His family was in the cinema business, but it was during his National Service that he began performing as a musician. After taking a correspondence course and arranging for some of the bands of the day, he formed The John Barry Seven. Barry then met Adam Faith, and composed songs and film scores on the singer's behalf.
It was this notoriety that caught the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who were dissatisfied with the score given to them by Monty Norman. Barry and the JB7 were hired and their recording of Norman's "James Bond Theme" would go on to be one of the most famous signature tunes in film history.
This would be the turning point for Barry, as he would go on to become one of the most celebrated film composers of modern times, winning five Academy Awards and four Grammys, with such memorable scores as The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, and Dances with Wolves.
Barry is often cited as having had a distinct style which concentrated on lush strings and extensive use of brass. However, he was also an innovator, being one of the first to employ synthesizers in a film score (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), and to make wide use of pop artists and original songs in Midnight Cowboy.
Living in his native England until the mid 1970s, Barry spent some time in Spain (for tax purposes) before spending much of his life in the United States, mainly in Oyster Bay, outside of New York.
Barry died of a heart attack on 30 January 2011, at his Oyster Bay home, aged 77 years.
The Living Daylights
John Barry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I swear my nerves are showing
Set your hopes up way too high
The living's in the way we die
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they blame
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
Save the darkness, let it never fade away
All right, hold on tighter now
It's down, down to the wire
Set your hopes way too high
The living's in the way we die
Comes the morning and the headlights fade in rain
Hundred thousand changes, everything's the same
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
Save the darkness, let it never fade away
In the living daylights.
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they frame
In the living daylights.
John Barry's song The Living Daylights is an introspective and intense ballad that speaks to the struggle between hope and despair. The lyrics express a sense of anxiety and uncertainty about the future, with the opening line "Hey driver, where we're going, I swear my nerves are showing" emphasizing the state of unease. The use of the phrase "set your hopes up way too high" suggests that the person is putting too much pressure on themselves and has set themselves up for disappointment.
The chorus "Comes the morning and the headlights fade away, hundred thousand people, I'm the one they blame" is particularly poignant, illustrating a sense of being alone in a crowd, with everyone blaming the singer for their own individual struggles. The repeated refrain "Save the darkness, let it never fade away, in the living daylights" brings the focus back to the theme of hope versus darkness, suggesting that it is possible to hold onto hope even in the hardest of times.
Overall, The Living Daylights is a song that explores the complexities of the human experience, highlighting the struggle between hope and despair, and the importance of holding onto hope and the things that bring us light even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey driver, where we're going
Asks the driver where they are headed.
I swear my nerves are showing
Admits to feeling anxious or scared.
Set your hopes up way too high
Encourages someone to lower their expectations.
The living's in the way we die
The way we live our lives impacts the way we die.
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Reflects a fleeting moment where things seem hopeful, but quickly fade.
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they blame
Feels responsible for the actions or consequences of many others.
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
Has been waiting for someone to take action or change something.
Save the darkness, let it never fade away
Values the beauty or mystery of the dark or unknown.
In the living daylights.
Emphasizes that these thoughts or feelings are experienced in the present moment.
All right, hold on tighter now
Urges to hold on or be prepared for a difficult or uncertain situation.
It's down, down to the wire
Indicates that they have reached a crucial or decisive point.
Comes the morning and the headlights fade in rain
Another moment of hope that fades quickly, potentially due to external factors.
Hundred thousand changes, everything's the same
Despite many changes or developments, nothing truly progresses or improves.
In the living daylights.
Reiterates that these feelings persist in the present.
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Another fleeting moment of hope that quickly fades.
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they frame
Feels like they are being set up or falsely accused by many people.
In the living daylights.
Once again, emphasizes that these feelings persist in the present.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Barry, Pal Waaktaar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M P
23:48 is just pure masterclass ...
“stay where you are, now get down on your knees, hands behind your back.”
“You’re professional, you do not kill without reason.”
“Two of our men are dead, Koskov named you. Now why should I disobey my orders?”
“I’m in the dark, as much as you. It’s a matter of trust. Who do you believe, koskov or me?”
“If I trusted Koskov, we wouldn’t be talking. But as long as you’re alive, we’ll never find out, what he’s up to.”
“Then I must die”
Arguably the most powerful scene in the franchise between two classy, yet ruthless professionals.
StandardProceduree
Tracklist :)
00:00 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Exercise at Gibraltar
6:25 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Koskov Escapes
11:16 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Necros Attacks
14:12 - Approaching Kara .
16:00 - The Living Dayligahts Soundtrack Kara Meets Bond
18:00 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Ice Chase
23:00 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Murder at the Fair
25:24 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Hercules Takes Off
27:35 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Airbase Jailbreak
31:51 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Mujahadin and Opium
38:35 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Hercules Takes Off
40:30 - The Living Daylights Soundtrack Inflight Fight
43:33 - ???????
47:05 -
DARTH HULKA-BURGER
I absolutely love this orchestral set ( is that the correct term? Or is it a 'suite').
However I got a major gripe at 11:18.
There are so many great entry points for that movement that were really subtle and almost seamless. But for some reason Maybe, it was hubris, this part was just thrown in abruptly.
So, John Barry, from 35 years into the future, I admonish you for that. 😀😀😀😀
But really, this is probably the most underrated & perfectly composed of all of James Bond sets of music.
Solomon Thornton
My opinion, this score should have won an oscar. Its one of my favorites.
napoleon
yes
PAPA TATOR
@QSMC Media yes I remember seeing this and others in the cinema. It was TRUELY a time now faded to time. Movies that good stopped coming out a while back now I think. I remember the tingles and sparks beneath my skin traveling up my back and neck during the best moments that thrilled me then. The timing the emotion everything well done ! There was never a bond movie quite like this one and I don't think there will ever be now that things have changed so much in the world. It could never be the same. I miss that version of m as well. He was my favorite one.
Placeholder
LD & AVTAK simply superb scores by Barry.
notsorandumusername
@M Price how jealous you are of an airbrushed picture! 😂
PAPA TATOR
Yes I agree as well it's my favorite
Gildan Jondal
John Barry knocked this one out of the park, an absolute belter of a soundtrack and one of my favourite Bond films.
Jakob
His last score. The living daylights was also kind of a cold war going friendly scenario. Koskov obviously the satanic genius. RIP Michail Gorbatschow btw.
Barry Anderson
YES, John Barry did ......All the way to the MOON ...... and beyond
Tripi
@Speed Racer you dropped this 👑