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 The Still Of The Night
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I gaze from of my window
At the moon in its flight
My thoughts all stray to you
In the still of the night
While the world is in slumber
Oh the times without number
Darling when I say to you
As I love you
Are you my life to be
My dream come true
Or will this dream of mine
Fade out of sight
Like that moon growing dim
On the rim of the hill
In the chill, still of the night
Do you love me
As I love you
Are you my life to be
My dream come true
Or will this dream of mine
Fade out of sight
Like that moon growing dim
On the rim of the hill
In the chill, still of the night
Neil Diamond's "In The Still of the Night" is a romantic ballad that explores the deep feelings of loneliness and longing that can take hold when one is separated from a loved one. The first line, "In the still of the night," immediately sets the tone for the song, conjuring up images of a silent, peaceful world that is devoid of distractions. From there, the song's narrator describes how he gazes out of his window at the glowing moon, his mind wandering to the person he loves.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals just how much he misses that person, asking if they love him as he loves them, and if they are the one who will make his dreams come true. The final lines of the song are perhaps the most poignant, as the singer wonders if his dream will "fade out of sight" like the moon that grows dim on the horizon.
The imagery and poetic language of the song make it a classic example of the power of a well-crafted lyric. Through its words, "In the Still of the Night" captures the essence of romantic longing and the uncertainty that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
In the still of the night
During the quiet and peaceful night
As I gaze from of my window
While I am looking out the window
At the moon in its flight
Watching the moon moving in the sky
My thoughts all stray to you
Thinking about you exclusively
In the still of the night
Again, during the quiet and peaceful night
While the world is in slumber
While the rest of the world is sleeping
Oh the times without number
This has happened countless times before
Darling when I say to you
When I express my feelings to you
Do you love me
Is your love for me genuine?
As I love you
At the same level of intensity as my own
Are you my life to be
Are you my soulmate?
My dream come true
The realization of my deepest desire
Or will this dream of mine
Is there a possibility
Fade out of sight
That it will vanish
Like that moon growing dim
Similar to the moon losing its radiance
On the rim of the hill
As it disappears beyond the horizon
In the chill, still of the night
During the cold and quiet night
Do you love me
Again, is your love for me authentic?
As I love you
Just like the way I feel about you
Are you my life to be
Will you be my companion for my whole life?
My dream come true
Will my most profound aspirations be fulfilled?
Or will this dream of mine
Is there any chance
Fade out of sight
That it will disappear over time
Like that moon growing dim
Just like the moon losing its brilliance
On the rim of the hill
As it vanishes beyond the horizon
In the chill, still of the night
During the cold and peaceful night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind