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 ↴
Everywhere I go
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
Songs about the dream that lies
Within a lover's eyes
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 of Barbra Streisand's song "What Good Is Love?" discuss the singer's disillusionment with love and the romantic tropes often found in songs. The singer describes hearing songs about the moon and stars, hearts beating as one, and clouds and paradise, but laments that none of these songs sing to her. She questions the worth of love if it results in facing difficult, hungry days and a life that feels like a race to keep her heart from crying.
The singer contrasts these songs about the joys of love and romance with the reality of her life, where she feels she lacks all that makes life worth living and doesn't have anything worth giving to a partner. She concludes that romance and love are not good for her and express the futility of searching for love without hope of finding it.
The song's lyrics are a poignant expression of disillusionment and unfulfilled longing and provide an introspective look at one person's experience with romance. Barbra Streisand's emotive delivery of the lyrics helps to convey their depth and introspective qualities.
Line by Line Meaning
Everywhere I go
I am surrounded by romantic songs, but they do not speak to me and my experience with love.
I hear sweet songs about the moon
Romantic songs often feature images of the moon and the night sky.
Songs about the stars above
Love songs often feature imagery of stars and celestial bodies.
And songs of love and June
Love and summer are often associated in romantic songs.
Songs of hearts that beat as one
Romantic songs often feature the idea of two hearts beating as one, symbolizing the unity of two people in love.
To some sweet lovers tune
Romantic songs often have a slow, soft melody that is associated with love.
But they're not songs that sing for me
These romantic songs do not resonate with my experience and feelings about love.
Songs about the dream that lies
Romantic songs often feature images of dreams, representing the idealized version of love that people aspire to.
Within a lover's eyes
Eyes often represent the window to the soul, and romantic songs often focus on what we see in the eyes of our beloved.
Songs about the cloudless sky
The sky is often associated with a sense of freedom and openness, and romantic songs often feature images of clear skies as representing the ideal of love without obstacles or barriers.
And lover's paradise
A paradise is a place of pure bliss, and romantic songs often describe love as a kind of paradise where everything is perfect and beautiful.
Songs about the joys of love
Romantic songs often celebrate the happiness that love brings to people's lives.
And lovers lullabies
Lullabies are soft, soothing songs that are often sung to children, but romantic songs often describe feelings of safety and comfort in the arms of a lover.
But there not songs that sing for me
Despite the prevalence of romantic songs, none of them speak to my experiences with love.
What good is love?
Here, Barbra Streisand begins to question the value of love, suggesting that it may not be worth pursuing if it only leads to negative consequences.
If you have to face
The negative consequences that Streisand refers to may be poverty or hardship that often accompany love.
Cold hungry days and sighing
These negative consequences may manifest in feeling alone, sad, or struggling to make ends meet.
If life's just a race
Love may seem pointless if it is just another competition, where people race to win each other's hearts and leave everyone else behind.
To keep your heart from crying
People may pursue love to avoid feeling lonely, but love cannot always keep sadness at bay.
Let the poet sing of skies above
Streisand suggests that poets often idealize love in their work, but this idealized version may not match everyone's experience.
And endless love
Love that lasts a lifetime is a common trope in poetry, yet it may not be attainable or desirable for everyone.
And hearts that dance
Poetry often describes love as a dance, where two people move in unison and harmony.
Where is my chance?
Streisand expresses frustration with not having found the kind of love that is portrayed in romantic poetry.
For the call of romance
Streisand longs for a love that is passionate, exciting, and full of romance, which she fears may never come.
What good is love?
Streisand returns to the theme of questioning the value of love, suggesting that love may not be worth pursuing if there is nothing else to sustain us.
If you haven't got
Streisand implies that love alone may not be enough to make life worth living, and that there must be other sources of joy and meaning in life as well.
All that makes life worth living
People need other things in life besides love to find meaning and purpose, such as friendship, passion, and a sense of accomplishment.
If you haven't got
Streisand repeats the theme of love being insufficient on its own to sustain us.
Even a thing worth giving
People need something to offer the world, whether it is their time, talent, or compassion, to find meaning and happiness in life.
You can keep your little songs
Streisand dismisses the romantic songs that she has been hearing, implying that they are irrelevant to her life and experiences.
That sing of all the joy that love can bring
Streisand implies that these romantic songs only depict a narrow view of love that does not reflect her reality.
What good's romance?
Streisand returns to the theme of questioning the value of romance, suggesting that it may not be useful or desirable for everyone.
What good is love to me?
Streisand concludes the song by questioning the value of love in her life and wondering if it is something that she truly needs or wants.
Contributed by Lucas F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt