Ambrosia is a rock band of American origin, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1970. This band has released five top 40 singles between the period of 1975 and 1980. The top 5 hits include their songs, “How much I feel’ and ‘Biggest Part of Me’, and 20 top hits ‘ You’re the Only Woman (You and I)’ and ‘Holdin’ onto Yesterday.’
There have more than 10 members, on and off with the band, but most of the original band members have been active with the group for over thirty years to this present day, with the very famous and notable exception of original lead vocalist and guitarist, David Pack since 2000.
Ambrosia still tours internationally and has worked in the past as well as in the present with Leonard Bernstein, Alan Parsons, Bill Champlin. Etc. among other artists.
How Much I Feel is a song by Ambrosia which was released in 1978. This song is written by the lead vocalist and guitarist David Pack. It was released in the summer, as the lead single from their third album called Life Beyond L.A.
This song was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the third position as well as on the Cash Box Top 100 with the number two position for two weeks. This song is 4 minutes and 46 seconds long, with the genre of Soft rock.
What Does the Title Mean
From the title itself one can guess what it wants to portray. The song describes a situation of a person, who cannot get over a woman long after they have broken up. The whole song talks about those emotions and revolves around the memories and how difficult it is for him to move on. As the song comes to an end, the singer mentions that he is now married but lyrics like ‘we are still going strong, but sometimes we make love, I can still see your face..’ This shows that their marriage is problematic and not a healthy one.
Verse 1 – What Does It Mean?
I don’t know how this whole business started
Of you thinkin‘ that I had been untrue
But if you think that we’d be better parted
It’s gonna hurt me but I’ll break away from you
Well, just give me the sign and I will be gone, yeah
The first verse talks about the very start of the situation of the individual. He talks about how out of nowhere he has started thinking of his ex-lover again. He portrays his feelings that he does not agree with the past decision of them parting away from each other and that it had left a deep impact on the emotions of the narrator.He says that he felt broken after they had broken up and now he desperately asks for a sign to finally make him let go of her and forget about her.
This shows the initial feelings of the narrator. Moving on, is indeed a difficult task when people fall deeply in love with someone. Not everyone lets go of the memories and emotions easily, and this is the same condition of the narrator. Even after so many years, he still cannot forget his ex-lover.
Chorus: Meaning
That’s how much I feel, feel for you, baby
How much I need, I need your touch
How much I live, I live for your lovin‘
That’s how much, that’s how much
That’s how much, that’s how much
The narrator in this chorus, lets his heart speak for himself. He screams and tells the world what is going on with him and how much he feels for this woman. His ex-lover indeed, has left a deep scar on him, making it difficult for him to let go and forget her. By the lines, ‘That’s how much I feel, feel for you, baby’ and the repetition of the phrase “That’s how much, that’s how much’ shows the desperation and yearning in the mind of the narrator. He says that he misses his ex-lover a lot, and the intensity of it cannot be described in words. He also adds on to saying that he also deep down misses the physical intimacy between them. He says he misses her touch, the warmth, and the overall love they both shared. One of the lines also describes his feelings about how her love and memories are necessary for his survival.
Verse 2 – What Does It Mean?
I sleep alone, and late at night I’m dreamin‘
Of the togetherness that seems to be leavin‘ me, oh no
I’d give it all and then I’d give some more
If you would only love me like you had before
Take hold of my hand all will be forgiven
Verse two, now further describes the emotions and situation of the narrator. He goes on by saying that at night when he is sleeping alone, all he can dream about is the memories of togetherness with his ex-lover. Sadly, those thoughts and dreams seem to be fading away or disappearing as they are no longer together and his ex-lover has seemed to have left him. His desperation of getting her back and not letting her go, further puts limelight to the heights and limits which he is ready to go for, in order to get back his ex-lover’s love for him. He says that he is ready to give up everything and do anything in his power to make her love him like the old days. He assures her that once she decides to hold his hand and give this relationship a chance, everything will be forgotten, all the sorrows and mistakes will be forgiven, and they will be together like before.
What Does the Bridge Mean
So you try, try to stay in the middle
And then you cry, well you cry just a little
Then you both realize just how foolish you’ve been
And you try to make amends but you’re better off as friends
Cause that’s how much (That’s how much)
That’s how much, that’s how much
Ooh
In this bridge, the narrator talks about the final phase of the relationship with his ex-lover. He talks about how hard they tried to make their relationship work, tried making amends and fixing it, but in the end, it did not work in their favour. He says that he has hurt her, for which she had shed a lot of tears and remembering these memories make him sad. He says it was foolish of them to break up. The narrator describes that there could have been a mere chance of them to make amends and work on their disintegrating relationship. He speaks how bad he wanted to sort it out but his ex-lover suggested that they were better off as friends than lovers.
Verse 3 – What Does It Mean?
How’s your life been goin‘ on?
I’ve got a wife now, years we’ve been goin‘ strong
Oh no! There’s just something that I’ve got to say
Sometimes when we make love, I still can see your face
Just try to recall when we were as one
The narrator now comes back to the present situation and describes his feelings and emotions. He asks his ex-lover about how she has been doing and how her life has been. He further tells about his present situation saying that now he is married to another woman. He feels hesitant to say, yet wants to convey a last thing to his ex-lover. He says that even though he is now married to someone else, he thinks about his ex-lover and misses her.
He says that when he and his wife are making love, he thinks of his ex-lover. This shows the desperation and lack of loyalty from the narrator’s end that he is incapable of moving on and letting his ex-lover go and forget their memories. He recalls them making love, as if they were at the moment and now with his wife.
Conclusion:
This song has been written very well by David Pack, describing the feelings and emotions of a person who cannot move on. Even after years of their break up, the narrator finds it difficult to forget his ex-lover and move on. The song has the perfect melody and rhythm, and can be enjoyed not just for its relatability (if any) but also for its composition.
