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."
Here s That Rainy Day
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those left-over dreams
Funny, but here's that rainy day!
Here's that rainy day
They told me about
And I laughed at the thought
That it might turn out this way!
Where is that worn-out wish
That I threw aside,
After it brought my lover near?
Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day
Funny, that rainy day is here!
Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day
Funny
That rainy day is here!
The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's song "Here's That Rainy Day" reflect a sense of regret and reflection on past decisions. The opening lines "Maybe I should have saved those left-over dreams" suggest that the singer may have wasted opportunities or not appreciated certain life experiences. The sudden appearance of a rainy day serves as a metaphor for the unexpectedness of life and how things can turn out differently than we had anticipated.
The singer then reflects on how they had previously laughed at the idea of a rainy day, dismissing it as unlikely to happen. This again draws attention to the unpredictability of life and how we cannot always control what happens to us. The mention of a "worn-out wish" that was discarded after it brought the singer's lover near suggests that there may have been past romantic relationships that did not work out. The contrast between love and a "cold rainy day" reinforces the sense of disappointment and loss that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I should have saved
Those left-over dreams
I regret not pursuing my dreams and ambitions from the past.
Here's that rainy day
They told me about
I am currently experiencing the difficult and sad times that others had warned me about.
And I laughed at the thought
That it might turn out this way!
I scoffed at the idea that things could go wrong and didn't prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Where is that worn-out wish
That I threw aside,
After it brought my lover near?
I discarded a heartfelt desire that had brought me love and happiness, now wondering where it has gone.
Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day
Funny, that rainy day is here!
It's ironic how the warmth and happiness of love can turn into the sadness and bleakness of a rainy day, which is happening to me now.
Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day
Funny,
That rainy day is here!
Reiterating the irony of the situation, and emphasizing my current state of sadness and heartbreak.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROBERT REYNOLDS, SCOTTY HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Blackburn
Barbra's latter day take on, IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING
Not yet the wee small hours, but a quarter after midnight. Helped my wife of 40 years to fall asleep again with my patented knee rub and checked to see what I just missed on Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio. It's Barbra Streisand singing what sounds like a late-in-life version of the song our favorite singer introduced to the world in long ago 1955.
Two things I notice immediately: Barbra's more mature voice is . . . well, better (to my ears). More in keeping with a lyric that Sinatra treated with such late-night tenderness. The other thing was the unusual musical bridge: a solo on piano -- no other instrument; a good long solo that was well . . . really unusual. It sounded to me like my favorite compatriot, Canada's other gift to jazz.
Before checking to see if it's at YouTube, I went to Wiki for an updated note on the song -- who has recorded it since its introduction in '55. Sure enough!
"Barbra Streisand has covered the song twice. On her 1991 retrospective, Just For the Record, Barbra sang a medley of 'When You Gotta Go' and 'Wee Small Hours of the Morning' (from a 1969 live performance). In 2009, Streisand recorded a new, studio version of "Wee Small Hours" for her album, Love is the Answer, produced by jazz artist Diana Krall."
Best version since the original? At this moment (12:21 Frozen Prairie Time) I would say so.
[Thanks, StreisandLand for sharing!]
Francesco Cirillo
Maybe I should have saved
Those left-over dreams
Funny, but here's that rainy day!
Here's that rainy day
They told me about
And I laughed at the thought
That it might turn out this way!
Where is that worn-out wish
That I threw aside,
After it brought my lover near?
Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day
Funny, that rainy day is here!
Funny how love becomes
A cold rainy day
Funny
That rainy day is here!
Denise Mcdonald
Yes, this is best version of song I've heard. I hav listened to many versions
Barbra infuses this song with her fantastical musical nuances ...that makes this an effortless hit by this musical genius...
Steve Bernstein
Jeeez. Everything she does/did just has stardust on it and my goodness what an arrangement. My biggest question is that 5 people gave a thumbs down!?? Superb and this song is so beautiful. One of my Dad's faves at 92!
MrMjp58
The only singer I've ever heard whose every note is both perfectly musical, packed with meaning in the lyric and a 'comment' on the words she's singing - as she's singing them. A very difficult idea for me to express in a brief sentence or two.
dick allietta
Can't hear this wonderful emotional masterpiece enough.
Jerry Tubb
I melt when she hits the high notes!
NICEJAZZTRIO
Thank you, Babs, for being open to the musical help of all of D.K.'s wonderful people. It made all the difference as you obviously already understood. The results are fully satisfying to those of us listening. What a wonderful, wonderful decision.
Amanda S. Stevenson
If you want people to listen to you while you are singing . . . sing THIS SONG! Barbra does one of the best renditions. I met a guy who bought EVERYBODY'S version of this song.
jennifer86010
Streisand really sells this great standard in a very quiet and personal singing style. Beautiful and vulnerable. I would love to hear Barbra sing the Grammy-winning Nan Schwartz arrangement of Here's That Rainy Day. That would be totally heartbreaking.
Mark Blackburn
What an informed, informative comment: First I agree that Barbra really "sells this great standard, in a very quiet and personal singing style: Beautiful and vulnerable." Second, thanks, Jennifer86010 for singling out the best ever arrangement -- a Grammy winner for Nan Schwartz -- on Natalie Cole's retire-the-trophy (best since Sinatra's -- and Nan's parents were both musicians who worked with Frank -- recorded with him). But this is my favorite version since Natalie's -- not least because Canada's other greatest gift to jazz Diana Krall produced Barbra's album -- and and that's her playing the most unusual piano solo, musical bridge. I spotted that -- her distinctive approach to a jazz solo and , checked with Wiki: sure enough! (posted a note of my own, above) Thanks again for your 'noticing.'
Robert Silvestri
This song has been recorded by so many great artists since 1953, that it is hard to say who sings it the best. But I am partial to Ella and Barbra and Tony Bennett and Vic Damone. Barbra just has this passion in every song she performs.