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."

Before The Parade Passes By
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Before it goes on
And only I'm left
Before the parade passes by
I've gotta get in step while there's still time left
I'm ready to move out in front
Life without life has no reason or rhyme left
With the rest of them
With the best of them

I wanna hold my head up high
I need a goal again
I need a drive again
I wanna feel my heart coming alive again

Before the parade passes by

Before the parade passes by
I've gotta go and taste Saturday's high life
Before the parade passes by
I've gotta get some life back into my life
I'm ready to move out in front
I've had enough of just passing by life
With the rest of them
With the best of them

I can hold my head up high
For I've got a goal again
I've got a drive again
I wanna feel my heart coming alive again
Before the parade passes by

When the parade passes by
Listen and hear that brass harmony growing
When the parade passes by
Pardon me if my old spirit is showing
All of those lights over there
Seem to be telling me where I'm going

When the whistles blow
And the cymbals crash
And the sparklers light the sky
I'm gonna raise the roof
I'm gonna carry on
Give me an old trombone

Give me an old baton
Before the parade passes by!

Overall Meaning

The song "Before The Parade Passes By" by Barbra Streisand is about the urgency to act before it's too late. The lyrics talk about how the parade, which symbolizes life passing by, is going on and the singer cannot afford to miss it. They want to be a part of it, move out in front, and take control of their life. The lyrics emphasize the need for a goal, a drive, and to feel alive again. The singer wants to taste the high life, and embrace the excitement of the parade, with all its lights, music, and brass harmonies.

The second verse of the song stresses on the importance of grabbing life's opportunities and not just passing through it. It talks about the desire to lead and be the best, to hold up the head high, and to feel the heart coming alive. The last verse talks about the moment when the parade passes by, and how it is time to raise the roof, carry on, and play music on the old trombone and baton. The lyrics are hopeful and inspiring, urging listeners to take charge of their lives while there's still time left, before the parade passes by.

Line by Line Meaning

Before it goes on
Before the parade proceeds further

And only I'm left
And I am left behind

Before the parade passes by
Before the opportunity is lost

I've gotta get in step while there's still time left
I've got to act now before it's too late

I'm ready to move out in front
I am willing to lead

Life without life has no reason or rhyme left
A life without passion is meaningless

With the rest of them
Like everyone else

With the best of them
Among the best in the crowd

I wanna hold my head up high
I want to be proud of myself

I need a goal again
I need a purpose in life

I need a drive again
I need to be motivated