Barbra Streisand has recorded more than 60 albums, almost all with Columbia Records. Her early works in the 1960s (her debut The Barbra Streisand Album which won two Grammy Awards in 1963, followed by The Second Barbra Streisand Album, The Third Album, My Name Is Barbra, etc.) are considered classic renditions of theater and nightclub standards, including her version of Happy Days Are Here Again. Beginning with My Name Is Barbra, her albums were often medley-filled keepsakes of her television specials.
Starting in 1969, Streisand tackled contemporary songwriters; like many talented singers of the day, she found herself a fish out of water in attempts to tackle rock, but her vocal talents prevailed and she gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented Richard Perry-produced album Stoney End in 1971. The title track, written by Laura Nyro, was a big hit for Streisand.
Streisand's 1980 album, Guilty featured the songwriting, production and vocal talents of Barry Gibb and was the best-selling album of her recording career. During the 1970s, she was also highly prominent in the pop charts, with number-one records like The Way We Were, Evergreen, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (her duet with Donna Summer), and Woman In Love; some of these came from soundtracks of her films. She recently took part in supporting Haiti in singing "We are the World 25th anniversary.
When the 1970s ended, Streisand was named the most successful female singer in the U.S. - only Elvis Presley and The Beatles having sold more albums. [1]
[1] In 1982, New York Times music critic Stephen Holden wrote that Streisand was "the most influential mainstream American pop singer since Frank Sinatra."
08 Papa Can You Hear Me
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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Oh God, and my father
Who's also in Heaven
May the light
Of this flickering candle
Illuminate the night the way
Your spirit illuminates my soul
Papa, can you see me?
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Papa, are you near me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you help me not be frightened?
Looking at the skies
I seem to see a million eyes
Which ones are yours?
Where are you now that yesterday
Has waved goodbye
And closed its doors?
The night is so much darker
The wind is so much colder
The world I see is so much bigger
Now that I'm alone
Papa, please forgive me
Try to understand me
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Can you hear me praying
Anything I'm saying
Even though the night is filled with voices?
I remember ev'rything you thought me
Ev'ry book I've ever read
Can all the words in all the books
Help me to face what lies ahead?
The trees are so much taller
And I feel so much smaller
The moon is twice as lonely
And the stars are half as bright
Papa, how I love you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I miss you
Kissing me goodnight
The song "Papa Can You Hear Me" by Barbra Streisand is a powerful and emotional tribute to a father who has passed away. The lyrics address God as well as the singer's father, who is believed to be in heaven. The first verse expresses the singer's desire to light a candle in honor of her father and for God to illuminate her soul. The chorus then asks if her father can hear and see her, if he is near her, and if he can help her not to be frightened. The second verse describes how the singer looks up at the sky and sees a million eyes, wondering which ones are her father's. She expresses feeling alone and overwhelmed in a world that seems so much bigger now that she is without him.
The bridge of the song is an emotional plea for the father's forgiveness and understanding, with the singer hoping that he can hear her prayers and that he knows she had no choice in their separation. The final verse is a reflection on the singer's memories of her father, how he taught her everything she knows, and how she feels small and lonely without him. The song ends with a heartbreaking plea for her father to come and kiss her goodnight.
This song can be viewed as a tribute to a lost loved one but can also touch on themes of abandonment, insecurity, and fear. Through the lyrics, Barbra Streisand conveys the pain and confusion that can come from losing a significant figure in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
God, our heavenly Father
Addressing God, who is referred to as our heavenly Father
Oh God, and my father
Acknowledging the father figure in her life and comparing him to God
Who's also in Heaven
Stating that her father has passed away and is now in Heaven
May the light
Asking God to bless the candle
Of this flickering candle
Referring to the candle that she is lighting in memory of her father
Illuminate the night the way
Asking for the light to guide her through the darkness
Your spirit illuminates my soul
Comparing the light of the candle to the guidance and comfort she receives from God's spirit
Papa, can you hear me?
Asking her deceased father if he can hear her
Papa, can you see me?
Asking her deceased father if he can see her
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Asking her deceased father if he can help guide her through the darkness
Papa, are you near me?
Asking her deceased father if he is still with her in spirit
Papa, can you help me not be frightened?
Asking her deceased father for comfort in her fear and sadness
Looking at the skies
Reflecting on the vastness of the universe
I seem to see a million eyes
Seeing many stars in the sky
Which ones are yours?
Wondering which star represents her father's spirit
Where are you now that yesterday
Asking where her father's spirit is now that he has passed away
Has waved goodbye
Referring to the past and the inevitability of change and loss
And closed its doors?
Acknowledging the finality of death
The night is so much darker
Reflecting on how much darker the world feels without her father
The wind is so much colder
Feeling the absence of warmth and comfort in her life
The world I see is so much bigger
Acknowledging the overwhelming nature of the world without her father's guidance and protection
Now that I'm alone
Feeling isolated and vulnerable without her father's presence
Papa, please forgive me
Asking her father for forgiveness and understanding
Try to understand me
Asking her father to empathize with her struggles
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Appealing to her father's understanding and compassion in a difficult situation
Can you hear me praying
Asking if her father can hear her prayers
Anything I'm saying
Asking if her father is listening to her words
Even though the night is filled with voices?
Wondering if her father can hear her over the noise of the world
I remember ev'rything you thought me
Reflecting on the lessons her father taught her
Ev'ry book I've ever read
Remembering the knowledge and guidance her father imparted to her through books
Can all the words in all the books
Questioning whether the knowledge in books can help her cope with her loss
Help me to face what lies ahead?
Asking for wisdom and guidance to face the challenges of the future
The trees are so much taller
Reflecting on how things seem larger and more intimidating without her father's presence
And I feel so much smaller
Feeling insignificant and vulnerable without her father's guidance and protection
The moon is twice as lonely
Reflecting on the feeling of loneliness and isolation without her father
And the stars are half as bright
Feeling like the world is a dimmer, less comforting place
Papa, how I love you
Expressing her love for her deceased father
Papa, how I need you
Expressing her need for her father's guidance and comfort
Papa, how I miss you
Expressing her sadness and longing for her father
Kissing me goodnight
Remembering her father's affection and presence in her life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN, MICHEL LEGRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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