I am remarkably uninspired tonight. It’s late, I’m tired and not in the best of moods, but nonetheless I went in search of something new to play, something I haven’t yet played. Every single song that popped into my mind was one that I had already featured here! HELP! I’m running out of music! (Bite your tongues, Herb Brown & Jerry Miller!!!) Anyway, yes, I have played this one by Bread before, but it’s been a few years, so you’ve all forgotten, right? RIGHT???
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 am not a fan of his music. Last time ’round I only played the Bread version, but I like to think I’m more flexible now and so, I offer both Bread and Boy George this time! In truth, I didn’t dislike the Boy George version … I just like Bread’s better.
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