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."
Calling You
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some place better than where you've been
A coffee machine that needs some fixing
In a little café just around the bend
I am calling you
Can't you hear me
I am calling you
A hot dry wind blows right through me
The baby's crying and I can't sleep
But we all know a change is coming
Oh, coming closer sweet release
I am calling you
I know you hear me
I am calling you, oh
Oh, oh
Oh
Ooh, oh
I am calling you
A desert road from Vegas to nowhere
Some place better than where you've been
A coffee machine that needs some fixing
In a little café just around the bend
A hot dry wind blows right through me
Your baby's crying, I can't sleep
Oh, but we all, we all, we all know a change is coming
Oh, coming closer sweet release, sweet release, sweet
I am calling you
I know, I know you hear me
I am calling you, oh
The song "Calling You" by Barbra Streisand is a poignant and emotional piece that touches on themes of restlessness, longing, and the inherent human desire for change. The lyrics center around a character who is traveling on a desert road from Vegas to nowhere, seeking out a better place than where they have been. The coffee machine that needs fixing and the little café just around the bend serve as a metaphorical oasis, a symbol of hope in the midst of a harsh and challenging journey.
The imagery of the hot, dry wind blowing through the singer and the baby crying highlight the difficulties of the journey, underscoring the sense of desperation and fatigue that the character is feeling. However, the repeated refrain of "I am calling you" provides a sense of urgency and determination, a belief that there is something better out there and a willingness to keep pushing towards it.
Overall, the lyrics to "Calling You" are deeply introspective and moving, speaking to a fundamental human need to find meaning and purpose in life, even in the face of adversity and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
A desert road from Vegas to nowhere
The singer is stuck in a barren place with no clear direction or destination.
Some place better than where you've been
The singer hopes to escape their current circumstances and find a more fulfilling life elsewhere.
A coffee machine that needs some fixing
Even the small comforts of life are broken or inaccessible to the singer.
In a little café just around the bend
Despite the current difficulties, the artist sees hope in a future opportunity or possibility.
I am calling you
The artist is reaching out for help and support from someone else.
Can't you hear me
The singer is desperate for a response and connection with the person they are calling out to.
A hot dry wind blows right through me
The singer's environment is oppressive and unyielding in its harshness.
The baby's crying and I can't sleep
The artist is dealing with many simultaneous struggles and unable to find rest or peace.
But we all know a change is coming
Despite the difficulties, there is a shared belief or hope among the community that things will improve soon.
Oh, coming closer sweet release
The artist is looking forward to the moment when their current problems will no longer be a burden.
I know you hear me
The singer is confident that their cries for help will not go unnoticed by the person they are calling out to.
Oh
Oh
Ooh, oh
I am calling you
The singer reiterates their plea for help and support from the person they are calling out to.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB TELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt