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.
What's It Gonna Be
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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Then you run another
Thinkin' you'd discover
What you really need
Runnin' in circles
Gonna get you nowhere
Why you want to go there?
What's it gonna be when the night is cold?
What's it gonna be when the morning scares you?
Put your reservations all on hold
Climb aboard and ride with me
Lonely gets you nowhere
Only gets you zero
I may not be a hero
But I'm the man you need
One way or another
You need a new direction
Make a new connection
Hey, what's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be?
Do you take a chance?
Are you gonna let the night defeat you?
If you're tellin' me that you just can't dance?
I say try it on and see
Move a little closer
Try a little harder
Dancing with a partner
Helps you find the beat
Time to put it out there
Before it's movin' past you
So once again, I'll ask you
What's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be when the night is cold?
What's it gonna be when the morning scares you?
Put your reservations all on hold
Climb aboard and ride with me
One way or another
You need a new direction
Make a new connection
So what's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be?
In the song "What's It Gonna Be," Neil Diamond is questioning a person's indecisiveness in life. The first verse sees the person running in circles, trying to find what they truly need in life, but never being able to achieve it. The chorus questions what their decision will be when faced with the obstacles of life, whether they will be defeated or take a chance and ride with Diamond. The pre-chorus sees Diamond encouraging the person to make a new connection and find a new direction in life, to break free from their old ways.
The second verse questions the person regarding their fear of loneliness and taking chances. Diamond assures them that he is the man they need in their life, and that dancing with a partner will help them find their rhythm and beat. He urges them to put themselves out there and take a chance in life before it passes them by. The repetition of the "What's it gonna be?" line emphasizes Diamond's message, asking the person to make a decision regarding their life.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Richard Bennett and recorded by Diamond for his 1996 album "Tennessee Moon." The album was a collaborative project between Diamond and various Nashville songwriters, marking his first full-length country album. Another interesting fact is that the song was performed live during Diamond's 2008/2009 tour, but not included in any of his official albums or compilations.
Line by Line Meaning
First you're runnin' one way
At first, you might think you know where you're going in life.
Then you run another
But soon enough, you realize that you're unsure of your destination.
Thinkin' you'd discover
You keep searching for what it is that you truly need.
What you really need
You're not sure what exactly it is that you're seeking.
Runnin' in circles
Your confusion causes you to travel aimlessly.
Gonna get you nowhere
This lack of direction will lead you nowhere.
Why you want to go there?
You question why you even bother traveling without direction.
Where's it gonna lead?
You don't know where your current path will take you.
What's it gonna be when the night is cold?
You wonder what your future will look like when things get tough.
What's it gonna be when the morning scares you?
You ask yourself how you'll handle the unknowns that tomorrow might bring.
Put your reservations all on hold
You decide to put your doubts to the side.
Climb aboard and ride with me
You decide to take a leap of faith and join someone who seems to have more direction than you do.
Lonely gets you nowhere
You realize that being alone won't help you find what you're looking for.
Only gets you zero
In fact, being alone will lead you nowhere.
I may not be a hero
The person you're joining might not be perfect, but they have direction.
But I'm the man you need
They will provide you with the direction you're lacking.
One way or another
Ultimately, you need to find a new path in life.
You need a new direction
You need to find a new way forward.
Make a new connection
This path will require you to make new connections.
Hey, what's it gonna be?
So, what do you choose to do?
Do you take a chance?
Will you take a risk and try something new?
Are you gonna let the night defeat you?
Will you let the challenges of life hold you back?
If you're tellin' me that you just can't dance?
If you're saying you can't find your rhythm in life?
I say try it on and see
The person you're with advises you to step out of your comfort zone and give it a try.
Move a little closer
You need to be willing to get closer to others to find your path.
Try a little harder
You need to put in more effort to find your way forward.
Dancing with a partner
You need to find someone to dance with to help guide you.
Helps you find the beat
This partner will help you find your rhythm in life.
Time to put it out there
You need to take action and try something new.
Before it's movin' past you
Otherwise, time will pass you by and you'll remain lost.
So once again, I'll ask you
The person you're with reminds you that you still haven't made a decision.
What's it gonna be?
What will you choose?
So what's it gonna be?
Again, you're asked to make a decision.
What's it gonna be?
It's time to find your direction in life.
What's it gonna be?
So, what will it be?
What's it gonna be?
The ultimate question, what will your choice be?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NEIL DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind