Dickson was born in Dunfermline. Her singing career started in folk clubs around her native Fife in the sixties, exposing her to a rich combination of traditional and contemporary music. In the early seventies, she sang at a Liverpool folk club run by a young student teacher called Willy Russell. He showed Barbara the first draft of what would later become the award winning musical, ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo….and Bert’ and asked her to perform the music. The combination of fine writing, a superb cast of young unknowns, (including Antony Sher, Bernard Hill and Trevor Eve), and Barbara’s idiosyncratic interpretation of Beatles songs made the show hugely successful.
The show’s co-producer, Robert Stigwood, signed Barbara to his record label, RSO Records, where she recorded the album ‘Answer Me’, the title track becoming a top ten hit in 1976. This led to her guest residency on the much-loved series ‘The Two Ronnies’, which brought Barbara’s singing to the attention of more than 10 million BBC viewers every week.
Also impressed by Barbara’s performance were Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who invited her to record ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ from the new musical ‘Evita’, which became her second hit in 1977.
Other hits including ‘Caravan Song’ and ‘January, February’, followed in 1980.
In 1982, Willy Russell asked Barbara to star in his new musical ‘Blood Brothers’ in the pivotal role of the mother, Mrs. Johnstone. Although at first reluctant to accept, having never acted before, (not even in a school play!), she rose to the challenge, in the process garnering critical acclaim as well as Actress of the Year in a Musical from the Society of West End Theatres in 1984.
Later that year, Tim Rice approached Barbara to take part in the cast album recording of the musical ‘Chess’, which included the song ‘I Know Him So Well’, a duet sung with Elaine Paige. The song was a worldwide hit and remained at number one in the UK charts for many weeks.
During the 1990s Barbara appeared in various TV dramas including ‘Taggart’, the award winning ‘Band of Gold’ and ‘The Missing Postman’.
Acclaimed writer and director Chris Bond created a show for Barbara in 1996 called ‘The Seven Ages of Woman’ which won her the Liverpool Echo Actress of the Year Award. It premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse and toured extensively in 1997 and 1998.
In 1999, Barbara starred in ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’, a new musical by Steve Brown and Justin Greene. The show, based on the rollercoaster life story of pools winner, Viv Nicholson, played in the West End to capacity audiences. For her portrayal of Viv, Barbara was awarded ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ at the 2000 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Barbara continues to appear in concert and on record. She has in the last few years had great success with ‘The Platinum Collection’, which featured some of her most successful recordings.
Her last album, ‘Full Circle’, a journey back through her musical history, was hugely admired and well reviewed. Barbara’s most recent CD is an eclectic collection of the songs of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison called ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My World.’
During 2006 she has appeared as the Timekeeper in Alan Ayckbourn and Denis King’s fantasy musical play
‘Whenever’ for BBC Radio 4 and presented ‘Finding A Voice’, also for BBC Radio 4.
Married with three teenaged sons, Barbara lives in Lincolnshire. An O.B.E. was conferred upon her in the Queens’ New Year’s Honours in 2002.
Think It Over
Barbara Dickson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet it's true
That your heart is achin'
You could change your mind
But you don't know what it will do
So you're always waiting
Would it be so hard
Just to run my way now
CHORUSÂ :
Think it over - I'll be waiting
You gotta know you're - hesitating
Another day and love - could be near if you
Think it over
Think it over tonight
Stay, if you feel the need to
Won't you stay
And that's all you need do
Don't you change your mind
'Cos I know just what you've been through
And it's all behind you
Now you have the chance
Won't you run my way now
CHORUS
I know the answer
I want to be around you
And that's all I'm asking
Say you'll change your mind
And you'll run my way now
CHORUS
Think it over - tonight
(FADE)
The lyrics to Barbara Dickson's "Think It Over" are about a person who is hesitating to make a decision regarding the pursuit of love. Despite the fact that their heart is aching, they are hesitant to take a chance because they fear the unknown. They are told to "think it over" and consider what they may lose if they don't take action. The singer of the song is expressing their desire for the person to take a chance on love and to take a chance with them.
The chorus is a powerful and catchy plea for the person to make a decision. The singer of the song is waiting for their love interest to make a move and take a chance on something that could be beautiful. The advice to "think it over" is a nugget of wisdom because it acknowledges the person's hesitation and their fear of the unknown, while also pushing them towards a decision that could bring happiness and love.
Overall, the lyrics to "Think It Over" are about taking chances on love and making decisions that may seem scary or uncertain, but can ultimately lead to something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
You, say your time is taken
You claim that you're too busy
Yet it's true
But the reality is
That your heart is achin'
Your heart is filled with sorrow
You could change your mind
You have the power to change your stance
But you don't know what it will do
But you're not sure if it's worth the risk
So you're always waiting
So you keep hesitating
Would it be so hard
Is it really that difficult
Just to run my way now
To choose my path instead
Think it over - I'll be waiting
Consider your options, I'll be patient
You gotta know you're - hesitating
You have to realize that you're indecisive
Another day and love - could be near if you
If you act soon, love might not be out of reach
Think it over
Give it some thought
Think it over tonight
Think about it today
Stay, if you feel the need to
If you want to stay, I won't force you
Won't you stay
Please stay
And that's all you need do
That's all that's required of you
Don't you change your mind
Don't alter your opinion
'Cos I know just what you've been through
Because I understand what you've experienced
And it's all behind you
And it's all in the past now
Now you have the chance
Now you're presented with an opportunity
Won't you run my way now
Would you choose to follow my path now
I know the answer
I know the solution
I want to be around you
I desire to be with you
And that's all I'm asking
That's all I'm requesting
Say you'll change your mind
Promise to change your opinion
And you'll run my way now
And choose to follow my path now
Think it over - tonight
Think about it today
Contributed by Andrew P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JWW642
Barbara;s work with Alan Tarney was so very very good. Thanks for posting.
mark williamson
First track off the extremely underrated album You Know It’s Me. Should have been the first single. Only Seventeen just as good.