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.
Love on the Rocks
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't no surprise
Just pour me a drink and I'll tell you some lies
Got nothing to lose so you just sing the blues
All the time
Gave you my heart
Give you my soul
Yesterday's gone
Now all I want is a smile
First they say they want you
Hey, how they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in a storm
And when they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
You need what you need
You can say what you want
Not much you can do when the feeling is gone
Maybe blue skies above
But it's cool when your love's on the rocks
First they say they want you
Hey, how they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in a storm
And when they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
Love on the rocks
Ain't no big surprise
Just pour me a drink and I'll tell you my lies
Yesterday's gone
And now all I want is a smile
The song "Love on the Rocks" by Neil Diamond is a contemplation on the end of a relationship that has left the singer lonely and disillusioned. The lyrics suggest that the singer had given everything to the relationship- his heart and soul, yet he was left with nothing to hold as his partner walked away. The singer also laments the way his partner strung him along- pretending to want him, even though she was unsure- before finally settling on leaving him. All that's left for him now is to drink and tell lies.
The song speaks to the pain that comes with rejection and the knowledge that the end result was inevitable. The singer is resigned to his situation, recognizing that nothing can be done or said to change it. Despite the pain, the song seems to suggest that it's better to accept the end of the relationship and move on, rather than holding onto false hope. The final lines, "Yesterday's gone / And now all I want is a smile," suggest that the singer has come to terms with the break-up and is ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Love on the rocks
The relationship is in trouble
Ain't no surprise
It was inevitable or expected
Just pour me a drink and I'll tell you some lies
I will try to cover up my pain with alcohol and deceive myself and others
Got nothing to lose so you just sing the blues
When you hit rock bottom, all you can do is feel sorry for yourself
Gave you my heart
I loved you deeply
Give you my soul
I expressed my innermost feelings to you
You left me alone here with nothing to hold
You abandoned me with emptiness and despair
Yesterday's gone
The past is over
Now all I want is a smile
All I need is a little happiness to move on
First they say they want you
People express love and desire for someone
Hey, how they really need you
But it may not be genuine and they may just want to possess you
Suddenly you find you're out there
You realize you are exposed to danger and vulnerability
Walking in a storm
You are facing chaos and turbulence in your life
And when they know they have you
When someone knows they have your heart and your attention
Then they really have you
They have power over you
Nothing you can do or say
You are helpless and trapped in the relationship
You got to leave, just get away
Your only option is to walk away and move on
We all know the song
This is a common experience among people
You need what you need
You have desires and wants in a relationship
You can say what you want
You may express your thoughts and feelings
Not much you can do when the feeling is gone
When the love is lost, there is not much you can do to bring it back
Maybe blue skies above
There may be better days ahead
But it's cool when your love's on the rocks
It's a lousy feeling when your relationship is in trouble
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gilbert Francois Leopold Becaud, Neil Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craig
Love on the rocks, ain't no surprise
Just pour me a drink, and I'll tell you some lies
Got nothing to lose, so you just sing the blues
All the time
Gave you my heart, gave you my soul
You left me alone here with nothing to hold
Yesterday's gone, now all I want is a smile
At first they say they want you, hear how they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there walking in a storm
And when they know they have you, then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say, you've got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
You need what you need, you can say what you want
Not much you can do when the feeling is gone
Maybe blue skies above, but it's cool
When your love's on the rocks
At first they say they want you, hear how they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there walking in a storm
And when they know they have you, then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say, you've got to leave, just get away
We all know the song
Love on the rocks, ain't no big surprise
Just pour me a drink, and I'll tell you more lies
Yesterday's gone and now all I want is a smile
Irma Crespo
Love on the rocks,
Ain't no surprise
Just pour me a drink
And I'll tell you some lies
Got nothin' to lose
So you just sing the blues
all the time.
Gave me your heart
You gave me your soul
Then you left me alone here
With nothing to hold
Yesterday's gone
Now all I want
is a smile
First, they say they want you
How they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in a storm
And when they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You've got to leave,
just get away
We all know the song
Love on the rocks
Ain't no big surprise
Just pour me a drink
And I'll tell you some lies
Yesterday's gone
And now all I want is a smile
Kevin Hegarty
I've always wondered, is that meant to be an actor playing the moody rock singer, Billy idol in the background of the recording booth
Gilded Entertainment Group
🤔
Robert Cronin
I don't think so and if it was, it's an inaccurate representation of him - Billy is actually a very nice and humble guy...I think it's just an accidental similarity in appearance.
Tiffany Agnew
The actors name is Paul Nicholas.
staffsyeoman
@Tiffany Agnew And once upon a time I dated the daughter of his lawyer. A very nice guy (Paul Nicholas)
Katryna baszynski
No he is paul Nicholas a actor and singer
Treva Lowthorp
I played this for my grandma while she was on her deathbed. She had dementia and was in her last days. She loved this song and when I played it she had so much emotion in her face. She may have not remembered who I was but she remembered this song. Music didn't leave the mind of my precious grandma and her favorite song. She knew this song and it reached her heart. She passed away January 26th 2021. I miss you Grandma and I'll be seeing you. I'm so dang sad and yet happy she is with my grandpa now. Lord have mercy. We lost a precious woman. She was so pretty. When she was young she had really dark brown hair and light blue crystal eyes. My grandparents would have made it 75 years together if my grandpa were still alive. He passed in 2001. She held out another 20 years and it was time to go join him. My grandparents and dad raised me and my older brother and sister. Thank you grandma for being everything to me
Rod Main
That's so beautiful.
Treva Lowthorp
I thought so too. I sure do miss her
Christopher Fritz
Wow..