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.
Surviving The Life
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got some highs, got some lows
But the wise man,
He knows what it's really about
When you're doin' without
Surviving the life
Providing the soul,
It ain't easy to do
Any way that you can
Join the family of man
Providing the soul
Pass the plate that serves it
Every heart deserves it
You and me, we do
Life ain't easy, but it ain't that bad
Sing the song that tells it,
Praise the man that sells it
You're alive,
You might as well be glad
Revealing the heart,
You know that some people try
But it's hard to get by
Without giving a thing
You only get what you bring,
Revealing the heart
Pass the plate that serves it,
Every heart deserves it
You and me, we do
Life ain't easy, but it ain't that bad
Sing the song that tells it
Praise the man that sells it
You're alive, you might as well be glad
Providing the soul,
Revealing the heart,
Surviving the life
In "Surviving The Life," Neil Diamond speaks about the ups and downs of life, and how difficult it can be to provide soul, reveal the heart, and survive. He suggests that no matter what your circumstances are, you must find a way to get through it. The wise man understands that there will be highs and lows, but you have to keep going through it all. He acknowledges that it may not be easy to reveal your heart or provide your soul, but it's necessary for survival.
Diamond also speaks about the importance of community and the family of man. He suggests that we all need to join together and support each other. In this way, we can all pass the plate that serves it and provide for each other. He believes that every heart deserves to receive and to give, and that it's important to sing the song that tells it and praise the man that sells it.
Overall, "Surviving The Life" is a song about resilience, survival, and community. It speaks to the universal experience of overcoming adversity and finding a way to move forward. It encourages us to reveal our hearts, provide our souls, and join together to support each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Surviving the life
Enduring the ups and downs of life
Got some highs, got some lows
Experiencing both joyous and tough times
But the wise man,
He knows what it's really about
Those who possess wisdom understand the true essence of life
When you're doin' without
During difficult times
Providing the soul,
It ain't easy to do
When you got to get through
Any way that you can
Finding the strength to keep going and provide emotional support to others
Join the family of man
Becoming part of the human family
Pass the plate that serves it
Every heart deserves it
You and me, we do
Sharing love and kindness with others
Life ain't easy, but it ain't that bad
Life presents challenges, but it's not hopeless
Sing the song that tells it,
Praise the man that sells it
Expressing gratitude for life and those who inspire and motivate
You're alive,
You might as well be glad
Since we are fortunate to be living, we should embrace and appreciate life
Revealing the heart,
You know that some people try
But it's hard to get by
Without giving a thing
You only get what you bring,
Being vulnerable and showing your true self is challenging, as it involves risking rejection, but the more we give, the more we receive
Surviving the life
Persisting through life's struggles
Providing the soul,
Revealing the heart,
Surviving the life
Despite hardships, staying emotionally resilient and connected to others while being true to oneself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind