Aubrey (song)

"Aubrey"
Dutch single release
Single by Bread
from the album Guitar Man
B-side	"Didn't Even Know Her Name"
Released	December 1972 (UK) January 24, 1973 (US)
Format	CD single, Cassette single
Recorded	1972
Genre	Soft rock
Length	3:39
Label	Elektra
Writer(s)	David Gates
Producer(s)	David Gates
Bread singles chronology
"Sweet Surrender" (1972) "Aubrey" (1973) "Lost Without Your Love" (1976)

"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.

David Gates wrote the song after watching Breakfast at Tiffany's starring Audrey Hepburn.

This song swapped the assumed gender of the name Aubrey, nearly extinguishing its use as a male name and popularizing it as a female name up to the present. Actress Aubrey Plaza is named after the song, and Canadian rapper Drake (rapper)'s birth name is Aubrey

The main melody of the song was sampled by Vampire Weekend on their song "Step".

Musical structure and lyrics

The song features David Gates' solo voice, with no backup vocals or drumming. It relies on various melodic resources such as orchestral strings, acoustic guitar, celeste, and orchestra bells. 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. It is also said to be a song about shyness ("I never knew her, but I loved her just the same"). It is regarded as one of Bread's most beautiful, yet melancholic, songs. The song was later recorded by Perry Como and released on his 1973 album And I Love You So.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics