Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, New York), is an Academy Award-winning American singer, theater and film actress, composer, film producer, and director. She has won Oscars for Best Actress and Best Original Song as well as multiple Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and an honorary Tony Award. She received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor on December 7, 2008. She is the most successful female recording artist according to the Recording Industry Assoc. of America (RIAA).

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."

Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

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Free and easy
That's my style
Howdy-do me?
Watch me smile

But fare-the-well me
After a while
'Cause I gotta roam

And any place I hang my hat is home

Sweetenin' water
Cherry wine
Thank you kindly
Suits me fine

Kansas city even Carolina
That's my honeycomb
'Cause any place I hang my hat is home
Birds roostin' in a tree

Pick up and go
And the goin' proves
That's how it oughta to be
Pick up too when the spirit moves me

Cross the river
'Round the bend
Howdy stranger?
So long friend!

There's a voice in the lonesome wind
Keeps a whispering roam
I'm going where a welcome mat is
No matter where that is

'Cause any place I hang my hat is home

Overall Meaning

In Barbra Streisand's song, "Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home," the singer expresses a desire to roam freely and live without restrictions. The opening lines are indicative of this attitude as the singer describes their style as free and easy. They are not afraid to greet others, nor are they afraid to show off their smile. However, the singer acknowledges that their freedom-loving lifestyle cannot last forever as they will have to part ways eventually. This is because they are unable to stay indefinitely in one place as they must keep moving, which is why they say that any place they hang their hat is home.

The next verses then describe various locations that the singer has travelled to, including Kansas City and Carolina. They are grateful for the sweetness of life in these places and all the amenities that come with it, but they are also aware that they cannot remain there forever. Instead, they must keep moving because that is how life is meant to be, always in motion. The singer then talks about how birds do not stay in one place for long and neither should they. Cross the river, go around the bend, and meet new people, but always be ready to move on.

Finally, the singer talks about the welcome mat and how it is the one thing that they seek in every place they visit. Whether it is a warm smile, a friendly handshake, or a kind face, they will travel anywhere if there is a welcome mat waiting for them. The wind whispers and beckons them to come and explore new places, but as long as there is a welcome mat waiting, then any place they hang their hat is home.

Line by Line Meaning

Free and easy
I'm laid-back and carefree

That's my style
That's just the way I am

Howdy-do me?
Hello, how are you?

Watch me smile
I'm always happy and spreading positivity

But fare-the-well me
Goodbye to you

After a while
I won't be around forever

'Cause I gotta roam
I need to travel and explore

And any place I hang my hat is home
I feel comfortable anywhere I go

Sweetenin' water
Nice cold refreshments

Cherry wine
Sweet alcoholic beverage

Thank you kindly
Thanks a lot