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

Say The Words
Barry Manilow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If ya gotta go,
Then I'll make out all right
If you wanna know
I knew it wasn't right
All the time.
We'll make out somehow
Just like we did before
Just don't turn around,

When you walk out the door
And just one time.

Say the words say the words I love
Fill the time 'till the time
You can't stay
Say the words say the words I love
Fill the time 'till the time
You can't stay.

Nothin' left to do.
It's done, there is no more
Nothin' left to say
We've said it all before
Yes, I know
Wouldn't trade away
A day of what we had
I know you shouldn't stay
But, babe it wasn't bad
Before you go

Say the words say the words I love
Fill the time 'till the time
You can't stay.
Say the words say the words I love

Fill the time 'till the time
You can't stay.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Barry Manilow's song "Say The Words" are about a couple who are on the brink of breaking up. The singer knows that the relationship isn't working out and that it's time to let go. However, despite the inevitable separation, the singer is still holding on to the moments they shared together and doesn't want to forget the love they once had. Even though the separation will be painful, the singer believes that if they say "I love you" one more time, it would provide a final moment of closure and a memory to hold onto. The song expresses the bittersweet feeling of letting go of something you love without necessarily wanting to, and the importance of expressing your love one more time before saying goodbye.

The repetition of the phrase "say the words" throughout the song highlights the importance of verbalizing one's feelings. The singer is urging their partner to say "I love you" one more time before they leave in order to create a final connection between them. The lyrics also convey the singer's acceptance of the situation and willingness to move on while still cherishing the memories of the relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

If ya gotta go,
If you need to leave,

Then I'll make out all right
I'll be okay without you,

If you wanna know
If you're curious,

I knew it wasn't right
I knew our relationship wasn't right from the beginning,

All the time.
Throughout our entire relationship,

We'll make out somehow
We'll manage to move on,

Just like we did before
Just like we have in the past,

Just don't turn around,
Don't change your mind and come back,

When you walk out the door
When you leave,

And just one time.
Only once,

Say the words say the words I love
Tell me you love me,