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."
Yentl Medley
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where is it written what it is I'm meant to be
That I can't dare
To have the chance to pick the fruit of every tree
Or have my share
Of every sweet-imagined possibility?
Those are questions that women have been asking for centuries, and incredibly enough, I think they're still asking them today! I think that's what attracted me to Yentl, and why I had I had to make the film. Yentl, as some of you know, is the story of a girl in Eastern Europe at the turn of the century, when the world of study belonged only to men. But Yentl's father, recognizing her thirst for knowledge, taught her secretly. And after his death, in order to continue her studies, she had had no choice, but go out into the world disguised as a man...
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you see me?
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Papa, are you near me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you help me not be frightened?
Looking at the skies, I seem to see a million eyes
Which ones are yours?
Where are you now that yesterday
Has waved goodbye and closed its door?
The night is so much darker,
The wind is so much colder
The world I see is so much bigger
Now that I'm alone
Papa, please forgive me
Try to understand me
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Can you hear me praying,
Anything I'm saying,
Even though the night is filled with voices?
I remember everything you taught me
Every book I've ever read
Can all the words in all the books
Help me to face what lies ahead?
The trees are so much taller
And I feel so much smaller
The moon is twice as lonely
And the stars are half as bright
Papa, how I love you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I miss you
Kissing me goodnight...
To go on with the story, um, Yentl then meets a boy whom she falls in love with - but it turns out he's already in love with another girl, but because of circumstances I can't go into now, they're prevented from getting married. And to make a long story short, he asks Yentl, who, of course, he thinks is a boy to marry the girl, so he can still see her - not Yentl, the other girl! So, the girl and the girl get married, and if you want to see how Yentl got away with the wedding night, you'll have to rent the video! it's just a variation on the boy-meets-girl-meets-girl-story, it's very '90s! Anyway, um, one night he comes over to the house to study. But it's clear that the only thing he really wants to study is her. Not Yentl, her wife, her. Get it? His eyes never leave her face
See the way they gaze at her
Like slaves they follow everywhere she goes
Do my eyes forget themselves
And do I ever look at him
And smile in such a way
That what I'm feeling shows?
Sometimes I have the feeling everybody knows
And even though it's crazy
Still I can't help wondering if I'll ever live to see that day
When by some miracle of miracles
He'll turn around and look at me
That way...
Oh, tell me where?
Where is the someone who will turn and look at me?
And want to share
My every sweet-imagined possibility?
The more I live - the more I learn
The more I learn - the more I realize
The less I know
Each step I take
(Papa, I've a voice now!) Each page I turn -
(Papa, I've a choice now!) Each mile I travel only means
The more I have to go
What's wrong with wanting more?
If you can fly - then soar!
With all there is - why settle for
Just a piece of sky?
Papa, I can hear you...
Papa, I can see you...
Papa, I can feel you...
Papa, watch me fly!
Papa, watch me fly!
Thank you! I'm glad you liked that! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Oh, that's great! Thank you! This current administration has been beset by many problems. But, it's had many accomplishments, a fact that sometimes seems to get overlooked nowadays, you know? I guess it is easier to criticize than to praise! so, I'd like to sing this song tonight in celebration of everything that is positive and possible in this great country of ours and around the world.
The first verse is a reflection on the limitations imposed on women throughout history. The singer asks where it is written what she is meant to be, and why she cannot have the chance to pursue any possibility she imagines. This sentiment resonated with Barbra Streisand, who felt drawn to the character of Yentl because of her thirst for knowledge, and her desire to break free from patriarchal restrictions. Yentl is a girl in turn-of-the-century Eastern Europe, where women were not allowed to study or engage in intellectual pursuits. After her father's death, she disguises herself as a man to continue her studies.
The second verse is from Yentl's perspective, and it is a prayer to her deceased father. She feels alone and frightened, looking up at the skies and wondering if her father can hear her. She asks for forgiveness and understanding, and explains that she had no choice but to disguise herself as a man. She remembers everything her father taught her and every book she ever read in hopes that it will help her face what lies ahead. The verse is deeply emotional and poignant, showcasing Streisand's ability to convey vulnerability and heartbreak through her vocals.
The final verse is a return to the singer's perspective, who asks where the person is who will turn and look at her the way she wants to be looked at. She wants to find someone who will share her every sweet-imagined possibility, and she finds inspiration in the idea that every step she takes, every page she turns, and every mile she travels means that there is more to discover and explore. The verse is a call to action, encouraging listeners to reach for the sky and never settle for less.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, tell me where
Asking where to find guidance and purpose in life
Where is it written what it is I'm meant to be
Questioning what destiny has in store
That I can't dare
Wondering why she is limited by societal norms and expectations
To have the chance to pick the fruit of every tree
Wanting to have access to every opportunity and possibility in life
Or have my share
Desiring equal access to all opportunities, regardless of gender or social status
Of every sweet-imagined possibility?
Dreaming of a future where all possibilities are within reach, regardless of external factors
Papa, can you hear me?
Yearning for guidance and support from her deceased father
Papa, can you see me?
Feeling lost and invisible in the world
Papa, can you find me in the night?
Feeling alone and in need of comfort and guidance
Papa, are you near me?
Asking for reassurance that her father's love and guidance are still with her
Papa, can you help me not be frightened?
Seeking comfort and protection from the fears that come with facing the unknown
Looking at the skies, I seem to see a million eyes
Which ones are yours?
Reflecting on memories of her father and wondering if he is still watching over her
Where are you now that yesterday
Has waved goodbye and closed its door?
Feeling lost and alone after experiencing a significant change or loss
The night is so much darker,
The wind is so much colder
The world I see is so much bigger
Now that I'm alone
Feeling overwhelmed and scared in the face of adversity
Papa, please forgive me
Try to understand me
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?
Asking for forgiveness and understanding for the difficult decisions she has made
Can you hear me praying,
Anything I'm saying,
Even though the night is filled with voices?
Praying for guidance and comfort in the midst of chaos and uncertainty
I remember everything you taught me
Every book I've ever read
Can all the words in all the books
Help me to face what lies ahead?
Drawing on the lessons of the past to navigate current challenges
The trees are so much taller
And I feel so much smaller
The moon is twice as lonely
And the stars are half as bright
Feeling small and insignificant in a world that seems overwhelming
Papa, how I love you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I miss you
Kissing me goodnight...
Expressing deep love and longing for her father
See the way they gaze at her
Like slaves they follow everywhere she goes
Observing how others are enamored with a particular person
Do my eyes forget themselves
And do I ever look at him
And smile in such a way
That what I'm feeling shows?
Wondering if her feelings for someone are obvious to others
Sometimes I have the feeling everybody knows
And even though it's crazy
Still I can't help wondering if I'll ever live to see that day
When by some miracle of miracles
He'll turn around and look at me
That way...
Daydreaming about a romantic future with someone who may not feel the same way
Where is the someone who will turn and look at me?
And want to share
My every sweet-imagined possibility?
Longing for a partner who will support and share in her dreams and goals
The more I live - the more I learn
The more I learn - the more I realize
The less I know
Realizing how little she knows in the grand scheme of things
Each step I take
(Papa, I've a voice now!)
Each page I turn -
(Papa, I've a choice now!)
Each mile I travel only means
The more I have to go
Recognizing the journey of self-discovery and personal growth is ongoing
What's wrong with wanting more?
If you can fly - then soar!
With all there is - why settle for
Just a piece of sky?
Challenging the notion that one should settle and not strive for more
Papa, I can hear you...
Papa, I can see you...
Papa, I can feel you...
Papa, watch me fly!
Papa, watch me fly!
Feeling empowered and inspired by the memory and legacy of her father
Contributed by Connor J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ch.a.9305
I've always thought there was nothing better than Barbra Streisand singing. But I was wrong. Barbra singing a "duet" with herself exceeds everything. God, that was beautiful...
@Vejur9000
Amen. Amen.
@normadesmond6017
Iconic performance. It is magical.
@monikabroska6194
It was fantastic
@normadesmond6017
@@monikabroska6194 it sure was!
@EricDekker
I think her best performance ever live on stage, on repeat and again and again.
@andrewsteiner2500
08:27. Just the best vocal ever.
@alejpix
I’m crying... what a voice, what an interpretation. She’s the best.
@normadesmond6017
fur sure. Watch the woman when she is taking her bows saying: Unbelievable. And it really is.
@terjemullerkarlsen3028
This was mindblowing, mesmerising and a real timestamp in my life. I was blown away and cried and sobbed in '94 when I saaw it. A classic.