The son of pop singer Marion Ryan and Fred Sapherson, Barry and his twin brother Paul began to perform at the age of 15. In 1965 they signed a contract with Decca and brought out singles such as "Don't Bring Me Your Heartaches" (1965), "Have Pity on the Boy" (1966), and "Missy Missy" (1966).
When it turned out that Barry's brother, allegedly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, was unable to cope any longer with all the stress connected with the show business, the two brothers decided on a new division of labour: Paul would write songs which Barry would then interpret as a solo artist. Their greatest success as a composer-singer duo, now for MGM Records, was "Eloise" (1968), melodramatic and heavily orchestrated. Later singles included "Love Is Love" (1968), "The Hunt" (1969), "Magical Spiel" (1970), and "Kitsch" (1970).
Ryan was also very popular in Germany. Promoted by BRAVO, the German youth magazine, Ryan also recorded a number of songs in German, for example "Die Zeit macht nur vor dem Teufel halt" (Time only stops at the devil).
Barry Ryan's career as a singer was over in the early 1970s. There were rumours that Ryan had had an accident in the recording studio, had suffered serious burn wounds in the face and would no longer be able to appear in public. However, he made a comeback in the late 1990s when a two CD set with his and his brother's old songs was published.
He was part of the Solid Silver 60s Tour of the UK in 2003, singing Eloise backed by The Dakotas.
Give Me A Sign
Barry Ryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A place for everyone to go,
I don't believe it's really true
'Cause now I don't find it so
They say that there's a woman for every man they guarantee,
But that ain't pretty sure
'Cause there's no little woman for me
Give me a sign
Let me know that this is the time
Let me see the love
Go round and round and round
Give me a sign
Show me that the world is fine
Don't bring me down
Give me a sign
I don't believe in magic
But I won't believe in try and tries,
I've been around and seen their magic
And I've heard their secret alibis
I've played the game
And now I know that it's meaningless,
Well throw me down a line
'Cause man I can't find my happiness
Give me a sign
Let me know that this is the time
Let me see the love
Go round and round and round
Give me a sign
Show me that the world is fine
Don't let me down
Give me a sign
Give me a sign [give me a sign]
Give me a sign [give me a sign]
Give me a sign
Give me a sign
Give me a sign
Let me know that this two time
Let me see the love
Go round and round and round
And tell me
Give me a sign
Show me that the world is fine
Let me know
Give me a sign
The song "Give Me A Sign" by Barry Ryan talks about the feeling of seeking direction and guidance when it comes to finding love and happiness. The lyrics suggest that there are certain beliefs and expectations around finding a partner and achieving personal fulfillment, but the singer is struggling to make any of it work for them. They feel lost and uncertain about what to do next. Hence, they cry out for a sign that can help them understand that the time is right and that the world is not such a bad place after all.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of disillusionment with the world in general. The singer has tried different things and has seen others do the same, but nothing seems to bring them closer to their goals. They talk about not believing in magic or empty promises, and about feeling adrift in a game that has proven meaningless. They are searching for something more substantial that can give them hope and purpose in life.
Overall, "Give Me A Sign" is a heartfelt plea for clarity and assurance. It captures the uncertainty and frustration that many people experience when they feel like they are running out of options. However, it also expresses a desire to keep going and to keep looking for the signs that can point the way towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that that there's a time
There's a common saying that suggests there's an appropriate moment for everything.
A place for everyone to go,
People have a space where they belong and where they can thrive.
I don't believe it's really true
The singer doubts the validity of this idea.
'Cause now I don't find it so
However, the singer doesn't see evidence of it in his life.
They say that there's a woman for every man they guarantee,
There is another widely held belief that each man will find his perfect match.
But that ain't pretty sure
The singer disagrees with this notion.
'Cause there's no little woman for me
The singer feels unlucky in love and struggle to find the right partner.
Give me a sign
The singer is asking for some indication that things will work out for him.
Let me know that this is the time
He would like to receive a signal that now is the moment he's been waiting for.
Let me see the love
The singer wants a chance to experience love.
Go round and round and round
He wants this love to be something that lasts a long time and never ends.
Show me that the world is fine
The singer hopes to be reassured that the world has wonderful things in store for him.
Don't bring me down
He wants to avoid negative influences and stay optimistic.
I don't believe in magic
The singer is not gullible and doesn't trust quick fixes or easy solutions.
But I won't believe in try and tries,
However, he doesn't want to give up hope and will keep searching.
I've been around and seen their magic
The singer has lived long enough to see many things and isn't easily impressed.
And I've heard their secret alibis
He's aware that some people are not honest and have ulterior motives.
I've played the game
The singer has tried to find love and happiness, but with no success.
And now I know that it's meaningless,
He has come to the realization that previous attempts were pointless.
Well throw me down a line
The singer is asking for some guidance, some direction, some motivation.
'Cause man I can't find my happiness
He admits that he's lost, and he's not able to find what he's looking for, happiness.
Let me know that this two time
He would like to receive a signal that this moment is special.
And tell me
He's eager for someone to reveal some truth or insight to him.
Let me know
He's seeking information or an answer to his question.
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brigitte PHILIPPE
❤❤❤
Lissisteiner Steiner
Ich kenn kein Lied von Barry was nicht unglaublich schön ist.
Gabi Schuetz
Yes,you're right