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.
Face Me
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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I feel the anger go straight to my head
Cause I'm feeling deceived
And it's not what you say
But the way that you say it
I worry inside
Do you lie to me, lie to me?
What do you hide from me?
Face me
Need you to face me
Don't have to turn away to say that
I'm the man you want to be with
Make me believe it
You know you've got my life just waiting in your hand
Don't look away now
Face me and say how
You want me still
Love me
Need you to love me
Look right into my eyes
And I'll believe it's true
Don't be uncertain
Pull back the curtain
Just say it right to me
So I'll believe it too
Don't have to sell me
Just need to tell me
You love me too
Some call it vain
Others say vanity
Comes from the heart
Not from the head
And it may be insane
What is insanity
If not a cry for the truth
To be truthfully told
Between you and me
Face me
Hold me
Reach out and hold me
Words aren't strong enough
To catch me when I fall
They can't sustain me
They can't contain me
I want the truth so bad
That I'll believe it all
And when you say it
Don't you betray it
Don't look away
Face me today
Face me today
Neil Diamond's song "Face Me" is a powerful plea for honesty and truthfulness in a relationship. The lyrics express the singer's frustration and anger when his partner avoids looking at him, which makes him worry that she might be hiding something from him. He asks her to face him and tell him the truth about her feelings, instead of turning away and leaving him uncertain. Through the song, he expresses his longing for her love and asks her to be honest and sincere with him.
The repeated plea to "face me" is a clear indication of the singer's desire for transparency and openness in his relationship. He is asking his partner to be honest with him and not to hide behind words or avoid eye contact. He expresses his vulnerability and his need for reassurance that his partner truly loves him. The song's lyrics also hint at the potential dangers of dishonesty in a relationship and the importance of confronting difficult situations and feelings head-on.
Overall, "Face Me" is a powerful and emotional song that conveys the singer's deep need for honesty, trust, and love in his relationship. It reminds us that openness and sincerity are vital to any healthy relationship and that we must face our fears and be honest with ourselves and our partners to cultivate genuine love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
When you look away from me
Your avoidance of me makes me angry
I feel the anger go straight to my head
Your avoidance of me is causing me to become increasingly angry
Cause I'm feeling deceived
I feel like you're hiding something from me
And it's not what you say
It's not what you say to me that's the problem
But the way that you say it
It's the way that you say it that makes me question the truthfulness of your words
I worry inside
I'm afraid for what I might find out if I confront you
Do you lie to me, lie to me?
I suspect that you're lying to me
What do you hide from me?
What are you keeping from me?
Face me
Look me in the eyes and confront this head on
Need you to face me
I need you to be honest with me and face me
Don't have to turn away to say that
You don't have to avoid looking at me while you say this
I'm the man you want to be with
You know that you want to be with me
Make me believe it
Convince me that your feelings for me are genuine
You know you've got my life just waiting in your hand
You have the power to make or break my life with what you say to me
Face me and say how
Look at me and tell me the truth about how you feel about me
You want me still
You still want to be with me
Love me
Show me that you love me
Need you to love me
I need your love to feel secure
Look right into my eyes
Maintain eye contact with me
And I'll believe it's true
If you look at me in the eye while telling me you love me, I'll believe it's true
Don't be uncertain
Don't hesitate or hold back
Pull back the curtain
Reveal your true feelings to me
Just say it right to me
Tell me directly and clearly
So I'll believe it too
So that I can trust that your love for me is genuine
Don't have to sell me
Don't try too hard to convince me, just be honest
You love me too
You also love me
Some call it vain
Some people describe this as vanity
Others say vanity
Others specifically label it as vanity
Comes from the heart
It's an emotion that originates from deep within
Not from the head
It's not a rational thought process
And it may be insane
It might seem crazy to some people
What is insanity
What is insanity if not a desperate plea for honesty and truthfulness?
If not a cry for the truth
If not a desperate plea for honesty and truthfulness
To be truthfully told
To hear the truth and nothing but the truth
Between you and me
Within our relationship specifically
Hold me
Physically embrace me
Reach out and hold me
Extend your arms toward me and hold me
Words aren't strong enough
Words alone cannot provide the comfort that physical touch can
To catch me when I fall
To support me and keep me from falling apart
They can't sustain me
Words alone cannot sustain me in times of emotional vulnerability
They can't contain me
Words alone cannot adequately express the full extent of my emotions
I want the truth so bad
I am desperate for the truth
That I'll believe it all
I will wholeheartedly and unquestioningly believe the truth
And when you say it
When you tell me the truth
Don't you betray it
Don't deceive me again
Face me today
Confront me and tell me the truth, right now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind