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.
Two-Bit Manchild
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm going nowhere at all
I'm 'bout to head any place in the world
But the place that I am
I'm talkin'
Hey, heh, heh
But baby, you don't understand
Bad times, I can't take 'em
Good times, got to make 'em
Got to find 'em, got to taste 'em
Hey, and I do, I say I do
Mama I do
Two bit manchild I was
Born for nothin' mostly
Good time with sometime women
Nothin' ain't ever hold me
You can't change me none
Na na na na na
You want me
And I can't deny , I 'm a man
But I go no eyes for a tight pair of shoes
When my bare feet'll do
You need me
Hey, heh, heh
The wind is where I got my roots
Na na na na na na na na na
Bad times, I can't take 'em
Good times, got to make 'em
Got to find 'em, got to taste 'em
Hey and I do, I say I do
Mama I do......
Two bit manchild I was
Born for nothin' mostly
Good times with sometime women
Nothin' ain't ever hold me
You can't change me none
Na na na na na
I do, I say I do
Mama, Mama I do...
Two bit manchild I was
Born for nothin' mostly baby
Good time women
Good time lovin'
Hear what I 'm saying, baby
Two bit manchild
Good for nothin'
The lyrics of Neil Diamond's "Two-Bit Manchild" revolve around the frustration and aimlessness of the singer's life. He feels like he is walking through life but not moving anywhere, not finding the place he wants to be. He tries to explain his situation to someone but gets a feeling that he isn't understood the way he wants to be. The singer acknowledges that he is a man, but he isn't interested in material possessions like shoes. He is a simple man, a bit of a wanderer, who is looking for the good times in life.
The singer knows that he wasn't born for any particular purpose, and he hasn't really achieved anything significant yet. However, he has been able to find his way around temporary pleasures like good company and love. He has no desire to be tied down by responsibilities or expectations, and nothing can change that. The singer seems to have an almost fatalistic attitude towards his life, as he highlights both the good and bad times of life but only focuses on the former.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm walkin'
I'm going through the motions in life
But I'm going nowhere at all
However, I am not progressing in life.
I'm 'bout to head any place in the world
I am ready to travel anywhere in the world.
But the place that I am
However, I am stuck where I currently am.
I'm talkin'
I am expressing myself and my thoughts.
But baby, you don't understand
But unfortunately you do not understand my perspective.
Bad times, I can't take 'em
I am unable to handle difficult times.
Good times, got to make 'em
It is important for me to create good times.
Got to find 'em, got to taste 'em
I must locate and experience the positive moments in life.
Hey, and I do, I say I do
And I indeed find and enjoy positive experiences.
Mama I do
Mother, I am finding good times.
Two bit manchild I was
I was a child of modest beginnings.
Born for nothin' mostly
It has always felt like I was destined for nothing significant.
Good time with sometime women
I have enjoyed the pleasures of good company from many attractive females.
Nothin' ain't ever hold me
No thing or person has been able to hold me back.
You can't change me none
You do not have the power to alter my course in life.
You want me
You have an interest in me.
And I can't deny , I 'm a man
I am a man and proud of it.
But I go no eyes for a tight pair of shoes
But I am not interested in material possessions.
When my bare feet'll do
I am content with the essentials in life.
The wind is where I got my roots
I am deeply connected to nature and the elements of earth.
Bad times, I can't take 'em
Once again, I am unable to cope with unpleasant moments.
Good times, got to make 'em
It is essential for me to create enjoyable moments.
Got to find 'em, got to taste 'em
I must locate and enjoy the positive experiences of life.
Hey and I do, I say I do
And I am indeed successful in finding good times.
Mama I do......
Mother, I find enjoyable moments in life.
Good times with sometime women
Once again, I enjoy the pleasures of good company and conversations with attractive females.
Hear what I 'm saying, baby
Listen to my message, my dear.
Two bit manchild
I am still a child of modest and humble beginnings.
Good for nothin'
But still seemingly destined for nothing great in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind