Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York, United States) is … Read Full Bio ↴Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York, United States) is an American pop singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana (At the Copa)".

In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equaled only by Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Mathis. He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records number one Adult Contemporary artist and winning three straight American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist. Several well-known entertainers have given Manilow their "stamp of approval," including Sinatra, who was quoted in the 1970s regarding Manilow, "He's next." In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him and said, "Don't stop what you're doing, man. We're all inspired by you."

As well as producing and arranging albums for other artists, such as Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick, Manilow has written songs for musicals, films, and commercials. From February 2005 to December 30, 2009, he was the headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton, performing hundreds of shows before ending relationship with the hotel. From March 2010, he has headlined at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. He has sold more than 80 million records worldwide

Another Life
Barry Manilow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Disconnected, solitary
Standing all alone
Complicated, arbitrary
My feeling's still don't feel my own

Now you've changed your mind
You reach out once again
But how am I to tell you

I'm not who I was, back then

That was another life
Simply another life
And baby it's all gone
Don't you see the past is past
That some things just aren't made to last
No point in holding on
To another life

Desolated, disbelieving
I watched you walk away
You made your mind up
You didn't need me
No words could ever make you want to stay

Now I hear you tell me
My heart's as hard as steel
But I would never hurt you
Just to show you how, it feels

That was another life
Simply another life
And baby it's all gone
Don't you see the past is past
And some things just aren't made to last
No point in holding on
To another life

(close your eyes) close your eyes
Let it rest
Tell me you will be OK
You've got to look ahead
It's for the best
Let me slip away

That was another life
Simply another life
And baby it's all gone
Don't you see the past is past
That some things just aren't made to last
No point in holding on
To another life

Let me slip away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Barry Manilow's song "Another Life" describe the feelings of someone who or who was once disconnected, solitary, complicated, arbitrary, desolated, and disbelieving. One can feel the sense of loneliness and isolation throughout the song. The singer speaks of a past relationship where his significant other walked away and how he has moved on from that chapter of his life. The significant other wants to reconnect, but the singer is no longer the same person he was back then, and his feelings don't feel like his own. He tries to express to her that it's all gone and the past is in the past, and there's no point in holding on to another life that no longer exists.

Despite the sad tones of the song, there's a glimmer of hope in the lyrics, where the singer encourages the significant other to look ahead and to let him slip away. It's difficult and heartbreaking, but it's for the best. The chords used in the song reflect the somber and introspective mood, with slow piano and string accompaniments.

Another LifeBarry Manilow Lyrics

Another Life
Barry Manilow Lyrics