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."
Pappa Can You Hear Me?
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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Oh God, and my father
Who's also in Heaven
May the light
Of this flickering candle
Illuminate the night the way
Your spirit illuminates my soul
Papa, can you see me?
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Papa, are you near me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you help me not be frightened?
Looking at the skies
I seem to see a million eyes
Which ones are yours?
Where are you now that yesterday
Has waved goodbye
And closed its doors?
The night is so much darker
The wind is so much colder
The world I see is so much bigger
Now that I'm alone
Papa, please forgive me
Try to understand me
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Can you hear me praying
Anything I'm saying
Even though the night is filled with voices?
I remember ev'rything you thought me
Ev'ry book I've ever read
Can all the words in all the books
Help me to face what lies ahead?
The trees are so much taller
And I feel so much smaller
The moon is twice as lonely
And the stars are half as bright
Papa, how I love you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I miss you
Kissing me goodnight
The song "Pappa Can You Hear Me?" is a touching plea from a daughter to her father who has passed away. She begins by addressing both her earthly father and God, acknowledging the connection between the two. She then asks her father if he can hear and see her from wherever he is, as she feels lost and alone without him. She begs for his presence, asking him to guide and protect her.
As she looks up at the sky, she imagines all the stars as eyes, and wonders which ones belong to her father. She feels even more alone and scared in the dark, and asks for forgiveness and understanding, pleading with her father to hear her prayers and comfort her.
The daughter then reflects on all the things her father has taught her, and wonders if those lessons can help her face the uncertain future. She feels small and insignificant compared to the vast world around her, and expresses her deep love and need for her father, wishing for him to kiss her goodnight one more time.
Overall, the song poignantly captures the universal longing for a lost loved one, and the deep, unbreakable bond between a father and daughter.
Line by Line Meaning
God, our heavenly Father
Oh God, and my father
Who's also in Heaven
May the light of this flickering candle illuminate the night the way your spirit illuminates my soul
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you see me?
Papa, can you see me?
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Papa, are you near me?
Papa, are you near me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you help me not to be frightened?
Looking at the skies
I seem to see a million eyes
Which ones are yours?
Where are you now that yesterday has waved goodbye and closed its doors?
Where are you now that yesterday has waved goodbye and closed its doors?
The night is so much darker, the wind is so much colder, the world I see is so much bigger now that I'm alone
Papa, please forgive me
Try to understand me
Try to understand me
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Can you hear me praying anything I'm saying even though the night is filled with voices?
Can you hear me praying anything I'm saying even though the night is filled with voices?
I remember everything you taught me, every book I've ever read, can all the words in all the books help me to face what lies ahead?
I remember everything you taught me
Every book I've ever read
Can all the words in all the books help me to face what lies ahead?
The trees are so much taller and I feel so much smaller, the moon is twice as lonely and the stars are half as bright
Papa, how I love you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I miss you kissing me goodnight
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN, MICHEL LEGRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt