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.
Hurricane
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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We were taken by surprise
Was the power of the moment
Or the power of her eyes
Then it came unexpected,
And we never even ran
We were standing unprotected
When the rain began
And it never made a sound
So we never ran for cover
And it blew the house down
And it brought us together
Maybe tore us all apart
When a hurricane blows
It goes for the heart
When a hurricane blows
It goes for the heart
When a hurricane blows
It goes for the heart
But we built another house
And we made it out of stone
And we're stronger now together
Than we ever were alone
We were swept away
But never swept apart
When a hurricane blows
It goes for the heart
When that hurricane blows
It goes for the heart
When that hurricane blows
It goes for the heart
For the heart
Was the power of the moment
Or the power of her eyes
Power of the moment
Or the power of her eyes
Swept away
Taken by surprise
Power of the moment
Or the power of her eyes
The lyrics of Neil Diamond's "Hurricane" discuss the aftermath of a hurricane in a metaphorical sense, using the storm as a symbol for the emotional forces that can tear relationships apart or bring them together. The opening lines suggest that the singer and his partner were caught off guard by this emotional turbulence, which they didn't see coming. The lines "Was the power of the moment/ Or the power of her eyes" imply that the intensity of the connection they shared was responsible for their vulnerability.
The lines "And it brought us together/ Maybe tore us all apart" suggest that the hurricane had different effects on different people, as it is with every natural calamity. Some couples, like the singer's, were able to emerge from the experience stronger and more united, while others were torn apart. The use of the phrase "goes for the heart" suggests that the storm (metaphorically) aims for our most vulnerable and sensitive parts, and that it causes damage that is difficult to quantify or repair.
The final verse of the song is more hopeful, as the singer describes how he and his partner were able to rebuild a new home, stronger than before, and that their bond became greater through the shared experience of the hurricane's aftermath. The use of the repeated lines and the gentle melody create a sense of calmness after the storm's chaos, emphasizing the idea that love and hope can prevail even in the most difficult of situations.
Line by Line Meaning
We were swept away,
We were overwhelmed and carried away by the force of the hurricane.
We were taken by surprise
We were caught off guard and unprepared for the hurricane's arrival.
Was the power of the moment
Perhaps it was the intensity of the moment that led us to act in a certain way.
Or the power of her eyes
Or maybe it was the captivating gaze of a loved one that spurred us on.
Then it came unexpected,
The hurricane arrived suddenly and without warning.
And we never even ran
We didn't have a chance to flee or escape the hurricane's path.
We were standing unprotected
We were vulnerable and exposed to the full force of the hurricane.
When the rain began
The onset of the hurricane was marked by heavy precipitation.
And the hurricane came,
The full force of the hurricane was unleashed upon us.
And it never made a sound
The hurricane was silent in its approach and equally quiet in its departure.
So we never ran for cover
We didn't attempt to seek shelter or protect ourselves from the hurricane's fury.
And it blew the house down
The hurricane destroyed our home and left us with a sense of devastation and loss.
And it brought us together
Despite the devastating effects of the hurricane, it also had the power to unite us and bring us closer together.
Maybe tore us all apart
On the other hand, the hurricane may have also caused strife and division among us.
But we built another house
Despite the destruction, we were able to rebuild and start anew.
And we made it out of stone
The new house was built to last and withstand any future storms or disasters.
And we're stronger now together
Through the experience of the hurricane, we were able to grow closer and become more resilient as a group.
Than we ever were alone
Our shared experience brought us a sense of unity and purpose that we never could have achieved on our own.
But we built another house
Despite the destruction, we were able to rebuild and start anew.
We were swept away
We were overwhelmed and carried away by the force of the hurricane.
But never swept apart
Despite the challenges we faced, we managed to stay together and maintain our sense of unity as a group.
When a hurricane blows
The metaphorical language of the hurricane is used to describe any difficult or catastrophic event in life.
It goes for the heart
These sorts of events affect us on a deep emotional level, and can bring out both the best and worst in us as human beings.
When that hurricane blows
The metaphor is referenced again to emphasize the power and significance of these difficult experiences.
For the heart
Ultimately, the focus of the song is on the emotions and relationships that are impacted by these kinds of events.
Was the power of the moment
Perhaps it was the intensity of the moment that led us to act in a certain way.
Or the power of her eyes
Or maybe it was the captivating gaze of a loved one that spurred us on.
Swept away
We were overwhelmed and carried away by the force of the hurricane.
Taken by surprise
We were caught off guard and unprepared for the hurricane's arrival.
Power of the moment
Perhaps it was the intensity of the moment that led us to act in a certain way.
Or the power of her eyes
Or maybe it was the captivating gaze of a loved one that spurred us on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, CAROLE BAYER SAGER, NEIL DIAMOND, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind