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."
No Easy Way Down
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now it must fall to the ground
Now your sad eyes reveal just how badly you feel
'Cause there is no easy way down
The view from the cliffs must have been exciting
And up to the peaks you were bound
Now you're stranded alone and the path is unknown
No, it isn't very easy (no easy way down)
When you're left on your own (no easy way down)
No, it isn't very easy when each road you take
Is one more mistake, and there's no one to break your fall
And lead you back home, yeah
We all like to climb to the heights and low
Where our fantasy world cannot be found
But you must know in the end when it's time to descend
That there is no easy way down
You know you're gonna find
That there is no easy way down
No, it isn't very easy
When you're left on your own
No, it isn't very easy
When you're left on your own (no easy way down)
No it isn't very easy (no easy way down)
When you're left on your own (no easy way down)
Barbra Streisand's song No Easy Way Down speaks about the difficulties of descending from a high point, be it a physical or a metaphorical climb, while also acknowledging the thrill of reaching the top. The opening line "Your toy balloon has sailed in the sky, love / But now it must fall to the ground" symbolizes the peak of a journey, a moment of grandeur that is followed by a sudden reality check. It is said that life can be compared to a balloon flight, where one rises higher and higher until they must inevitably come back down. The tone of the song is empathetic, as Streisand recognizes the sadness and confusion that come with sudden change and loss.
The lyrics mention the "view from the cliffs" and "up to the peaks you were bound", which can represent the pursuit of success, fame, or a personal goal. However, the emotional fallout of such lofty aspirations is the loneliness and uncertainty one faces when descending from that height. The line "When each road you take / Is one more mistake" echoes this sentiment, implying that the journey back down is fraught with obstacles and missteps. The final verse reminds us that reaching great heights can be a form of escapism, a way to avoid reality. But eventually, one must come back down to earth and face their problems head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Your toy balloon has sailed in the sky, love
You were excited and elated, like a child playing with a balloon, when you soared to the heights
But now it must fall to the ground
You must come back to reality after your soaring highs
Now your sad eyes reveal just how badly you feel
Your eyes show that you are feeling sad and lost now that you are back down to earth
'Cause there is no easy way down
It's difficult to come back down after reaching such heights
The view from the cliffs must have been exciting
You enjoyed the thrill of the climb and what you saw from up high
And up to the peaks you were bound
You were determined to reach the top of the mountain
Now you're stranded alone and the path is unknown
You are lost and unsure of how to get back down
And there is no easy way down
There is no simple way to make your way back down to the ground
No, it isn't very easy (no easy way down)
Coming back down is not at all a simple process
When you're left on your own (no easy way down)
It's even harder when there is no one to help you through the process
No, it isn't very easy when each road you take
Every attempt to come down is an exhausting and challenging process
Is one more mistake, and there's no one to break your fall
You are afraid to make a wrong turn and there is no one to catch you if you fall
And lead you back home, yeah
No one is there to show you the way back to safety
We all like to climb to the heights and low
We all enjoy the highs and lows of life
Where our fantasy world cannot be found
A place where we can escape from reality and be in our own world
But you must know in the end when it's time to descend
Eventually, we must come back to reality
That there is no easy way down
But it's never an easy process to come back down
You know you're gonna find
You will eventually realize
That there is no easy way down
That coming back down is always difficult and challenging.
No, it isn't very easy
It's never easy to come back down from the highs
When you're left on your own
It's even harder when you have no one to help you through it
No it isn't very easy
And it never will be an easy process
When you're left on your own
Especially when you have to do it alone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt