Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, New York), is an Academy Award-winning American singer, theater and film actress, composer, film producer, and director. She has won Oscars for Best Actress and Best Original Song as well as multiple Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and an honorary Tony Award. She received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor on December 7, 2008. She is the most successful female recording artist according to the Recording Industry Assoc. of America (RIAA).

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."

When You Gotta Go / In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

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When you gotta go, you gotta go

And so although you'd like to stay a little while,

You've gotta show a little style, and exit smiling.

Goodbye to all that,

Just reach for your had

And go on your own sweet way,

You know in your heart,

Although you are parting,

You'll live to love another day.

When you gotta fly, you gotta fly

And though your sky tomorrow may not be as bright,

Be glad you had a spot of light,

To spend a while in,

So, pocket your pride

Though deep down inside,

The tears that you're crying

Ain't easy to hide,

When you gotta go, you've just gotta say good-bye...

In the wee, small hours of the morning

While the whole wide world is fast asleep,

You lie awake, and you think about the guy,

And never, ever think of counting sheep,

When your lonely heart has learned it's lesson,

You'd be his if only he would call,

In the wee, small hours of the morning,

That's the time you miss him most of all...

So just walk away,

and don't turn your head,

What more can you say now,

that hasn't been said,

When you've gotta go,

When you've gotta go,

Oh, when you've gotta go,

You've just gotta say...

"Good night, and thank you very much."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's song "When You Gotta Go / In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" depict the bittersweet moment of having to leave someone or something behind. The opening lines, "When you gotta go, you gotta go, And so although you'd like to stay a little while, You've gotta show a little style, and exit smiling," set the tone for the song. It highlights the need to gracefully say goodbye and move on, even when you may wish to stay longer.

The lyrics emphasize the idea that leaving is a necessary part of life. The lines "Goodbye to all that, Just reach for your hand And go on your own sweet way," suggest that departing is not necessarily a negative thing, but rather a step towards discovering new experiences and opportunities. It conveys a message of resilience and hope, reminding the listener that even though parting may be difficult, there is always a chance for love and happiness in the future.

The second part of the song, "In the wee, small hours of the morning," shifts the focus to longing and reflection. It explores the feelings one experiences when they lie awake at night, unable to sleep, and thoughts of someone they miss consume their mind. The lyrics capture the melancholic mood and the vulnerability one feels in those early morning hours when loneliness seeps in and memories flood the thoughts.

Ultimately, the song encapsulates the complex emotions associated with leaving and missing someone. It touches on the need for closure, the hope for new beginnings, and the lingering longing that remains even after saying goodbye.

When You Gotta Go / In The Wee Small Hours Of The MorningBarbra Streisand Lyrics

Robo

on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)

When You Gotta Go / In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
Barbra Streisand Lyrics