Question: who wrote if a picture paints a thousand words
Answer: `` If '' Single by Bread from the album Manna B - side `` Take Comfort '' Released March 21 , 1971 ( 1971 - 03 - 21 ) Format 7 - inch single Genre Soft rock Length 2 : 33 Label Elektra Songwriter ( s ) David Gates , Waleen johnson Producer ( s ) David Gates Bread singles chronology `` Let Your Love Go '' ( 1971 ) `` If '' ( 1971 ) `` Mother Freedom '' ( 1971 ) `` Let Your Love Go '' ( 1971 ) `` If '' ( 1971 ) `` Mother Freedom '' ( 1971 )