I Would Give Everything I Own

And I would give anything I own You taught me how to loveWhat it's of, what it's ofYou never said too muchBut still you showed the wayAnd I knew from watching you Nobody else could ever knowThe part of me that can't let go

I Would Give Everything I Own
Bread Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴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
You're 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


Overall Meaning

The song "Everything I Own," originally recorded by the band Bread in 1972, is a poignant tribute to a lost loved one. The song is written from the perspective of someone who has lost someone they love dearly, and would do anything to have them back in their life. The opening lines speak to the person's gratitude for all the ways in which their loved one sheltered and protected them throughout their life. They acknowledge that the best years of their life were the ones they spent with this person, and that they owe everything to them.


The chorus of the song is where the true message behind the lyrics comes through. The person singing the song is saying that they would give up anything they own to have their loved one back in their life. Their life, their heart, their home - all of these things are meaningless without the person they love. The second verse goes on to talk about how the person they're singing to taught them how to love, just by being an example, rather than by saying too much. The singer of the song is still holding on to the memories of their time with this person, and no one else can understand the depth of their loss.


The final verse of the song is a warning to anyone who might be taking someone they love for granted. The singer implores the listener to appreciate their loved ones while they still have them, because they could be taken away at any moment. The song ends with the same sentiment as the chorus - the singer would give anything they own just to have their loved one back in their life.


Line by Line Meaning

You sheltered me from harm
You protected me from danger and harm, keeping me safe and secure


Kept me warm, kept me warm
You provided me with love, comfort, and a sense of belonging that made me feel secure and valued


You gave my life to me
You provided me with direction, purpose, and meaning that helped me grow and develop as a person


Set me free, set me free
You gave me the freedom and independence to pursue my passions and dreams without fear or hesitation


The finest years I ever knew Were all the years I had with you
The best years of my life were spent with you by my side, sharing life's joys and challenges together


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
I miss you so much that I would give up everything I have just to be reunited with you once more


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
You taught me the true meaning of love by setting an example of how to love unconditionally and without reservation


Nobody else could ever know The part of me that can't let go
No one else can understand the deep, enduring connection I have with you, or the part of me that still longs to be with you


Is there someone you know You're loving them so But taking them all for granted?
Do you have someone in your life whom you love deeply but fail to appreciate fully, taking their presence for granted?


You may lose them one day Someone takes them away And they don't hear the words you long to say
You may one day lose that person you love and regret not telling them how much they mean to you while you still had the chance


Just to touch you once again
All I want is to be reunited with you and experience the simple, intimate pleasure of being close to you once more


Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Gates

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

ncG1vNJzZmirn6O2pLTIrapnm5%2BifLe1w56maHqimq6le6iYjqitnJmsiLXVnpZ%2BrpWnxrW0yKeemIGPhMSv

 Share!