “If” is on that album. It was a gift from my brother, because he thought every serious music collector had to have at least one Telly Savalas. I haven’t checked YouTube, but wouldn’t the Bread version contrast nicely with Telly? Thank-you!

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        • I haven’t had the chance yet, but fully intend to find a YouTube video of Telly Savales singing ‘If’ … again, you have enlightened me and broadened my horizons! I thank you and cherish your propensity for loquacity! I’ll let you know my thoughts on the Telly video!

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