Hello again
Barbra Streisand / Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just called to say hello
I couldn't sleep at all tonight
And I know it's late
I couldn't wait
Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
When I'm here alone
And you're there at home
Hello
Maybe it's been crazy
And maybe I'm to blame
But I put my heart above my head
We've been through it all and you love me just the same
And when your not there
I just need to hear
Hello, my friend, hello
It's good to need you so
It's good to love you like I do
And I feel this way when I hear you say
Hello
Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you every night
And I know it's late but I could't wait
Hello
The song 'Hello Again' by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond is a heartfelt expression of longing and affection between two friends. The song speaks of the act of calling just to say hello, even though it's late into the night. The singer in the song reveals that they are unable to sleep and that they think of their friend every night, yearning for their presence. The chorus repeats the greeting, 'Hello, my friend, hello,' which conveys a sense of warmth and familiarity between the two people.
The verse that says, "Maybe it's been crazy, and maybe I'm to blame. But I put my heart above my head," suggests that the singer and their friend have been through some difficult times in their relationship, but their love has remained strong. The line "We've been through it all and you love me just the same" further emphasizes the unbreakable bond between the friends. The repetition of the greeting shows that the singer needs to hear their friend's voice simply to feel better and to let them know that they are loved.
Overall, 'Hello Again' is a touching song that expresses the value of friendship and the importance of staying connected to those who matter most.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, again, hello
Starting off the conversation after a long time and expressing happiness and excitement about reconnecting
Just called to say hello
Reaching out to the other person via a phone call just to convey a greeting
I couldn't sleep at all tonight
Explaining why the phone call is happening at late hours of the night
And I know it's late
Acknowledging the fact that it's quite late and maybe inconvenient for the other person
I couldn't wait
Conveying eagerness to make the call despite the time
Hello, my friend, hello
Greeting the other person who is also a close friend
Just called to let you know
Explaining the purpose of the call beforehand
I think about you every night
Expressing how much the other person means to the artist by stating thoughts about them every night
When I'm here alone
Explaining the situation where the artist is alone and missing the other person
And you're there at home
Contrasting the artist's situation with the other person's, who's at home
Maybe it's been crazy
Admitting that the relationship might have had its fair share of difficulties
And maybe I'm to blame
Taking responsibility for any mistakes made during the relationship
But I put my heart above my head
Explaining that the singer was driven by emotions instead of rationality in the relationship
We've been through it all and you love me just the same
Acknowledging that the other person has stood by the singer despite everything that's happened
And when your not there
Describing the feeling of loneliness when the other person is not around
I just need to hear
Conveying the need to hear the other person's voice to feel better
It's good to need you so
Expressing the positive feeling of needing the other person in their life
It's good to love you like I do
Expressing the love and affection the singer has for the other person
And I feel this way when I hear you say
Describing how the other person's voice has an emotional impact on the singer
Hello
Ending the call with the same greeting with which it started
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN LINDGREN, NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Geisha Hasetsut
Hello, again, hello
Just called to say hello
I couldn't sleep at all tonight
And I know it's late
I couldn't wait
Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you every night
When I'm here alone
And you're there at home
Hello
Maybe it's been crazy
And maybe I'm to blame
But I put my heart above my head
We've been through it all
And you love me just the same
And when your not there
I just need to hear
Hello, my friend, hello
It's good to need you so
It's good to love you like I do
And I feel this way when
I hear you say
Hello
Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you every night
And I know it's late but
I could't wait
Hello
D R
"Hello Again" peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Not a #1 hit, but a Top 10 hit is still a big deal. Many great songs have peaked at #6 through the years. Just from the 1980s, the list includes, but is not limited to:
"Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree (1980)
"Living Inside Myself" by Gino Vannelli (1981)
"'65 Love Affair" by Paul Davis (1982)
"Steppin' Out" by Joe Jackson (1982)
"Little Red Corvette" by Prince (1983)
"Come Dancing" by The Kinks (1983)
"That's All" by Genesis (1984)
"The Heart Of Rock & Roll" by Huey Lewis & The News (1984)
"I Can Dream About You" by Dan Hartman (1984)
"Run To You" by Bryan Adams (1985)
"Obsession" by Animotion (1985)
"Some Like It Hot" by The Power Station (1985)
"Small Town" by John Cougar Mellencamp (1985)
"Silent Running" by Mike & The Mechanics (1986)
"Your Love" by The Outfield (1986)
"Word Up" by Cameo (1986)
"Don't You Want Me" by Jody Watley (1987)
"Candle In The Wind" by Elton John (1988)
"Say You Will" by Foreigner (1988)
"Piano In The Dark" by Brenda Russell (1988)
"Nothin' But A Good Time" by Poison (1988)
"Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman (1988)
"Stand" by R.E.M. (1989)
"I Drove All Night" by Cyndi Lauper (1989)
"Dr. Feelgood" by Motley Crue (1989)
It turns out that "Hello Again" was Neil Diamond's penultimate Top 10 hit. His final Top 10 hit was "Heartlight," which peaked at #5 in 1982.
Also worth noting is that "Hello Again" peaked at #2 on the Radio & Records CHR (Top 40) Airplay chart. In addition, the soundtrack to The Jazz Singer is Neil Diamond's best-selling album, certified 5X Platinum by the RIAA, thanks to the album's three Top 10 hits: "Love On The Rocks" (#2), "Hello Again" (#6), and "America" (#8).
Sheilah Walters
2023 and it's still beautiful to listen to
Rick Mays
Always will be!!!!!
Maria Clara Archeta
Yes! Yes!!
Lisa Franks
Yes Yes Yes
Derek Myers
I woke up with a strong urge to listen to Neil Diamond. And as I peruse his songs, 45 years old on the verge of tears (you know how that is), I am shocked not only by how great his songs are, but by how many of them are great. This one is gorgeous. God bless you all.
Tess O'Shea
Yes!!
boogieboy1974
Respect to you my friend
geoffrey walker
Neil is a legend!!!!!! My surviving grandmother and her sister(aunt jan) are HUGE neil diamond fans so i grew up around plenty of neil. Some folks may refer to neil diamond as old fogie music but they could not be more wrong.
Diamonds music is universal. When your happy, sad or just need a good song to lift your spirits just pop in that disk or mp3 and crank up some good ol neil diamond. Hell always come to the rescue😁
Jessica Schaper
I remember I'm sorry to say hello do you remember? Dad do we
Jessica Schaper
I need to know