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."
Stoney End
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my poor mother worked the mines
I was raised on the Good Book Jesus
Till I read between the lines
Now I don't believe
I wanna to see the morning
Going down the stoney end
Down the stoney end
Mama, let me start all over
Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
And I can still remember him
With love light in his eyes
But the light flickered out and parted
As the sun began to rise
Now I don't believe
I want to see the morning
Going down the stoney end
That I never wanted to go
Down the stoney end
Mama, let me start all over
Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
(Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
Mama, cradle me again)
Never mind the forecast
'Cause the sky has lost control
'Cause the furry and the broken thunders
Come to match my raging soul
Now I don't believe
I wanna to see the morning
Going down the stoney end
I never wanted to go
Down the stoney and
Mama, let me start all over
Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
(Going down the stoney end
I never wanted to go
I never wanted to go)
I never wanted to go
Mama
I never wanted to go
(Going down the stoney end
I never wanted to go
I never wanted to go)
The opening lines of the song "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand establish the backstory of the singer. She was born from love and raised by a mother who worked in the mines. She grew up on religious teachings but began to see things differently after reading between the lines. She expresses her disbelief in what she was taught and a yearning to see the morning going down to the "stoney end" despite never wanting to go there.
The second verse takes a somber turn as the singer remembers a person who once had love in his eyes but whose light flickered and went out as the sun started to rise. The chorus then repeats her wish to see the morning and go down to the stoney end while asking her mother to cradle her again. The final verse seems to capture the singer's current state of mind, one that is filled with rage and a sense of a loss of control. However, she still desires to see the morning and go down to the stoney end.
Overall, the song is a reflection on a journey from love and faith to doubt and disillusionment. The stoney end could symbolize the inevitability of a difficult ending or a rocky emotional endpoint for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born from love
I come from a place of love and affection
And my poor mother worked the mines
My mother had to do grueling labor in the mines to provide for us
I was raised on the Good Book Jesus
I grew up learning about Jesus from the Bible
Till I read between the lines
But as I got older, I started to question some of the teachings
Now I don't believe
And now I've lost my faith completely
I wanna to see the morning
I long to experience a new beginning
Going down the stoney end
And I hope to find that through a difficult journey
I never wanted to go
Although I'm scared and uncertain, I know it's necessary for growth
Mama, let me start all over
I wish I could go back and start fresh
Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
I long for comfort and support from my mother even as an adult
And I can still remember him
I reminisce about someone important who provided me with guidance and love
With love light in his eyes
They looked at me with pure, genuine affection
But the light flickered out and parted
But unfortunately they are no longer here
As the sun began to rise
Perhaps their presence left as things started to change
Never mind the forecast
I don't care what's supposed to happen
'Cause the sky has lost control
I feel like things are unpredictable and chaotic
'Cause the furry and the broken thunders
Storms of bad emotions and experiences are brewing inside me
Come to match my raging soul
And they are fueled by my own inner turmoil
(Going down the stoney end
And even though I'm afraid
I never wanted to go
I know that I have to take this journey
Mama
And I still need my mother's support
I never wanted to go
But I know it's for the best
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA NYRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lulu Pavone
I was born from love and my poor mother worked the mines
I was raised on the Good Book Jesus till I read between the lines
now I don't believe I want to see the morning
Going down the Stoney End
I never wanted to go down the Stoney End
Mama let me start all over
cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
I can still remember him with love light in his eyes
but the light flickered out and parted as the sun began to rise
Now I don't believe I want to see the morning
Going down the Stoney End
I never wanted to go down the Stoney End
Mama let me start all over
cradle me, mama, cradle me again
(cradle me, mama, cradle me again
Mama, cradle me again...)
Never mind the forecast 'cause the sky has lost control
'cause the fury and the broken thunders come to match my raging soul
Now I don't believe I want to see the morning
Going down the Stoney End
I never wanted to go down the Stoney End
Mama let me start all over
cradle me, mama, cradle me again
going down the Stoney End...
Laura Nyro
Ted Reynolds
Did not know this was Streisand's cut! She's singing her azz off! ALWAYS loved her voice, but she really showcases her range, particularly at the end. INCREDIBLE!
Marty Emmons
Now that I've experienced so many genres of music and the great vocalists and musicians, I can appreciate the level Barbra Streisand had taken Laura Nyro's beautiful song.
patrick ryan
The entire album is a treat (for all times). And, yes, she does a bang up job with this Laura Nyro number. I love to sing along with it, having nearly mastered the range necessary to give the song its full impact.
Pat Glaze
@Nijee Vaughn Yep - she basically recorded it verbatim.
Nijee Vaughn
This is actually a song by Laura Nyro and Barbara covered it
J ROMANO
No one does it like you Barbra. Still gives me goosebumps at 58 when I hear your songs❤️❤️
Michael L. Brubaker
@Stephen Alessini I thought it was appendicitis slow action on the docs part
Reene Keenie
Ditto!!
Stephen Alessini
Andy Warhol died at 58 after a gall bladder operation, but you already knew that.
C M
I was 17 when this song came out, drove my family crazy playing it so loud. Ms Streisand's voice is a gift to the 🌍