Aubrey (song)
Encyclopedia
"Aubrey" is a song written and composed by David Gates
, and originally recorded by the Pop/Rock group Bread
, of which Gates was the leader and primary music producer. It appeared on Bread's 1972 album Guitar Man. The single lasted 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, peaking at number 15.
but relies on various melodic resources such as orchestral strings
, classical guitar
, and a music box. In the lyrics, the singer talks about a longing for a girl named Aubrey
for whom he had unrequited love
("the hearts that never played in tune"); perhaps a first love, or possibly an infant who died. It is regarded as one of Bread's most beautiful, yet melancholic, songs. The song was later recorded (1973) by Perry Como and released on his And I Love You So
album of interpretations.
David Gates
David Gates is an American singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the group Bread, which reached the tops of the musical charts in Europe and North America on several occasions in the 1970s. The band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame...
, and originally recorded by the Pop/Rock group Bread
Bread (band)
Bread was a rock band from Los Angeles, California. They placed 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1970 and 1977 and were a prime example of what later was labeled soft rock....
, of which Gates was the leader and primary music producer. It appeared on Bread's 1972 album Guitar Man. The single lasted 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, peaking at number 15.
Musical structure and lyrics
The songs features no drummingDrum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
but relies on various melodic resources such as orchestral strings
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
, and a music box. In the lyrics, the singer talks about a longing for a girl named Aubrey
Aubrey
Of French origin, Aubrey results from the phonetical mutation of Alberic, which is a Germanic given name, meaning "Fair Ruler of the Little People", or "King of the Elves". The name Alberich is the German variant...
for whom he had unrequited love
Unrequited love
Unrequited love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may or may not be aware of the admirer's deep affections...
("the hearts that never played in tune"); perhaps a first love, or possibly an infant who died. It is regarded as one of Bread's most beautiful, yet melancholic, songs. The song was later recorded (1973) by Perry Como and released on his And I Love You So
And I Love You So (Perry Como album)
And I Love You So was Perry Como's 21st RCA Victor 12-inch long-play album, the 19th recorded in full "living" stereophonic sound.As with It's Impossible, this album was recorded to be an album with a surprise hit song, in this case, Don McLean's "And I Love You So". Como brought the song to the...
album of interpretations.