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."
MEMORY
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
I can dream of the old days
Life was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Every street lamp seems to beat
A fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp sputters
And soon it will be morning
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory, too
And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale court smell of morning
A street lamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you'll touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun
The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's song Memory from the musical Cats reflect the melancholy feeling of loneliness and nostalgia that is common to human experience. The opening line sets a somber tone, describing a midnight where there's no sound on the pavement, suggesting that the city has gone to bed. The use of personification is visible when the moon is referred to as if it had human-like emotions. Streisand describes a withered life characterised by withered leaves collecting at her feet and the wind beginning to moan.
The chorus of “Memory” repeats the word “memory” three times in the first sentence of each phrase, capturing the idea that memories can be all-consuming. The line “I can dream of the old days, life was beautiful then” speaks to the idea that memories can be bittersweet, and sometimes more pleasant than the present. Streisand muses she “remembers the time I knew what happiness was” then plaintively asks for “the memory [to]live again.”
In the third stanza, daylight has arrived, and with it, the hope of a new beginning. Streisand sings of waiting for a new day to begin instead of giving in to despair. The end of the song speaks of leaving behind the past and memories in favour of a new day, hoping for happiness in the future. The song's last line, "look, a new day has begun," is a hopeful message of survival that suggests that the pain of the past will be left behind and that new beginnings are possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight
It is currently midnight.
Not a sound from the pavement
The surrounding area is quiet.
Has the moon lost her memory
The moon is distant and unresponsive to the singer's emotions.
She is smiling alone
The singer's loneliness is highlighted by the personification of the moon's contentment.
In the lamplight
The moon is illuminated by street lamps.
The withered leaves collect at my feet
The environment is unkempt and abandoned.
And the wind begins to moan
The singer feels a sense of impending sadness.
Memory, all alone in the moonlight
The singer's thoughts are consumed by nostalgic memories.
I can dream of the old days
The singer longs for the past.
Life was beautiful then
The singer recalls a time when life was more enjoyable.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
The singer recalls a specific moment of joy.
Let the memory live again
The singer wants to relive the past and escape the present.
Every street lamp seems to beat
The street lamps evoke a sense of dread and finality.
A fatalistic warning
The ominous feeling persists.
Someone mutters and the street lamp sputters
The environment is deteriorating further.
And soon it will be morning
Time is moving forward, whether the singer wants it to or not.
Daylight
It is now morning and daylight is present.
I must wait for the sunrise
The singer is waiting for a new beginning.
I must think of a new life
The singer is focused on creating a better life.
And I mustn't give in
The singer is determined to keep moving forward.
When the dawn comes
The singer is looking forward to another day.
Tonight will be a memory, too
The singer is already looking back on the present moment.
And a new day will begin
There is always the promise of a new beginning.
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The environment is unpleasant and reminiscent of a past that is over.
The stale court smell of morning
The morning is associated with negative feelings.
A street lamp dies
The environment continues to deteriorate.
Another night is over
The present moment is fleeting.
Another day is dawning
The promise of a new beginning continues.
Touch me
The singer is inviting physical contact as a source of comfort.
It's so easy to leave me
The singer is vulnerable and afraid of abandonment.
All alone with the memory
The singer is consumed by memories of the past.
Of my days in the sun
The singer longs for happier days.
If you'll touch me
The singer is reaching out for emotional support.
You'll understand what happiness is
The singer believes that physical touch can provide emotional fulfillment.
Look, a new day has begun
The singer is embracing the promise of a new beginning.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, T.S. Eliot, Zdenek Hruby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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