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.
Street Life
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, let me show you the finks, the punks, the judge, the junkie.
Stay close to me for a while, for a while, for a while.
Say boy, you got to get street wise.
Hey, little boy, you're a babe in arms, stay out of harm's way
Right here with me for a while, for a while, for a while.
Street life, hell in the city.
You got to really watch out for that street life.
Or somehow you might get hurt, get hurt, get hurt.
Say, let me show you the night life.
Say, let me show you the queens, the dudes,
The class, the crudes, the folks that inhabit the night.
Let me set it right.
I'm gonna give you my warning,
I'm gonna tell you the street's alive the sound of jive,
You've just arrived.
Try it for size for a while, for a while.
Street life, hell in the city.
You got to really watch out for that street life.
Say, it ain't pretty, you got to know your way around
Or somehow you might get hurt, get hurt, get hurt.
Neil Diamond's song "Street Life" is a cautionary tale about the dangers and excitement of the city streets. In the song, Diamond addresses a young man, encouraging him to experience the world around him while also warning him to be cautious. He offers to serve as a guide, showing the boy the different kinds of people that inhabit the streets, from finks and punks to judges and junkies.
Throughout the song, Diamond emphasizes the unpredictability of street life and how easily one can get caught up in its dangers. He urges the boy to stay close to him and to be "street wise," in order to avoid getting hurt. Diamond also highlights the allure of the "night life," with its queens, dudes, and other colorful characters. However, he warns that to truly enjoy the streets, one must know their way around, or risk being hurt.
Overall, "Street Life" is a song about the excitement and danger of urban life. Diamond paints a vivid picture of city streets and the people who inhabit them, and provides a warning to those who would venture into these unpredictable environments.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, let me show you the street life.
I want to show you what the realities of the city streets are.
Hey, let me show you the finks, the punks, the judge, the junkie.
I will show you the different types of people that exist in these streets, from cheats to drug addicts, to legal authorities.
Stay close to me for a while, for a while, for a while.
Be by my side and keep yourself safe for a while, until you gain an understanding of the street life.
Say boy, you got to get street wise.
You need to become savvy and street smart in order to survive here.
Hey, little boy, you're a babe in arms, stay out of harm's way
You're young and inexperienced, so be careful not to put yourself in dangerous situations.
Right here with me for a while, for a while, for a while.
Stay by my side until you have learned enough about the street life.
Street life, hell in the city.
Being a part of the street life can be like experiencing pure hell in the city.
You got to really watch out for that street life.
Be cautious and on guard when it comes to the street life.
Say, it ain't pretty, you got to know your way around
The street life is not glamorous, and you need to be familiar with it in order to navigate it successfully.
Or somehow you might get hurt, get hurt, get hurt.
If you're not careful, you could easily find yourself in a dangerous and painful situation.
Say, let me show you the night life.
I want to show you what the city's nightlife is like.
Say, let me show you the queens, the dudes, The class, the crudes, the folks that inhabit the night.
I'll introduce you to the different kinds of people that populate the city's nightlife, from high class individuals to those who are less refined.
Let me set it right.
Allow me to set the record straight and show you the reality of the matter.
I'm gonna give you my warning,
I will give you my cautionary advice.
I'm gonna tell you the street's alive the sound of jive,
I'm going to inform you about the energy and the buzz of the streets, which is largely filled with talk and slang.
You've just arrived.
You're new here and have just arrived.
Try it for size for a while, for a while.
Give the street life a try and see if it's something you can handle, but only for a short time.
Street life, hell in the city.
Being a part of the street life can be like experiencing pure hell in the city.
You got to really watch out for that street life.
Be cautious and on guard when it comes to the street life.
Say, it ain't pretty, you got to know your way around
The street life is not glamorous, and you need to be familiar with it in order to navigate it successfully.
Or somehow you might get hurt, get hurt, get hurt.
If you're not careful, you could easily find yourself in a dangerous and painful situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Neil Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind