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.
In My Lifetime
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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On the street of unknowns
Big man smokin' on a cigar
Dealin' on the telephone
Hey boy, look out for flim-flam
If you want to go real far
Been there,
You got to be what you are
In my lifetime
In my lifetime
Hey boy, you look like a million
Hey now, show 'em what you got
Hey boy, what you got to run from?
I'll teach you all that I forgot
In my lifetime
In my lifetime
Hey boy, when you write a rock tune
You give up a piece of your soul
Stay boy underneath a rockin' moon
Try before you get too old
Hooray, got yourself a road gig
Any gig's gonna be fine
Okay, you gave up your real life
And I know why
In my lifetime,
I have been there
I have dreamed it
In my lifetime
L, I, F, E
In my
T, I, M, E
In my lifetime
(Holly Holy love)
In my lifetime
(Holly Holy love)
(Shilo, when I was young)
In my lifetime
In my lifetime
In my lifetime
In my lifetime
The song "In My Lifetime" by Neil Diamond is a contemplative piece about the pursuit of success in life. The lyrics speak to a young boy who is just starting out in life, offering him both advice and cautionary tales about what it takes to achieve greatness. Diamond sings about the big man on the street dealing on the telephone, warning the boy about the deceit that can be found in such an environment. He advises the boy to stay true to himself and to be what he is, urging him to not let fame and fortune change who he is at his core. The song speaks to the sacrifices one must make in order to chase their dreams, with Diamond singing about giving up a piece of your soul when you write a rock tune, and how every gig is fine, even if it means giving up your real life.
The song is a dynamic and reflective piece, featuring a range of emotions and perspectives. Diamond's lyrics convey both the excitement and danger of chasing one's dreams, while also acknowledging the sacrifices and potential pitfalls along the way. Ultimately, the song is about the journey of life, with Diamond singing about the experiences, dreams, and love that make up his lifetime.
Overall, "In My Lifetime" is a deeply introspective and revealing piece about the challenges and rewards of living a full life. Its themes of perseverance, self-reflection, and staying true to oneself resonate deeply with listeners, making it a timeless classic that remains popular to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey boy, you got the address
Hey there young man, do you have a sense of direction in life?
On the street of unknowns
Are you wandering around aimlessly in life?
Big man smokin' on a cigar
Are you easily impressed by superficial markers of success?
Dealin' on the telephone
Are you aspiring for a life of flashing deals and wheeling-dealing?
Hey boy, look out for flim-flam
Be careful young man, don't be fooled by false promises and schemes.
If you want to go real far
If you want to achieve long-lasting success, beware of shortcuts.
Been there,
I've lived through these experiences myself,
And I believe,
And I am convinced that...
You got to be what you are
You need to be true to your own nature and identity to succeed.
Hey boy, you look like a million
You seem to have a lot of potential to succeed,
Hey now, show 'em what you got
So don't hesitate, let the world know what you can do.
Hey boy, what you got to run from?
Why are you afraid of revealing your true self to the world?
I'll teach you all that I forgot
I can help you learn from my past mistakes and lessons learned.
Hey boy, when you write a rock tune
When you create something that makes you proud,
You give up a piece of your soul
You reveal something personal and soulful in the creative process.
Stay boy underneath a rockin' moon
Stay true to your passion for music and performing under all circumstances.
Try before you get too old
Don't hold back, pursue your musical ambitions while you have the chance.
Hooray, got yourself a road gig
Congratulations, you've landed a gig on the road!
Any gig's gonna be fine
Any gig is worth playing when you are passionate about music.
Okay, you gave up your real life
You may have given up a conventional life path to pursue your musical aspirations.
And I know why
I understand the passion and dedication that goes into pursuing a musical career.
In my lifetime,
In my experience living...
I have been there
I have endured the ups and downs of life.
I have dreamed it
I have imagined and pursued various dreams throughout my life.
L, I, F, E
The four letters that represent life.
In my
Throughout my
T, I, M, E
The four letters that represent time.
In my lifetime
Throughout my life,
(Holly Holy love)
Along the way, I have experienced the highs and lows of love.
(Shilo, when I was young)
I have fond memories of my youth, such as the song 'Shilo' that I wrote when I was younger.
In my lifetime
Throughout my life,
In my lifetime
Throughout my life,
In my lifetime
Throughout my life,
In my lifetime
Throughout my life,
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind