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."
The Moon And I
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm safe beneath its light
It passes by, and sees but doesn't tell
The secrets of the night
Like the sweet forbidden feelings deep inside me
The longing for the lover, who's denied me
To feel him, beside me
Each night it hears me cry
And when I sleep, I dream that soon
I'll tell my love, some sunlit afternoon
What no one knows, but the moon and I
(Interlude)
And just as the sea, with its tides
I'm tied to the moon, when its full
So am I
The moon and I, pretend he's in my arms
Each night it hears us cry
And when I sleep, I dream that soon
I'll tell my love, some sunlit afternoon
What no ones knows, but the moon and I
The song "The Moon and I" by Barbra Streisand is a poetic and emotional ballad that depicts the powerful connection between the singer and the moon. Streisand sings about how intimate she and the moon are, as they "know each other well" and share secrets that no one else knows. She feels safe beneath its light and imagines that it's a non-judgmental listener to her tears and sorrows. She reveals that she is deeply longing for a lover who is not with her and feels tied to the moon's movements and tides.
The lyrics of the song echo the feeling of being alone with one's thoughts and emotions, and imagining that someone or something is there to comfort and understand us. The singer confides in the moon as if it were a dear friend, someone who can feel their pain and hope for the future.
The song's overall message is that we all need someone to talk to and confide in, and that the connection between the singer and the moon represents that. It is a beautiful and poetic representation of how humans feel connected to the world around them, and how our emotions can be tied to nature.
Line by Line Meaning
The moon and I, we know each other well
I am very familiar with the moon and its patterns, and we have an unexplainable connection.
I'm safe beneath its light
When I am under the moon's light, I feel at ease and protected.
It passes by, and sees but doesn't tell
The moon observes everything that happens at night but never shares anyone's secrets.
The secrets of the night
The moon is privy to all the hidden things that happen once the sun goes down.
Like the sweet forbidden feelings deep inside me
I have passionate emotions that I cannot express openly or indulge in shamelessly.
The longing for the lover, who's denied me
I desire someone who is out of reach or forbidden, and I cannot fulfill this longing.
To feel him, beside me
I desire to physically be as close as possible to the person I long for.
The moon and I, pretend he's in my arms
I use the moon as a symbol of my unattainable lover and imagine holding him in my arms.
Each night it hears me cry
I pour out my emotional pain to the moon, as if it were a confidant.
And when I sleep, I dream that soon
I have hope that my desires will come true, even if only in my dreams.
I'll tell my love, some sunlit afternoon
I hope to reveal my true feelings to my lover in a moment of vulnerability and lightness.
What no one knows, but the moon and I
Only the moon is privy to my deepest secrets and desires, and they are not meant for anyone else's ears.
(Interlude)
There is a brief musical interlude here with no specific lyrics.
And just as the sea, with its tides
The moon's presence has a direct effect on the rhythmic cycles of nature like the ocean's tides.
I'm tied to the moon, when its full
I feel a strong bond with the moon's energy and power, especially during its full phase.
The moon and I, pretend he's in my arms
Once again, the moon is a symbol of the person I cannot be with, and I imagine holding him close.
Each night it hears us cry
The moon bears witness to my emotional anguish and represents the object of my affection as well.
And when I sleep, I dream that soon
Even in my subconscious state, I hold the hope that my wishes will come true.
I'll tell my love, some sunlit afternoon
I want to express my true feelings to the person I desire during a moment of peaceful and sunny clarity.
What no ones knows, but the moon and I
Again, the secrecy of my desires and emotions is shared only with the moon, and not with anyone else.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt