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."
What Good Is Love
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear sweet songs about the moon
Songs about the stars above
And songs of love and June
Songs of hearts that beat as one
To some sweet lovers tune
But they're not songs that sing for me
Songs about the dream that lies
Songs about the cloudless sky
And lover's paradise
Songs about the joys of love
And lovers lullabies
But there not songs that sing for me
What good is love?
If you have to face
Cold hungry days and sighing
What good is love?
If life's just a race
To keep your heart from crying
Let the poet sing of skies above
And endless love
And hearts that dance
Where is my chance?
For the call of romance
What good is love?
If you haven't got
All that makes life worth living
What good is love?
If you haven't got
Even a thing worth giving
You can keep your little songs
That sing of all the joy that love can bring
What good's romance?
What good is love to me?
You can keep your little songs
That sing of all the joy that love can bring
What good's romance?
What good is love to me?
The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's song "What Good Is Love" reflect a sense of disillusionment with traditional romantic ideals. The singer notes the prevalence of love songs in popular culture, but feels disconnected from their sentiments. Rather than extolling the joys of love and partnership, the singer questions the practical value of these emotions in a world full of hardship and struggle. The lines "What good is love? If you have to face cold hungry days and sighing" and "What good is love? If life's just a race to keep your heart from crying" suggest a jaded perspective on the idea of love as a panacea for life's problems.
However, the singer also expresses a longing for "the call of romance" and a chance to experience the joys of love in a meaningful way. The lyrics "Where is my chance? For the call of romance" show that while the singer is skeptical of love's value, they are still hoping to find a meaningful connection with another person. In this way, the song captures the complexity of human emotions, which can be both rational and irrational, cynical and hopeful.
Overall, "What Good Is Love" is a thoughtful exploration of the role that love plays in our lives, and the ways in which our perceptions of love can be shaped by larger societal forces. The song acknowledges the beauty of traditional love songs, but also challenges us to think critically about their underlying assumptions.
Line by Line Meaning
Everywhere I go
Regardless of where I go
I hear sweet songs about the moon
I constantly hear songs referring to the moon
Songs about the stars above
Songs mentioning the stars in the sky
And songs of love and June
Songs that correlate love with the month of June
Songs of hearts that beat as one
Songs describing two hearts beating together
To some sweet lovers tune
To the tune of a sweet love song
But they're not songs that sing for me
However, these songs do not feel personal to me
Songs about the dream that lies
Songs referencing the dream that love can bring
Within a lover's eyes
The dream that is seen in the eyes of a lover
Songs about the cloudless sky
Songs alluding to a clear sky
And lover's paradise
A paradise that is achieved through love
Songs about the joys of love
Songs that describe the pleasures of being in love
And lovers lullabies
Lullabies that lovers might sing to each other
But there not songs that sing for me
However, these songs do not resonate with me personally
What good is love?
What is the value of love?
If you have to face
When you have to come across
Cold hungry days and sighing
Days with a lack of warmth, food and a feeling of sadness
What good is love?
What benefit is there to love?
If life's just a race
When life is only a competition
To keep your heart from crying
To prevent your heart from feeling the pain of sorrow
Let the poet sing of skies above
Let the poets sing about the heaven above
And endless love
And everlasting love
And hearts that dance
And hearts that are filled with joy
Where is my chance?
What about me? When will I experience it?
For the call of romance
For the allure of love
What good is love?
What is the worth of love?
If you haven't got
If you don't have
All that makes life worth living
All of the aspects of life that make it worth living
What good is love?
What value does love have?
If you haven't got
If you don't possess
Even a thing worth giving
Something to offer to others
You can keep your little songs
You may hold on to your small songs
That sing of all the joy that love can bring
That express the happiness love can create
What good's romance?
What purpose does romance have?
What good is love to me?
What is the value of love to me?
You can keep your little songs
You can maintain your minor compositions
That sing of all the joy that love can bring
That articulate the joy that originates from love
What good's romance?
What point is there to romance?
What good is love to me?
What value does love hold for me?
Contributed by Lincoln Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt