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.
Ebb Tide
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plants a kiss on the shore
Then rolls out to sea
And the sea is very still once more
So I rush to your side
Like the oncoming tide
With one burning thought
At last we're face to face
And as we kiss through an embrace
I can tell
I can feel
You are love
You are really mine
In the rain, in the dark, in the sun
Like the tide at its ebb
I'm at peace in the web
Of your arms
In Neil Diamond's song Ebb Tide, the lyrics are describing the cyclical nature of the ocean's tides and how it mirrors the cycle of love between two people. The song opens by metaphorically comparing the rush of the tide to a lover's kiss on the shore. Then, as the tide recedes, the sea becomes still once again. This tranquillity is short-lived for the singer, who rushes towards his lover, hoping they can be reunited once again. The lyrics convey a longing for the other person and a desire to be loved and held by them. The singer explains that when they finally come together in each other's arms, it feels like his search for love is complete. He is at peace with himself and the world in the web of his lover's embrace.
Overall, the lyrics are meant to be both passionate and heart-warming, evoking feelings of love, desire, and contentment. Through his song, Neil Diamond illuminates how sometimes it takes the pattern of something as natural and repetitive as the tides of the sea to fully understand the nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
First the tide rushes in
The incoming tide quickly approaches and reaches the shore at high speed
Plants a kiss on the shore
The tide gently touches the shore and leaves a small imprint, like a kiss
Then rolls out to sea
The tide then slowly withdraws back to the sea
And the sea is very still once more
After the tide has gone back to the sea, the water becomes calm and peaceful again
So I rush to your side
Just like the tide that rushes towards the shore, I am in a hurry to be with you
Like the oncoming tide
I approach you with the same urgency and speed as the incoming tide
With one burning thought
I have only one thought in my mind as I reach you
Will your arms open wide
I hope that you will welcome me into your embrace
At last we're face to face
Finally, we are able to meet each other eye-to-eye
And as we kiss through an embrace
We embrace and kiss each other passionately
I can tell
I sense and understand
I can feel
I have a strong emotional response
You are love
You embody the very definition of love
You are really mine
I feel a strong sense of possession and belonging to you
In the rain, in the dark, in the sun
I will be there for you in all types of weather and situations
Like the tide at its ebb
Just as the tide reaches its lowest point of withdrawal, I too feel calm and at peace in your presence
I'm at peace in the web
I find serenity and tranquility in the embrace of your arms
Of your arms
The enveloping nature of your embrace brings me a sense of comfort and security
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, ROBERT MAXWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind