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.
Dancing To The Party Next Door
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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Sittin' at home with my magazine
Just kickin' back
Quietly drinking my cup of tea
But suddenly
I hear the sound of rock and roll
Comin' through my walls
Makes me lose control
Groovin' with the kids on the floor, yeah
Dancin' to the party next door
And I'm havin' a good time,
Oh yeah, uh huh, alright
I'm havin' a good time
Oh yeah, uh huh, alright
Look at me
I'm a reserved and a proper guy
But suddenly
Mister Reserved here is flyin' high
Hey, I believed
Some things were just not meant to be
Like carryin' on this way
But take a look at me
Hey
I'm dancin' to the party next door
Hey
I'm groovin' with the kids on the floor, yeah
Dancin' to the party next door
And I'm havin' a good time
Oh yeah, uh huh, alright
I'm havin' a good time
Oh yeah, uh huh, it's alright
And it's clear to me
I see the writing on the wall
Says how you gonna fly
If you're afraid to fall
So I'm dancin' to the party next door
Groovin' with the kids on the floor, yeah
Dancin' to the party next door
And we're havin' a good time
I'm dancin' to the party next door
Groovin' with the kids on the floor, yeah
Dancin' to the party next door
And we're havin' a good time
I'm dancin' to the party next door
Groovin' with the kids on the floor, yeah
Dancin' to the party next door
And we're havin' a good time
The lyrics of Neil Diamond's "Dancing To The Party Next Door" depict a reserved and proper guy who is content to be drinking tea while reading a magazine at home. However, when he suddenly hears the sound of rock and roll coming from the neighboring party, he loses control and joins in on the dancing. The lyrics reveal that the singer is surprised by this sudden change in behavior, but recognizes that some things are not meant to be and it is okay to let loose and have a good time. The lyrics conclude with the singer dancing with the kids on the floor and having a good time.
The song is about breaking free of societal expectations and letting go of your inhibitions. The catchy tune conveys a sense of freedom and enjoyment of the moment, inviting listeners to let go of their own reservations and join in the fun. The fact that the singer is a reserved and proper guy highlights the idea that anyone can break free and have a good time if they allow themselves to do so. The lyrics can be interpreted as a call to action for listeners to let go of their own societal constraints and dance to their own rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
There I was
In that moment, I was present and aware of my surroundings
Sittin' at home with my magazine
I was relaxing at home, reading a magazine
Just kickin' back
I was taking it easy, not doing much
Quietly drinking my cup of tea
I was enjoying a hot cup of tea in peace and quiet
But suddenly
Unexpectedly, something changed
I hear the sound of rock and roll
I hear loud and lively music playing
Comin' through my walls
The music is so loud, it's passing through the walls of my house
Makes me lose control
The music is so invigorating, I feel like breaking free from my usual routine
And I'm dancin' to the party next door
I'm moving my body to the beat of the music coming from the neighboring house
Groovin' with the kids on the floor, yeah
I'm enjoying the company of the young people dancing in the party
Look at me
Observing myself and my behavior
I'm a reserved and a proper guy
Typically, I present myself in a calm and formal manner
But suddenly
Again, there's a sudden change
Mister Reserved here is flyin' high
My reserved persona is lifted by the excitement of the moment
Hey, I believed
In the past, I had a certain conviction
Some things were just not meant to be
I thought some things would never happen or be appropriate for me
Like carryin' on this way
Like dancing spontaneously and having fun in a party next door
But take a look at me
But now, something has changed and I behave differently
And it's clear to me
Now, I have a better understanding of myself and my situation
I see the writing on the wall
I realize there are clear signs telling me what to do
Says how you gonna fly
The signs are encouraging me to take risks and venture outside my comfort zone
If you're afraid to fall
But this involves overcoming my fear of failure
And we're havin' a good time
We are all enjoying ourselves and having fun in the party next door
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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