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.
The Drifter
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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I walk the highways
I cross the river
That rolls on forgotten
I sing for the living
Live for the trying
But what's it about
And I'm the dreamer
Who climbed the mountain
Who saw forever
Across the ocean
But you found me waiting
And knew that I would
Be lost forever
I kept on trying alone
They call me the drifter
And I walk the highways
I crossed every river
That rolled on forgotten
I'd sing for the living
But inside was dying
'Cause what's it about
If you got to be trying alone
Well, I'm the drifter
Who solved the answer
And when I found you
I knew for ever
Would be for ever
And not for some time
And you'd be mine
Won't have to be trying alone
Now I sing like a dreamer
And I walk like I'm flying
I looked in your eyes
There was no use denying
You cared for that moment
And I knew the answer
I came for a while
And I stayed for the rest of my life
I came for a while
And I stayed for the rest of my life
I came for a while
And I stayed for the rest of my life
Well, I was the drifter
And I walked the highways
I crossed every river
That rolled on forgotten
I sang for the living
And lived for the trying
I came for a while
And I stayed for the rest of my life
"The Drifter" by Neil Diamond is a song about a man who travels through life alone, wandering the highways and crossing rivers. He sings for the living and lives for the trying, but despite his efforts, he cannot escape the loneliness that haunts him. He is a dreamer who has climbed mountains and seen forever, but he cannot escape his own sense of isolation. He longs for someone to share his journey with and to alleviate his loneliness.
The song takes a positive turn when the drifter meets someone who cares for him, and he realizes that he no longer has to be alone. He sings like a dreamer and walks like he's flying, and he knows that he has found the answer to his quest for companionship. He has come for a while and is now staying for the rest of his life.
One interpretation of the song is that it is a metaphor for the human journey. We all travel through life, trying to make sense of our existence and seeking connection with others. The drifter represents the human condition of being alone in our struggle to find meaning and purpose, but ultimately, we all hope to find someone who understands us and who will share our journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I am the drifter
I am a person who never settles down and wanders from place to place.
I walk the highways
I travel the roads connecting different towns and cities.
I cross the river
I go through difficult and uncertain situations and emerge on the other side.
That rolls on forgotten
That is no longer remembered or of importance.
I sing for the living
I create music to bring joy to people who are alive.
Live for the trying
I exist to attempt and achieve various goals.
But what's it about
But what's the point
If you got to be trying alone
If you have to go through life's journeys by yourself.
And I'm the dreamer
I am a person who has high aspirations and hopes.
Who climbed the mountain
Who accomplished a great feat despite the odds.
Who saw forever
Who had a vision and a long-term perspective.
Across the ocean
Overcoming great distances and challenges.
But you found me waiting
You happened upon me when I was at a point of rest.
And knew that I would
And you had a feeling that I would be receptive.
Be lost forever
Continuously wandering and never settling down.
I kept on trying alone
I continued to go through life's journeys by myself.
They call me the drifter
People refer to me as the person who never settles down and wanders.
I'd sing for the living
I would create music to bring joy to people who are alive.
But inside was dying
But I was feeling emptiness and hopelessness within me.
'Cause what's it about
Because what's the point
If you got to be trying alone
If you have to go through life's journeys by yourself.
Well, I'm the drifter
I am a person who never settles down and wanders from place to place.
Who solved the answer
Who found a meaningful solution to a problem or question.
And when I found you
And when I met you.
I knew for ever
I knew that it would last forever.
Would be for ever
Would last forever.
And not for some time
And not for just a temporary period.
And you'd be mine
And you would belong to me.
Won't have to be trying alone
I will not have to go through life's journeys by myself anymore.
Now I sing like a dreamer
Now I create music like a person who has high aspirations and hopes.
And I walk like I'm flying
And I move with great confidence and joy.
I looked in your eyes
I had a deep connection with you.
There was no use denying
There was no need to hide from the truth of our connection.
You cared for that moment
You deeply cared for that experience we shared.
And I knew the answer
And I knew that we were meant to be together.
I came for a while
I arrived for a temporary period.
And I stayed for the rest of my life
And I stayed with you permanently.
Well, I was the drifter
I was the person who never settles down and wanders from place to place.
And I walked the highways
And I traveled the roads connecting different towns and cities.
I crossed every river
I went through various difficult and uncertain situations and emerged on the other side.
That rolled on forgotten
That was no longer remembered or of importance.
I sang for the living
I created music to bring joy to people who are alive.
And lived for the trying
I existed to attempt and achieve various goals.
I came for a while
I arrived for a temporary period.
And I stayed for the rest of my life
And I stayed with you permanently.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind