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.
As Time Goes By
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you,"
On that you can rely
As time goes by
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
In Neil Diamond's rendition of As Time Goes By, he speaks of the timeless nature of love. In the first verse, he reminds the listener that despite how the world changes, the foundational elements remain the same - a kiss is still a kiss, and a sigh is still just a sigh. Diamond then moves on to describe how the behavior of lovers remains unchanged as well. Couples still say "I love you" to one another, no matter what the future may hold. The chorus emphasizes the endurance of love songs and the emotions they evoke, such as passion and jealousy. The bridge of the song suggests that regardless of how society shifts, men and women will always need one another, and no one can deny it. Finally, the last line implies that love itself will always be welcome in the world, through all the different eras of time.
Line by Line Meaning
You must remember this
There are certain things in life that must always be remembered
A kiss is still a kiss
Regardless of the time period, a kiss will always hold the same meaning and significance
A sigh is just a sigh
Sighing is a common human expression that has always conveyed the same emotion
The fundamental things apply
The important aspects of life have always been and will continue to be consistent
As time goes by
Despite changes that may occur, time will always continue to move forward
And when two lovers woo
When two people fall in love and pursue a romantic relationship
They still say, "I love you,"
Declaring love to one another is still a prevalent and meaningful expression in a romantic relationship
On that you can rely
You can trust that love will always involve expressing one's affection to the other
No matter what the future brings
Regardless of what happens in the future
As time goes by
Time will still continue on
Moonlight and love songs
Romantic settings and music have always played a role in relationships
Never out of date
These romantic settings and gestures have always been meaningful and will continue to be in the future
Hearts full of passion
Being passionate and expressive of emotions has always been an important aspect of love
Jealousy and hate
Negative emotions have also been present in relationships throughout history
Woman needs man
Romantic relationships have typically involved a need for companionship and support from one's partner
And man must have his mate
Men also need the emotional and tangible support of their partner in romantic relationships
That no one can deny
This fundamental need for companionship and support is widely acknowledged
It's still the same old story
The basic dynamics and emotions of romantic relationships have remained consistent over time
A fight for love and glory
Love and the pursuit of romantic relationships can involve moments of tension and challenge
A case of do or die
These moments of tension and challenge can feel like a matter of survival for those involved
The world will always welcome lovers
Romantic relationships will always be a significant and welcomed aspect of the human experience
As time goes by
Time will continue to move forward and we will carry on with our experiences of love and relationships
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Herman Hupfeld
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind