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 in Rome
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Very truly yours I am
But if inclined to play I am
Sweetheart, that's the way I am
When in Spain, for reasons I don't explain
I remain enjoying a brew
Don't deplore my fondness for fundador
And baby when in Rome, I do as the Romans do
If per chance I'm saying farewell to France
And romance drops in from the blue
Cherchez l'amour, I beg of you please endure
My taking a brief detour with somebody new
It's just that when in Rome, I do as the Romans do
And though from Italy, I lied to you prettily
Oh, don't think of me bitterly
But know that I'm true
Except now and then in Rome
I get that old yearn in Rome
And naturally, when in Rome, I do as the Romans do
E molto difficile resistere agli uomini di Italia
Per esempio, per esempio I biondi
I biondi di Firenze, di Venezia
E I bruni di Palermo, di Milano
You know what I mean?
If I write happily
Best wishes from Napoli
Don't cable me snappily
To tell me we're through
'Cause I'm once again in Rome
In somebody's den in Rome
Well honey, but when in Rome, I do as the Romans do
So just disregard the signs and the omens
When in Rome, I do as the Romans do
Veni, vidi, vince!
The opening lines of the song "When in Rome" by Barbra Streisand sets the tone for the rest of the song as she declares herself to be "very truly" whoever she needs to be depending on the foreign land she finds herself in. She goes on to express her penchant for enjoying the local brew and fondness for fundador, a brand of Spanish brandy, and in Rome, she does as the Romans do. Streisand admits that she might stray from her commitment to her significant other, particularly when she's in Rome and feels the urge to follow her heart's desires. She signs off with the Latin phrase "Veni, vidi, vince!" meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Barbra Streisand's "When in Rome" is about cultural relativism, a philosophy that says that a person's beliefs and activities should be understood and judged based on their own cultural context instead of by the standards of another culture. Streisand approaches each city with an open mind, accepting the local ways of life, and enjoying them rather than censure them. Her willingness to venture off the beaten path is evident as she implores her listeners to "cherchez l'amour" or "look for love" and encourages them to take a "brief detour with somebody new" because that's what life is all about.
Line by Line Meaning
When on foreign shores I am
Whenever I travel outside my country
Very truly yours I am
I remain sincerely myself
But if inclined to play I am
But sometimes, I feel like having fun
Sweetheart, that's the way I am
It's part of who I am
When in Spain for reasons I don't explain
Sometimes, when I'm in Spain for no particular reason
I remain enjoying a brew
I enjoy having a drink
Don't deplore my fondness for fundador
Please don't criticize me for enjoying Fundador brandy
You know how a fundador can lead to a few
You know how it can be easy to have a few more drinks than planned when enjoying Fundador brandy
And baby when in Rome I do as the Romans do
And when I'm in Rome, I like to experience the typical Roman way of life
If per chance I'm saying farewell to France
If I happen to be leaving France
And romance drops in from the blue
And I suddenly find myself falling in love
Cherchez l'amour I beg of you please endure
I'm asking you to be patient with me while I search for love
My taking a brief detour with somebody new
If I choose to take a short break from our relationship and see someone else
It's just that when in Rome
It's just that, when I'm in Rome
I do as the Romans do
I like to have the same experiences as the locals do
And though from Italy I lied to you prettily
And though I may have lied to you charmingly about being in Italy
Oh don't think of me bitterly
Please don't be angry with me
But know that I'm true
But please know that I'm still loyal
Except now and then in Rome,
Except for every now and then when I'm in Rome
I get that old yearn in Rome
I get that nostalgic longing while in Rome
And naturally when in Rome
And naturally, when I'm in Rome
I do as the Romans do
I like to have the same experiences as the locals do
E molto difficile resistere agli uomini di Italia
It's very difficult to resist the men of Italy
Per esempio, per esempio I biondi,
For example, the blondes
I biondi di Firenze, di Venezia
The blondes of Florence, Venice
E I bruni di Palermo, di Milano
And the brunettes of Palermo, Milan
You know what I mean?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
If I write happily
If I write to you in a happy tone
Best wishes from Napoli
Sending you my best wishes from Naples
Don't cable me snappily
Please don't send an angry cable to me
To tell me we're through
To tell me that we've ended our relationship
'Cause I'm once again in Rome
Because I'm back in Rome once again
In somebody's den in Rome
In someone's home in Rome
Well honey, but when in Rome
Well, my dear, when I'm in Rome
I do as the Romans do
I like to have the same experiences as the locals do
So just disregard the signs and the omens
So just ignore any signs or warnings that may indicate something else
When in Rome I do as the Romans do
When I'm in Rome, I like to have the same experiences as the locals do
Veni, vidi, vince!
I came, I saw, I conquered!
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt