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.
Honey-Drippin' Times
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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Sit on an old rockin' chair
Thinkin' back where I've been
Goin' back, once again
I can find honey-drippin' times
Honey-drippin' times
Kid's playin' games in the yard
But they're kids and I'm not
I just see all I've got on my mind
Honey-drippin' times
Honey-drippin' times
Thinkin' back where I've been
Goin' back once again
I can find honey-drippin times
Honey drippin' times
The song Honey-Drippin' Times by Neil Diamond speaks about nostalgia and the good old days. The opening lines "Warm night time smells in the air, sit on an old rockin' chair" evoke a feeling of relaxation and comfort. The singer is thinking about the past and his experiences, but he has a fondness for the good memories. He states that he can find "honey-drippin' times" which means that he is able to find the sweetness in the past memories.
The second verse shifts the focus to children playing in the yard. The singer observes the innocence of the children and how they do not have to worry about the hardships of life yet. However, he reveals that he is not a child anymore and has more on his mind. This line has a bittersweet undertone to it, as it reminds the listener that childhood innocence is fleeting and cannot be reclaimed. The chorus is repeated again, and the song concludes with the lyrics "I can find honey-drippin' times" which emphasizes the singer's ability to find the good memories in his past.
Overall, the song Honey-Drippin' Times is a touching ode to nostalgia and the human desire to find happiness in the past. The lyrics and melody work together to create a wistful and introspective mood.
Line by Line Meaning
Warm night time smells in the air
The singer describes the atmosphere around him on a warm summer night.
Sit on an old rockin' chair
The singer is sitting on a nostalgic piece of furniture.
Thinkin' back where I've been
The singer is reminiscing about his past experiences.
Goin' back, once again
The singer is mentally revisiting places he has already been to.
I can find honey-drippin' times
The singer discovers that he has had sweet and enjoyable memories in the past.
Honey-drippin' times
The singer repeats the phrase to emphasize the pleasantness of those memories.
Kid's playin' games in the yard
The singer observes children having fun and not worrying about life's problems.
Kids never know when times are hard
The singer reflects on the innocence of childhood and how children are not aware of tough times.
But they're kids and I'm not
The singer acknowledges that he is not a child and cannot return to that carefree state of mind.
I just see all I've got on my mind
The singer only focuses on what is on his mind; his memories of the past.
Thinkin' back where I've been
The singer repeats the same line, emphasizing his thoughts about his past.
Goin' back once again
The singer again emphasizes his mental journey back to his past.
I can find honey-drippin times
The singer repeats his realization that he has had sweet and pleasant memories in the past.
Honey drippin' times
The singer repeats the phrase, once again highlighting the sweetness of his memories.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind