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."
Like a Straw in the Wind
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I go whirling around
Like a bird who's just learnin' to fly
Feet are not on the ground
Drift from pillar to post, so helplessly
What wanted the most, winds up a ghostly memory
Your world just falls apart
Nothing you try to do
Helps you to comfort your heart
Don't yo' heart get all the bricks
Where your hopes come unpinned
Trouble steps in and make you feel
Like a straw in the wind
Like a straw in the wind, free and easy
That's my style, I go whirling around
Howdy-do me? Watch me smile
Like a bird who's just learned to fly
Fare the well me after a while
Feet are not on the ground
So I gotta roam, drift from pillar to post
Sweetenin' water, cherry wine
So helplessly, thank you
Kindly suits me fine
What I wanted the most, winds up a ghostly memory
My man is gone and when your man is gone
Your world just falls apart
So any place I hang my hat is home
Birds roostin' in a tree
Pick up and go, and the goin' proves
That's how it oughta be
I pick up too
When the spirit moves me
Cross the river, run the bend
Howdy stranger? So long friend
There is a voice in the lonesome wind
I hear a-whisperin' roam
I'm goin' where a welcome mat is
No matter where that is
'Cause any place I hang my hat is home
"Like a Straw in the Wind" is a song by Barbra Streisand from her second studio album, "The Second Barbra Streisand Album", which was released in 1963. The song is about losing the love of one's life and feeling directionless as a result. The lyrics compare the feeling of being lost to a straw in the wind, tossed around aimlessly by the breeze. The singer describes her inability to find comfort or stability after her lover has left her, and how her search for a sense of home and belonging takes her across the river and beyond.
The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is lost and untethered, describing how she floats from place to place like a bird who is just learning to fly. She is unsure of where she belongs or what she wants, and the passing of time only serves to make her feel more adrift. The song is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of the pain of loss and the search for meaning in the aftermath.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a straw in the wind
I feel lost and vulnerable, blown about by circumstances beyond my control.
I go whirling around
I'm constantly moving, with no fixed direction or purpose in life.
Like a bird who's just learnin' to fly
I'm inexperienced and unsure of myself, trying to find my place in the world.
Feet are not on the ground
I'm not grounded in reality, living in a dream world that doesn't always align with the real world.
Drift from pillar to post, so helplessly
I'm aimless and directionless, moving from place to place without any sense of purpose or direction.
What wanted the most, winds up a ghostly memory
What I desire the most often eludes me, leaving behind only a faint memory.
My man is gone and when your man is gone
When you lose the person you love, your world falls apart and you feel lost and alone.
Your world just falls apart
Your life is thrown into disarray and you're left with a sense of emptiness and loss.
Nothing you try to do
No matter what you try to do, you can't seem to fill the void left by your lost love.
Helps you to comfort your heart
You can't find solace or peace of mind, no matter how hard you try.
Don't yo' heart get all the bricks
Don't let your emotions weigh you down and leave you feeling trapped and hopeless.
Where your hopes come unpinned
Where your dreams and aspirations come undone, leaving you feeling despondent and uncertain.
Trouble steps in and make you feel
Life's challenges and difficulties can leave you feeling vulnerable and exposed, like a straw in the wind.
Like a straw in the wind, free and easy
Despite feeling lost and vulnerable, I try to maintain a sense of freedom and independence in how I live my life.
That's my style, I go whirling around
I embrace the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, and try to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.
Howdy-do me? Watch me smile
I try to put on a brave face and make the best of every situation, even when things aren't going well.
Fare the well me after a while
I don't stay in one place for too long, always moving on to the next adventure or opportunity.
So I gotta roam, drift from pillar to post
I feel compelled to keep moving, always searching for the next big thing.
Sweetenin' water, cherry wine
I enjoy the simple things in life, and try to find joy in the small pleasures that come my way.
So helplessly, thank you
Despite my independence and freedom, I can't help feeling lost and alone at times.
Kindly suits me fine
Despite my struggles, I try to maintain a positive outlook on life and appreciate the good things when they come my way.
Birds roostin' in a tree
The natural world is a source of comfort and inspiration for me, and I find solace in its simplicity.
Pick up and go, and the goin' proves
I don't stay in one place for too long, always on the move and exploring new horizons.
That's how it oughta be
I believe that life is meant to be lived to the fullest, with no regrets and no looking back.
I pick up too
I'm always ready to move on to the next adventure, no matter what it may be.
When the spirit moves me
I follow my heart and my instincts, always open to new experiences and opportunities.
Cross the river, run the bend
I'm willing to take risks and step outside my comfort zone to seize new opportunities and experiences.
Howdy stranger? So long friend
I'm always meeting new people and making new connections, but I'm also comfortable saying goodbye and moving on when the time comes.
There is a voice in the lonesome wind
The natural world can be both beautiful and haunting, invoking a sense of wonder and melancholy.
I hear a-whisperin' roam
I'm always looking for new horizons to explore and new adventures to embark upon.
I'm goin' where a welcome mat is
I'm always looking for places where I feel welcome and appreciated, and where I can make a difference in the world.
No matter where that is
I'm not tied down to any one place or person, and I'm always ready to embrace new experiences and opportunities.
'Cause any place I hang my hat is home
Home is not a place, it's a feeling of belonging and connection, no matter where you may be in the world.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt