Bread’s ’72 “Guitar Man” Performance Will Haunt Your Day Dreams

A Close Distance

Bread’s ’72 performance of “Guitar Man” gives you everything you want and need in soft rock, good guitar work, soft and sensible vocals that tell a story and a fluid beat that takes you further away with every note. Written by lead singer of Bread David Gates, “Guitar Man” illuminates the genius of the wah-wah pedal, played by Larry Knetchel.

Interesting Fact: At the end of the song, there is a recording of a crowd yelling after an announcer introduces Jim Morrison at a Doors concert.

As the lyrics establish a connection between Gates and his fans, they also highlight the distance between the stage and the audience nearing the end of the story. From their second album, Guitar Man, this track hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in ’72 and become one of the band’s greatest hits.

Famous for hits “Make It With You” and “If,” Bread was definitely one of the greater soft rock bands of this wonderful era and we hope you enjoy this enchanting live performance as much as we did.

+ Guitar Man Lyrics +

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 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

Either way
Got to play
Either way
Got to play