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 Story Of My Life
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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Is very plain to read
It starts the day you came
It ends the day you leave
The story of my life
Begins and ends with you
The names are still the same
I was alone
You found me waiting
And made me your own
I was afraid
That somehow I never could be
The man that you wanted of me
You're the story of my life
And every word is true
Each chapter sings your name
Each page begins with you
It's the story of our times
And never letting go
And if I die today
I wanted you to know
Stay with me
Share with me
Care with me
Stay and be near
And when it began
I'd lie awake every night
Just knowing somewhere deep inside
That our love affair just might write
The story of my life
It's so very plain to read
It starts the day you came
And it ends the day you leave
Neil Diamond's song "The Story of My Life" is a beautiful love song that is rich in emotion and meaning. It speaks about how the singer's life begins and ends with the person he loves. The simplicity of the lyrics and the melody make the song relatable to anyone who has ever been in love.
The song is about the journey of the singer's life, which is a direct reflection of the journey of his relationship with his lover. The singer acknowledges that his lover is the sole reason for his life, and that their relationship is what has kept him going. The song encapsulates the universal truth that in every person's life, there is a special someone who makes life worth living.
The verses narrate how the singer was given a new lease on life when he found his lover. He initially had fears and self-doubt about being able to live up to the person his lover wanted him to be, but he learned to be courageous and strong in the face of these doubts. He then goes on to express his strong desire for his lover to stay with him for the rest of his life, as her presence is what completes and defines his life.
Line by Line Meaning
The story of my life
The journey of my life
Is very plain to read
Is easily understandable
It starts the day you came
It began when you entered my life
It ends the day you leave
It will end when you depart
Begins and ends with you
Completely revolves around you
The names are still the same
The characters involved have not changed
The story's still the truth
The narrative stays genuine
You found me waiting
You discovered me with eagerness
And made me your own
And took me as your possession
I was afraid
I had fear in my heart
That somehow I never could be
That I might not measure up to
The man that you wanted of me
The partner you desired
And every word is true
All of it is authentic
Each chapter sings your name
Every part of my life is dedicated to you
Each page begins with you
The beginning of every event in my life features you
And never letting go
And never relinquishing
And if I die today
And in a case, I die soon
I wanted you to know
I want you to be aware
Stay with me
Remain by my side
Share with me
Share your life with me
Care with me
Be concerned with me
Stay and be near
Stay with me and don't leave my side
And when it began
At the start of our relationship
I'd lie awake every night
I'd stay up at night
Just knowing somewhere deep inside
Just sensing deep down
That our love affair just might write
That our romance could be the rightful subject of my life story
It's so very plain to read
It is easy to understand
And it ends the day you leave
And the story will conclude when you depart
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind