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."

Clopin-Clopant
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Goodbye, no use leading with our chins
This is where our story ends
Never lovers, ever friends

Goodbye, let our hearts call it a day
But before you walk away
I sincerely want to say

I wish you bluebirds in the spring
To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this, i wish you love!
And in July a lemonade
To cool you in some leafy glade
I wish you health, and more than wealth, i wish you love!

My breaking heart and i agree
That you and i could never ever be
So with my best, my very best, i set you free!
I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all, but most of all

When snowflakes fall, i wish you wealth
I wish you health, i wish you love!

Overall Meaning

The song “Clopin-Clopant” from Barbra Streisand’s album The Third Album, is a farewell song that puts an end to a romantic relationship, leaving the two people with no hard feelings. The song takes on a mature and pragmatic tone. It shows a break-up that is necessary because the two individuals involved aren’t lovers but rather, friends. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, starting with a goodbye and going on to express wishes for the future.

The lines “But before you walk away, I sincerely want to say” indicate that the singer wants to make a final statement before the curtain is drawn. She wishes her partner bluebirds in the spring and a kiss- a typical symbol of love and affection. However, the latter half of the song takes on a more altruistic approach, as the singer wishes for an idyllic life for her former partner. The singer wishes them good health, wealth, and love. She hopes they will find a place to seek shelter from life's inevitable storms, a fire to keep them warm during cold nights, and the most essential which is love.

Overall, the song “Clopin-Clopant” is a song that tries to make sense of the importance of moving on and letting go of someone you love. The song’s lyrics suggest that letting go is difficult but necessary and that the future holds infinite possibilities.

Line by Line Meaning

Goodbye, no use leading with our chins
Farewell, there's no point in pretending everything is alright

This is where our story ends
It's time for our journey together to come to a close

Never lovers, ever friends
We were never truly romantic partners, always only friends

Goodbye, let our hearts call it a day
Let us accept that it's over and move on

But before you walk away
But before we part ways

I sincerely want to say
I genuinely want to express

I wish you bluebirds in the spring
May spring bring you cheerfulness and happiness

To give your heart a song to sing
To fill your heart with joy and melody

And then a kiss, but more than this, i wish you love!
And a loving affection that's more significant than a kiss

And in July a lemonade
May summertime bring you relaxation and refreshment

To cool you in some leafy glade
To provide you with calm and freshness under the shade