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."
Grown-Up Christmas List
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I'm all grown up now
Can you still help somehow
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream
So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up X-mas list
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
What is this illusion called
The innocence of youth
Maybe only in that blind belief
Can we ever find the truth
There'd be no more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And every man would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grow-up X-mas list
This is my only life-long wish
This is my grown-up X-mas list....
The song "Grown-Up Christmas List" by Barbra Streisand is a sentimental and optimistic reflection on the passing of time and the power of hope. The opening lines refer to the composer's childhood and the spirit of wonder and possibility that children experience. As an adult, the singer realizes that some of the problems of the world require more than fantasy - they demand action. However, the desire to dream and believe in goodness remains strong. The lyrics express the hope that people can come together to create a world without war, injustice or heartbreak. The climax of the song is a series of wishes that include: healing for all wounded souls, friendships for everyone, a victory for justice, and endless love.
The line that reads "The innocence of youth, Maybe only in that blind belief, Can we ever find the truth" subtly implies that the belief in goodness that children possess is naive, but it may be the only way to ever find the truth. By suggesting that the world needs an influx of childlike optimism in the face of darkness, Streisand challenges the listener to consider their own relationship to hope and compassion. The final repetition of the line "This is my grown-up Christmas list" drives home the message that everyone can contribute to creating a world that is more just, peaceful, and loving.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember me
Do you, Santa, still remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I sat on your lap and told you my Christmas wishes when I was a child
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
I wrote letters to you, telling you my childhood dreams
Well I'm all grown up now
I'm an adult now, but I still believe in the magic of Christmas
Can you still help somehow
Can you still help me make the world a better place?
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream
I may not be a child anymore, but I still have hopes and dreams for a better world
So here's my lifelong wish
Here's my ultimate, lifelong wish
My grown-up X-mas list
My Christmas wish list as an adult
Not for myself but for a world in need
My wishes are not for my personal gain, but for the betterment of the world
No more lives torn apart
I wish there were no more wars and conflicts that hurt and separate families
That wars would never start
I wish that there would be no wars at all
And time would heal all hearts
I wish that people could heal and move on from their past traumas with time
Every man would have a friend
I wish that every person in the world would have at least one friend
That right would always win
I wish that justice would always prevail over evil
And love would never end
I wish that love would always exist and overcome hate
This is my grown-up Christmas list
These are my wishes for a better world this Christmas
What is this illusion called
What is this idea of a perfect world called?
The innocence of youth
Perhaps it's only in the mind of a child that we can imagine a better world
Maybe only in that blind belief
Perhaps only in our naive beliefs as children can we truly believe in a better world
Can we ever find the truth
Is there really a way to achieve a better world?
This is my only life-long wish
This wish for a better world is the only thing I have ever wanted and will want for the rest of my life
This is my grown-up X-mas list...
These are the things I wish for this Christmas as an adult
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Linda Thompson, David Foster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt