First #1 Hit: The Midnight Oil (1973)<… Read Full Bio ↴Birthday: December 25th, 1948
First #1 Hit: The Midnight Oil (1973)
From 1980 to 1981, she and her two sisters hosted the last successful variety show, "Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters", on NBC.
In 1984, she and her two children were involved in a severe automobile accident, leaving her with serious injuries. All three were taken to Baptist Hospital in Nashville.
After giving her final concert performance at the Grand Old Opry House on October 23rd, 1997, she later moved into acting on the short lived soap opera, "Sunset Beach" on NBC.
In October 2006, she was honored with the release of a new tribute album "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell" on BNA Records.
The Best Of Strangers
Barbara Mandrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what we used to be
I just wish we'd ended up the way we started out
From one little room where we loved each other
To this big two story house
We wanted the best I'm afraid that's what we've got now
(The best of strangers)
No one could do it any better
We live here separately together
We're the best of strangers
(The best of strangers)
We share a ceiling and a floor
But there's no feeling anymore
We're the best of strangers
We go to bed, we turn out the light
We stare at different walls
And most of the time we don't even say goodnight
I don't touch you, you don't touch me
Except passing in the hall
And then when we do we both apologize
We're the best of strangers
(The best of strangers)
No one could do it any better
We live here separately together
We're the best of strangers
(The best of strangers)
We share a ceiling and a floor
But there's no feeling anymore
We're the best of strangers
We're the best of strangers
We're the best of strangers
In this song, Barbara Mandrell reflects on how a relationship that was once full of love and passion has turned into one of indifference and distance. The singer laments that the couple has gone from being the "best of friends" and "best of lovers" to the "best of strangers." The couple now lives in a big two-story house, but there is no longer any emotional connection between them. They sleep in separate bedrooms and don't touch each other. In fact, when they do cross paths, they feel the need to apologize for the awkwardness of their interaction.
The lyrics paint a picture of a lonely and empty home, where two people who were once so close now live as if they are strangers. The song captures the sadness and disappointment of a relationship that has lost its spark and become devoid of any real connection. It's a reminder that even the best of relationships can deteriorate over time, and that it takes effort and attention to keep the flame of love burning.
Line by Line Meaning
The best of friends, the best of lovers
We were once very close, as both friends and romantic partners.
That's what we used to be
Our relationship has changed over time.
I just wish we'd ended up the way we started out
I wish our relationship was still as loving and close as it once was.
From one little room where we loved each other
We started out in a small, intimate space as a loving couple.
To this big two story house
Our relationship has progressed into a larger, more elaborate home.
We wanted the best I'm afraid that's what we've got now
We aimed for the best in our relationship, but the result isn't what we expected.
We're the best of strangers
We live together but have become emotionally distant from each other.
(The best of strangers)
This phrase reinforces our emotional distance.
No one could do it any better
As 'the best of strangers', we are the epitome of emotional detachment in a relationship.
We live here separately together
We live together but lead separate lives.
We share a ceiling and a floor
We live in the same physical space but have little to no emotional connection.
But there's no feeling anymore
We have lost the love and emotion we once shared.
We go to bed, we turn out the light
Our bedtime routine is impersonal and without affection.
We stare at different walls
We go to bed without interacting or showing any emotional connection.
And most of the time we don't even say goodnight
We go to bed without even speaking to each other.
I don't touch you, you don't touch me
There is no physical affection or touch in our relationship.
Except passing in the hall
Our only interactions are brief and pragmatic, such as passing each other in the hallway.
And then when we do we both apologize
Even brief interactions lead to apologies because we are emotionally distant from each other.
We're the best of strangers
We are emotionally disconnected from each other and exist more as roommates than romantic partners.
(The best of strangers)
This phrase again emphasizes our relationship devoid of love and emotion.
We share a ceiling and a floor
We physically share the same space but are otherwise disconnected.
But there's no feeling anymore
Our relationship no longer has any emotional depth or passion - it has become merely practical.
We're the best of strangers
Our relationship is merely an impersonal and emotionless cohabitation.
We're the best of strangers
Our relationship is lacking in love, emotion, and affection.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENNIS W. MORGAN, RHONDA KYE FLEMING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind