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.
Merry-go-round
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The rich got a maid
And she takes all the kids to the zoo
It's true
The poor got no maid
So they pack up their kids and go, too
And I ask myself
What it's all about
Are the things that really count
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Yeah, Merry-go-round
The good and the bad
Seems like there ain't much difference
Between the two
It's true
The bad cheat someone and get caught
While the good never do
And I'm wonderin'
And I start to doubt
I've been runnin' so long
Ain't it time to turn around
Merry-go -round
Merry-go-round
Yeah, Merry-go-round
And I ask myself
What it's all about
If the thinks that I want
Are the things that really count
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Yeah, Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
The lyrics of Neil Diamond's song 'Merry-Go-Round' are insightful observations about the complex nature of social classes and morality. Diamond reflects on the differences between the rich and the poor and how they experience the same things differently. For example, the rich have a maid who takes their children to the zoo while the poor have to pack up their children and go themselves. Diamond highlights that the different experiences arise due to the opportunities and resources that come with wealth. However, he also suggests that some things remain the same regardless of social status, like the similarity between the good and the bad. Diamond further queries the value of everything he is chasing and wonders whether he ought to turn around.
Overall, the song presents a theme of disillusionment and uncertainty that comes with an understanding that life is not fair.
Line by Line Meaning
The rich and the poor
There are people who have a lot of money, and others who have very little
The rich got a maid
And she takes all the kids to the zoo
It's true
People who are wealthy can afford to have someone help them take care of their children, like a maid who can take them to fun places like the zoo
The poor got no maid
So they pack up their kids and go, too
Families who are not rich can't rely on having a maid or someone to help them, so they take their kids to the zoo themselves
And I ask myself
What it's all about
If the things that I want
Are the things that really count
The singer wonders what the point of everything is, and if the things he desires are truly important in life
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Yeah, Merry-go-round
The repetition of the phrase 'Merry-go-round' is used to represent the cycle of life and how it repeats itself over and over again
The good and the bad
Seems like there ain't much difference
Between the two
It's true
There doesn't seem to be much separation between good people and bad people
The bad cheat someone and get caught
While the good never do
Bad people will do dishonest things and eventually get caught, while good people never feel the need to cheat others
And I'm wonderin'
And I start to doubt
I've been runnin' so long
Ain't it time to turn around
The singer expresses uncertainty about whether he's been doing the right things for so long, and if it's time to reconsider his actions
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Yeah, Merry-go-round
Repetition of the phrase to emphasize the theme of life being a cycle
And I ask myself
What it's all about
If the thinks that I want
Are the things that really count
Reiteration of the question: is it worth striving for material things or is there something more important in life?
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Yeah, Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Final repetition of the phrase to further drive home the idea that life is a continuous cycle
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind