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.
Dear Father
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We dream
We dream
We dream
While we may
Who are we to need
We need
While we wait
While we wait
In "Dear Father," Neil Diamond addresses his father, who abandoned his family when Diamond was young. The opening lines of the song express a sense of longing, as Diamond repeats the phrase "We dream" three times. It's unclear who the "we" refers to, but it could be Diamond and his family, or perhaps all of humanity. The repetition also emphasizes the power of dreams and the desire to pursue them, despite the obstacles that may stand in the way.
The second verse contains a plea for understanding: "Who are we to need / We need / We need." Here, Diamond seems to be questioning the nature of human desire and asking why we have these needs in the first place. It's a philosophical inquiry that suggests there may be no easy answers. The final line of the verse, "While we wait," could be interpreted in a few different ways. It may refer to waiting for someone to fulfill our needs or waiting for the fulfillment of our dreams.
Overall, "Dear Father" is a poignant meditation on the pain of abandonment and the universal struggles of human existence. Despite the subject matter, however, the song offers a glimmer of hope in its emphasis on the importance of dreams and the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Father
Oh God, who is our Heavenly Father, we are reaching out to you with this song.
We dream
We all have our own dreams and aspirations.
We dream
Sometimes, we dream of things we know may not be possible, but we continue to dream anyway.
We dream
We also dream of things that are indeed possible, and we continue to chase after those dreams.
While we may
We know that our time on earth is limited, so we strive to achieve our dreams before it's too late.
Who are we to need
As mere mortals, we sometimes question our right to ask for your help, God.
We need
However, we acknowledge that we do need your guidance and support to achieve our dreams.
We need
We need your help in all aspects of our lives, whether it be in our personal, professional, or spiritual journeys.
While we wait
We understand that sometimes, our prayers are not answered immediately, and we wait patiently for your guidance.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Aubry39
J'adresse cette lettre "cher père"
Je te connais en tant que parfait inconnu
Je devine que c'est mieux que sa ne te tracasse pas
Toute notre vérité devrait être laissée seule
Être laissée seule
Être laissée seule
J'ai appris toutes les choses que tu ne m'as jamais montrées
Pris les chances que tu avais soufflés
Et à ce jour, celui-ci et seul,
Tu restes un parfait inconnu
Parfait inconnu
Parfait inconnu
Tu es quelque part dehors,
Mais je ne sais pas si tu t'inquiètes, pas du tout,
Il semble que tu ne t'en fais pas
Et depuis ce jour ne viendra jamais,
Donc tu restes un parfait inconnu
Tant d'années ont été ignorées,
Tu es parti sans laisser de traces
Je m'habitue vous connaissant juste un nom sans visage
Sans visage
Sans visage
Tu es quelque part dehors,
Mais je ne sais pas si tu t'inquiètes, pas du tout,
Il semble que tu ne t'en fais pas
Et depuis ce jour ne viendra jamais,
Donc tu restes un parfait inconnu
Donc tu restes un parfait inconnu
J'adresse cette lettre "cher père"
Je te connais en tant que parfait inconnu
Je devine que c'est mieux que sa ne te tracasse pas
Toute notre vérité devrait être laissée seule
Tu es quelque part dehors,
Mais je ne sais pas si tu t'inquiètes, pas du tout,
Il semble que tu ne t'en fais pas
Et depuis ce jour ne viendra jamais,
Donc tu restes un parfait inconnu
Donc tu restes un parfait inconnu
Tu es quelque part dehors,
Mais je ne sais pas si tu t'inquiètes
@FayBenson
Neil Diamond wrote and sang great songs and music. But Jonathan Livingstone Seagull's songs are, for me his master piece.
@OscarReyes-ud4vz
And Dear Father is the best!
@gabrielmagana8838
For me, both Dear Father and Be are inspired, sacred even. They speak of the soul's experience, the profundity multi-dimensional expanse and miraculous texture of the human experience, love, desire, learning, feeling, joy, sadness, pleasure, pain and sorrow and loss. "While we may" acknowledges that our time here is finite. He uses the words "may" and "if" in Be, with the subtle knowing that life's experiences are different for each, AND we share "universal" commonalities as mortal beings. All this regularly touches me when I hear these masterpieces and my soul swells and cries in some sort of tender empathy for myself and the world; for any and all who might be similarly moved and understand and have compassion for others. And Neil Diamond does it with a brevity I don't have, but with a profound and resonant voice that reaches deeply and touches my SOUL.💞
@bro8974
This song is prayer, pure and simple. We reach out, and sometimes He sheds light. He is also present in the darkness.
@oldermusiclover
He is indeed present there
@2001mimil
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull.. movie i saw with my parents.. but i was too young to remember.. but i do remember this beautiful track..
@moniquehordijk8335
Sweet childhood memories... thank you, dad
@jbccs1
my father 9/15/79 and my Heavenly Father always with me
@JosetteDegrotte
The most beautiful film I've seen in my life, thank you for your
wonderful songs and unforgettable music😊
@taresamongthewheat
My grandmother loved this song