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 (Where Is It Written
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without a thousand questions
Running through my mind
That I don't try to find the reason
And the logic in the world
That God design
The reason why, a bird was given wings
If not to fly, and praise the sky
What's right or wrong
Where I belong
Within the scheme of things
And why have eyes that see
And arms that reach
Unless you're meant to know there's
Something more
If not to hunger for the meaning of it all
Then tell me what a soul is for
Why have the wings unless you're meant to fly
And tell me please why have a mind
If not to question why
And tell me where
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
Just tell me where, where is it written, tell me where
If I were only meant to tend the nest
Then why does my imagination sail
Across the mountains and the seas
Beyond the make-believe of any fairy tale
Why have the thirst if not to drink the wine
And what a waste to have a taste
Of things that can't be mine
And tell me where
Where is it written what it is I'm meant to be
That I can't dare to see the meanings
In the mornings that I see
Or have my share of every sweet imagined possibility
Just tell me where, where is it written, tell me where
Or if it's written anywhere
The lyrics of Barbra Streisand's song "Where is it Written?" describe the existential questions that arise in the mind of the singer on each morning. She wonders about the purpose of her life and the logic of God's design in the world. She questions why birds were given wings if not to fly and praise the sky, and wonders where she belongs in the "scheme of things." She also ponders the meaning of having eyes that see and arms that reach unless one is meant to hunger for something more. The singer then asks why she has a soul and wings unless she can use them to fly and question the meaning of it all.
The second stanza of the song further emphasizes the singer's quest for the truth. She wonders why, if she were only meant to tend the nest, her imagination sails across the mountains and the seas. She also questions the purpose of having a thirst if not to drink the wine and the futility of having a taste of things that cannot be hers. The singer concludes asking where it is written what she is meant to be and whether it is written anywhere, implying that the answer to her questions may be unknown or unknowable.
Overall, "Where is it Written?" is a song that explores the human need for understanding the purpose and meaning of one's existence. It presents profound questions with no clear answers, inviting listeners to engage in their own reflection and quest for meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
There's not a morning I begin
Every morning starts with a flood of questions for Barbra Streisand.
Without a thousand questions running through my mind
Her mind is constantly filled with queries and doubts.
That I don't try to find the reason
She constantly seeks answers.
And the logic in the world that God design
She's trying to understand the rationale for why the world has been designed in a certain way by God.
The reason why, a bird was given wings
She wants to know the purpose behind everything. For instance, why a bird was given the ability to fly.
If not to fly, and praise the sky with every song it sings
She thinks a bird was given wings to not only fly but also use it to express its happiness in the form of a song.
What's right or wrong
She's inquisitive about the moral principles.
Where I belong within the scheme of things
She's searching for her place in this world and her purpose in the grand scheme of things.
And why have eyes that see and arms that reach
Streisand seeks the significance behind our abilities.
Unless you're meant to know there's something more
She believes that having these abilities must mean that we're meant to experience something more profound in life.
If not to hunger for the meaning of it all
Our desire for knowledge and understanding drives us towards finding answers.
Then tell me what a soul is for
She's questioning the purpose of having a soul if we can't use it to seek answers or something more meaningful.
Why have the wings unless you're meant to fly
If we have the ability, then we must use it to our advantage.
And tell me please why have a mind
A mind must be meant to do more than just exist.
If not to question why
It's our curious nature that sets us apart from other living beings on this planet.
And tell me where where is it written what it is I'm meant to be
Streisand is seeking guidance or direction on her life's purpose.
That I can't dare to have the chance to pick the fruit of every tree
She wants to live life to the fullest and experience all opportunities that come her way.
Or have my share of every sweet imagined possibility
Streisand wants to be able to explore her imagination and the limitless possibilities that come with it.
Just tell me where, where is it written, tell me where
She's asking for guidance to find her purpose and to explore all possibilities.
If I were only meant to tend the nest
She's skeptical of the idea that we're only capable of one thing in this life.
Then why does my imagination sail across the mountains and the seas
She's using her imagination as proof that we're meant to do more than what we're assigned to do.
Beyond the make-believe of any fairy tale
She wants to explore beyond the boundaries of our imagination.
Why have the thirst if not to drink the wine
We have the desire to experience more in life, so we must use our opportunities to pursue our dreams and goals.
And what a waste to have a taste of things that can't be mine
It's a shame not to be able to experience all the great things in life.
That I can't dare to see the meanings in the mornings that I see
There must be a purpose behind everything that we see, and she's not afraid to explore that purpose.
Just tell me where, where is it written, tell me where or if it's written anywhere
She wants to find her purpose in life and explore every possibility, but she needs guidance to do so.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHEL LEGRAND, ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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