I found her diary underneath a tree
And started reading about me
The words she's written took me by surprise
You'd never read them in her eyes
They said that she had found the love she waited for
Wouldn't you know it, she wouldn't show it

When she confronted with the writing there
Simply pretended not to care
I passed it off as just in keeping with
Her total disconcerting air
And though she tried to hide
The love that she denied
Wouldn't you know it, she wouldn't show it

And as I go through my life, I will give to her my wife
All the sweet things that I can find

I found her diary underneath a tree
And started reading about me
The words began stick and tears to flow
Her meaning now was clear to see
The love she'd waited for was someone else not me
Wouldn't you know it, she wouldn't show it

And as I go through my life, I will wish for her his wife
All the sweet things that she can find
All the sweet things they can find


Lyrics submitted by ruben

Diary Lyrics as written by David Gates

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Diary song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    While not my favorite Bread song (see "Everything I Own"), "Diary" is perhaps their saddest and most heart-breaking. Very simply arranged, with just an acoustic guitar with some violins setting the mood, and David Gates' angelic voice lamenting the discovery that his true love is actually in love with someone else. Don't listen to this song if you are depressed! ;-)

    In the 1970's, the opening guitar riff ranked up there with Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" as a song every acoustic guitar player "MUST" know how to play.

    ksandbergflon February 21, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    My father had me listen to this a while ago and pay close attention to the lyrics.. it sounded lovely, up until the horrific twist ending. I felt bad for the guy. Trying to stay optimistic in a situation like that... I think I almost cried.

    shikonaorion August 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is such a sad but beautiful song. It is obvious this song is heart written and not just a filled with meaningless lyrics. Someone who is in love with someone who is in love with someone else. How heartfelt and beautiful this song is. I think we have all been there.

    rcdowdyon January 12, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think you've all got it wrong! It's at the end that he realizes that diary was not HIS wife's but someone else's. His wife's responses were vague and he interpreted that as prevarication but, he was wrong. That's the way I like to hear it..........not sad!

    comacon August 25, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sad song! Love it tho

    Rollingstonesrockon October 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song so much. What a heart-breaking and tragic song. It's also beautiful though. It sounds really floaty and dreamy, yet very sad. I love bread very much. Classic song this is.

    daydreamer1on May 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    oh man...T_T my father always sing this song and i only laughed at him.. until i was in loved with a girl but she is no in loved with me more like unrequited..

    I can relate to this.. why BREAD makes so much soulful lyrics

    rescueme135on September 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "The love she'd waited for was someone else not me Wouldn't you know it, she wouldn't show it. " my only reaction is "OUCH"

    jesman11on January 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Some of the best lyrics ever written IMO. Moving song as well.

    authunon May 20, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    He found his wife's diary. They were in a loveless relationship and his wife never did share her feelings or expressed love toward him. He mistook her diary as written for him and started to talk to her about it. He promised to "give her all the sweet things"... but then she made him realized that the words in the diary was not for him, but "someone else". They got divorced and he wished her and her lover all the sweet things they can find while moving on with his life.

    aleanon May 10, 2020   Link

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