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 Morning After
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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The ground is red
The streets of hate
Are charred and dead
The war stand out
Against the sky
And crowds appear
To wonder why
We ask for right questions
The morning after
We make the suggestions
We've gotta make changes
When I'm going to wait
But the morning after is too late
The shell that's left is still a cage
The flames have not consumed the rage
And men who souls are trapped and slumped
Will wait until the next time comes
The morning after
We ask for right questions
The morning after
We make the suggestions
We gotta make changes
When I'm going to wait
But the morning after
Is too late...
The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's song “The Morning After” speak to the aftermath of war, destruction, and violence. The imagery used in the opening verse, of a black sky and red ground, shows the severity of the destruction, as well as the loss of human life. The streets of hate are charred and dead, vividly describing the physical destruction wrought from conflict. In the aftermath, people begin to ask questions and seek answers. They want to know why this happened and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. They make suggestions, acknowledging the need for change. But there is a sense of urgency to make these changes now, rather than wait for the next time violence erupts.
However, the song suggests that change often does not come quickly enough. The shell of the world left behind is still a cage, with the trauma and anger festering inside those who experienced it. The rage is not consumed by the flames, and the souls of those trapped and slumped will continue to wait until the next time comes. The song ends on a poignant note, stating that the morning after is too late for change to happen. The sense of urgency in making changes to prevent future destruction and violence is palpable throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is black
The sky is dark, suggesting an ominous atmosphere.
The ground is red
The ground appears to be stained with blood or other symbols of violence.
The streets of hate
The streets are filled with anger and resentment.
Are charred and dead
The anger and fear have burned away any hope of life or growth.
The war stand out
The conflict is the most prominent feature of this landscape.
Against the sky
The war and its effects are visible against the backdrop of the sky.
And crowds appear
People are present to witness the devastation.
To wonder why
They ask themselves why this destruction has occurred.
The morning after
The aftermath of the conflict.
We ask for right questions
In the aftermath, people long for clarity and insight into what has happened.
We make the suggestions
In order to avoid this type of destruction in the future, people offer solutions and ideas.
We've gotta make changes
It is evident that changes must be made to avoid this type of devastation.
When I'm going to wait
Although it is clear that changes must be made, some people choose to wait and see.
But the morning after is too late
By the time the full impact of the destruction is felt, it is often too late to prevent it.
The shell that's left is still a cage
Even after the conflict is over, people may be left feeling trapped and confined, unable to move beyond their trauma.
The flames have not consumed the rage
Although the outward battle may be over, the underlying anger and emotion may still be present.
And men who souls are trapped and slumped
People who have been physically and emotionally affected by the conflict may feel weighed down and overwhelmed.
Will wait until the next time comes
Despite the destruction, some people may continue to wait until another conflict arises to take action.
But the morning after is too late...
The cycle of destruction and rebuilding begins anew, often with tragic consequences.
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt