From the 1960s to the 1980s, Diamond was one of the more successful pop music performers, scoring a number of hits. As critic William Ruhlmann writes, "as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart."[1] As of May 2005 he has sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.[2]
Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.
Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and then in 2000 was given its Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early part of 2011.
In 2008 Neil Diamond scored his first ever Billboard number one album with "Home Before Dark", the album also became his first studio album to get to number one in the UK.
A Million Miles Away
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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I'm alone
When you're by my side,
You're far away
And you treat me like
Someone that you've never known
You seem to be a million miles away
Our love's become a one way episode
And darlin' when I ask you
What's been goin' on,
Your answer seems
A million miles away
The things you do
Just have one meaning
There's no use trying to pretend
Oh darling, what I would give
To find out that I'm dreaming,
But I know, we've reached the end
I can see you found
Someone more dear to you,
Your eyes tell what your lips never say
And every day
Your lover grows more near to you
But I remain, a million miles away
Yes I remain, a million miles away
Neil Diamond's song "A Million Miles Away" speaks of the emotional distance that two people who were in love begin to experience as their relationship deteriorates. In the first verse, Diamond laments how even though his partner is present, he still feels alone, and when she is close to him, she seems far away. He talks about how his partner treats him like a stranger and seems to be indifferent to him, which gives him the impression that she is miles away from him. In the chorus, Diamond highlights how his love affair has transformed into a one-sided episode as his partner no longer hears or acknowledges him.
In the second verse, Diamond acknowledges that his partner has found someone else who is more important than he is. The singer can see from her actions, even though she does not express them in words, that she has moved on from him to someone else. Throughout the song, Diamond's pain becomes palpable, and he reveals that he wishes he were dreaming of the aspects of their relationship that make him unhappy. In the end, Diamond accepts that his relationship with his partner has ended, and even though she has found someone else, he remains a million miles away from her.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time that we're together,
I'm alone
Despite being in each other's company, I feel isolated without your affection.
When you're by my side,
You're far away
Even when you're physically present, it feels like you're emotionally distant from me.
And you treat me like
Someone that you've never known
Your behavior toward me is as if I'm a complete stranger, despite our history together.
You seem to be a million miles away
Your emotional detachment makes it seem like there is an insurmountable distance between us.
Our love's become a one way episode
Our love is no longer being reciprocated in the way that it once was, and it feels like a one-sided affair.
You don't even hear a word I say
It seems as though you're not listening to what I have to say, and are indifferent to my feelings and concerns.
And darlin' when I ask you
What's been goin' on,
Your answer seems
A million miles away
When I try to talk to you and understand what's happening between us, your responses feel distant and unhelpful.
The things you do
Just have one meaning
Your actions have a clear message: you no longer feel the same way about me.
There's no use trying to pretend
There's no point in trying to maintain the illusion that our relationship is still functioning the way it used to.
Oh darling, what I would give
To find out that I'm dreaming,
But I know, we've reached the end
As much as I wish that the situation is not as dire as it seems, I have accepted that our relationship has come to an end.
I can see you found
Someone more dear to you,
Your eyes tell what your lips never say
I can tell that you have moved on to someone else, even if you don't explicitly say it to me.
And every day
Your lover grows more near to you
But I remain, a million miles away
Yes I remain, a million miles away
As your new relationship deepens, I feel that I am being left further behind, and can only watch from a distance as you move on without me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind