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."
Sleepin' Bee
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the palm of your hand
You're bewitched and deep in love's
Long looked after land
Where you'll see a sun up in sky
With the mornin' dew
And where the days go laughin' by
Sleep on bee, don't 'waken
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the taken
I am happy at last
Maybe I dreams but he seems
Sweet golden as a crown
A sleepin' bee done told me
I will walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love
I has found
Sleep on bee, don't 'waken
Can not believe what just passed
He's mine for the taken
I am happy at last
Maybe I dreams but he seems
Golden as a crown
A sleepin' bee told me
I will walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love
I has found
The song "A Sleepin' Bee" was written by composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Truman Capote for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers. The song is a romantic ballad that uses the metaphor of a sleeping bee to symbolize the intoxicating feeling of being in love. The lyrics are about a person who holds a sleeping bee in the palm of their hand and experiences a sense of enchantment and joy at the prospect of finding true love.
The first verse describes the feeling of being "bewitched" by love while holding a sleeping bee. The second verse continues the metaphor and describes the beauty of the natural world that can be seen in a state of pure love. In the chorus, the singer urges the bee to continue sleeping so that they can savor the feeling of being in love. The bridge highlights the singer's hopes and dreams for the future and emphasizes the transformative power of love.
Overall, the song is a celebration of love and the optimism and happiness that it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
When a bee lies sleepin'
When everything is calm and peaceful
In the palm of your hand
In a place of safety and protection
You're bewitched and deep in love's
You are enchanted and under the spell of love
Long looked after land
A place where love is nurtured and cared for
Where you'll see a sun up in sky
A bright future
With the mornin' dew
A fresh start each day
And where the days go laughin' by
Where there is joy and happiness in each moment
As love comes callin' on you
As love finds its way to you
Sleep on bee, don't 'waken
Stay in this moment of peacefulness
Can't believe what just passed
In disbelief of the happiness that has come
He's mine for the taken
The love is now finally yours
I am happy at last
You have found true happiness
Maybe I dreams but he seems
Could this all be a dream?
Sweet golden as a crown
The love is pure and precious
A sleepin' bee done told me
A sign or message from the universe
I will walk with my feet off the ground
Float through life with happiness and love
When my one true love
The love that was meant to be
I has found
Has finally been found
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARLEN, HAROLD / CAPOTE, TRUMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gregg Anderson
She sang so beautifully here, balanced, sweet, up in her head voice, without belting. Delectable, pure and enchanting singing. Her countenance radiated with charm and innocence. I Love this video and wish there would have been more like it.
Gregg Anderson
@chickchanteuse1 Yes exactly.
chickchanteuse1
Actually it's a mix of head and chest voice. Not an easy thing to accomplish.
Gregg Anderson
@PolishViking yes!
Thomas Murphy
she was a miracle....technically, emotionally....a soul singer....delightful....they don't make 'em like barbra no more.
Louis Alemayehu
her early recordings had excellent and strong jazz arrangements. Awesome how someone so young could have been so good. I like this early "raw' stuff. I feel it was better than the much of the later stuff. Impressive indeed! Maybe cause it was authentic and immediate.
ravenocisty
I love this song so much. Its purity, her elocution and bell-like voice are perfection.
chichillguy
the thing about streisand is she enunciates so you can understand every word. and that's just for starters. she changed everything about pop music. the most influential singer of the second half of the twentieth century
Jim Mason
When you're from Brooklyn you need to work on enunciation or no one will know what the hell you are singing. No offense to Brooklyn...I love Brooklyn.
Brian M. Bacchus
and her control of her vibrato at this young age is extraordinary.