‘Make It with You’ is a song written by David Gates and originally recorded by American pop-rock group Bread, of which Gates was a member. Gates and drummer Mike Botts are the only members of the group to appear on the recording, which was Bread's only No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song first appeared on Bread's 1970 album, On the Waters. Released as a single that June, it was the group's first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spent the week of August 22, 1970, at No.1; it also reached No.5 on the UK Singles Chart. Billboard ranked "Make It with You" as the No. 13 song of 1970, and it was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over one million copies.
This soft rock classic is a little saucy. Written by lead singer David Gates, it finds him propositioning a girl with his dulcet tones: “And if you're wondering what this song is leading to, I want to make it with you.” It's pretty clear what he means by "make it," although it's certainly ambiguous enough to clear the censors.
Released on their second album, this was the first hit for Bread, although David Gates had some previous success as a songwriter, including the #3 US ‘Popsicles And Icicles’ in 1964 for the female trio The Murmaids. They followed it up by rereleasing a song from the previous year, ‘It Don't Matter To Me,’ which reached #10. Their most successful songs were more light favorites: ‘If’ and ‘Baby I'm-A Want You.’
When group leader David Gates returned home to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his mother was throwing a big reception party to celebrate the return of the young chart-conquering hero, the newspaper, television and radio press turned up, hoping to play up the whole "local boy does good" PR angle. In a widely circulated interview, Mrs. Gates proudly told the world just how pleased as punch she was with her son's recent success. She then also told them - in complete candor - that she just couldn't understand why he had to call his new hit record, "Naked With You." (Thanks to Kent at Forgotten Hits.)
Label – Elektra
Songwriter – David Gates
Producer – David Gates
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Hey, have you ever tried
Really reaching out for the other side?
I may be climbing on rainbows
But baby, here goes
[Pre-Chorus]
Dreams, they're for those who sleep
Life is for us to keep
And if you're wondering what this all is leading to
[Chorus]
I wanna make it with you
I really think that we could make it, girl
[Verse 2]
No, you don't know me well
And every little thing, only time will tell
If you believe the things that I do
And we'll see it through
[Pre-Chorus]
Life can be short or long
Love can be right or wrong
And if I chose the one I'd like to help me through
[Chorus]
I'd like to make it with you
I really think that we could make it, girl
[Instrumental Break]
[Pre-Chorus]
Baby, you know that
Dreams, they're for those who sleep
Life, it's for us to keep
And if I chose the one I'd like to help me through
[Chorus]
I'd like to make it with you
I really think that we could make it, girl