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."
Where Or When
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All that you live to day
Things you do come back to you
As if they knew the way
Oh the tricks your mind can play
It seems we stood and talked like this, before
We looked at each other in the same way then
The clothes you're wearing are the close, you wore
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
But I can't remember where or when
Some things that happened for the first time
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems we have met before
And laughed before, and loved before
But who knows where or when
In Barbra Streisand's song Where Or When, the lyrics delve into the idea of déjà vu, or the experience of feeling like you have lived a moment before. The singer expresses their confusion and longing for a past they can't quite remember. They reflect on the familiarity of their current situation, the way they are talking and looking at someone they have supposedly met before, but are unable to pinpoint the when or where. The lyrics suggest that memories and experiences are not always linear or easily categorized, and the mind can play tricks on us.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past that is just out of reach. The repetition of phrases such as "but I can't remember where or when" and "seem to be happening again" adds to this feeling of uncertainty and longing. The singer seems to be searching for meaning in their past experiences, trying to understand why certain moments stick with us and others fade away.
Overall, the lyrics to Where Or When are a poignant reflection on the elusive nature of memory and the enduring power of nostalgia. The song speaks to the human desire to understand our pasts and make sense of our current experiences, even when the answers are not always clear.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes you think you've lived before
At times, you may have a feeling that you have experienced this exact moment before.
All that you live today
Everything that is happening in your life at the present moment.
Things you do come back to you
Actions you take may have a way of repeating themselves.
As if they knew the way
It feels like these repeating events are almost predetermined and have a purpose.
Oh the tricks your mind can play
The human mind can create illusions and false memories.
It seems we stood and talked like this, before
This conversation seems eerily familiar, as if it may have happened in the past.
We looked at each other in the same way then
Our gaze and expression towards each other are identical to what was shared in the past.
But I can't remember where or when
Despite the familiar feeling, the exact moment and place of our past interaction remain unrecalled.
The clothes you're wearing are the close, you wore
The clothing worn during this encounter is reminiscent of the past.
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
The smile on your face now is similar to the one you wore in the past.
Some things that happened for the first time
Some events may have occurred for the very first time but feel familiar nonetheless.
Seem to be happening again
Despite being unfamiliar, certain events may replicate themselves in the future.
And so it seems we have met before
It appears as though we have met in a previous encounter.
And laughed before, and loved before
In this previous meeting, we once laughed and loved together.
But who knows where or when
The exact time and place of our previous encounter remain unknown and uncertain.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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I love Melinda Vesterfelt