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."
A Cockeyed Optimist
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I forget ev'ry cloud I've ever seen,
So they called me A Cockeyed Optimist
Immature and incurably green.
I have heard people rant and rave and bellow
That we're done and we might as well be dead,
But I'm only A Cockeyed Optimist
I hear the human race
Is fallin' on its face
And hasn't very far to go,
But ev'ry whippoorwill
Is sellin' me a bill,
And tellin' me it just ain't so.
I could say life is just a bowl of Jello
And appear more intelligent and smart,
But I'm stuck like a dope
With a thing called hope,
And I can't get it out of my heart!
Not this heart...
In Barbra Streisand's song "A Cockeyed Optimist," the singer talks about how she's a "cockeyed optimist," someone who remains positive and hopeful despite the challenges and negativity around her. She sings about how when the skies are bright and sunny, she forgets all the clouds she's ever seen and becomes someone who is "immature and incurably green." Despite being labeled as overly optimistic and immature, she can't help but be hopeful and positive.
The song goes on to illustrate her determination to remain positive even in the face of adversity. She acknowledges that she's heard people saying that the world is coming to an end and that people are falling on their faces, but she remains steadfast in her optimistic outlook. Even as the world seems to be crashing down around her, she can't help but believe that there's hope for a better tomorrow.
The lyrics reveal the struggle of maintaining hope and positivity in a world that can often be dark and overwhelming. The singer seems to be saying that despite the challenges we face, it's important to remain hopeful and optimistic if we want to make a positive change in the world. In many ways, the song can be seen as a call to action, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
Line by Line Meaning
When the skies are bright canary yellow
When the world is happy and optimistic.
I forget ev'ry cloud I've ever seen,
I forget all of my negative experiences.
So they called me A Cockeyed Optimist
They call me naive because I remain optimistic despite negative circumstances.
Immature and incurably green.
They think I am immature and inexperienced.
I have heard people rant and rave and bellow
I have heard people express negative opinions and complain loudly.
That we're done and we might as well be dead,
That we are hopeless and that there is no point in trying anymore.
But I'm only A Cockeyed Optimist
But I remain positive despite this negativity.
And I can't get it into my head.
I cannot comprehend why people are so negative.
I hear the human race
I hear that humanity,
Is fallin' on its face
Is failing miserably.
And hasn't very far to go,
And is very close to the end.
But ev'ry whippoorwill
But every bird,
Is sellin' me a bill,
Is telling me a lie,
And tellin' me it just ain't so.
And claiming that things are not as bad as they seem.
I could say life is just a bowl of Jello
I could pretend that everything is perfect and easy.
And appear more intelligent and smart,
And seem more intelligent and wise.
But I'm stuck like a dope
But I am trapped by my optimistic nature,
With a thing called hope,
With a belief that things will get better,
And I can't get it out of my heart!
And I cannot stop believing that good things are possible!
Not this heart...
(I cannot stop believing this) not even in my heart.
Writer(s): RICHARD ROGERS, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN
Contributed by Sebastian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt