Neil Sedaka (born 13 March 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop s… Read Full Bio ↴Neil Sedaka (born 13 March 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop singer, pianist, and songwriter often associated with the Brill Building era of songwriting. He teamed up with Howard Greenfield to write many major hit songs for himself and others.

Sedaka wrote his 1959 hit "Oh! Carol" about his then-girlfriend, Carol Klein, later to become Carole King. In 1963, King released a humorous answer entitled "Oh Neil".

The Laughter In the Rain Songfacts says Sedaka's hits dried up when The Beatles arrived, but then he teamed up with the lyricist Philip Cody and had a a number 1 hit with "Laughter In The Rain." It re-ignited Sedaka's career and he had 6 more Top-40 hits in America by 1977.

Sedaka's voice is in the tenor range.

#1 With A Heartache
Neil Sedaka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Twinkle twinkle super star, fame and fortune took you far
Everybody envies you, you're number one
Night and day your records play, but ever since she went away
Life ain't no fun
The songs you write about her, keep coming back without her
The king of the charts is the king of broken hearts

Number one with a heart ache

Hear the man singing on the radio
With every play his heart is breaking
Number one with a heart ache
Sing your song while the whole world sings along
Your love is gone, but the music goes on

Gee it was a long hard climb, and it took a lot of time
Time away from her when you should've been there
Birthdays on the telephone, Christmases she spent alone
I wasn't fair
It took so long to make it, the girl just couldn't take it
Now that it's made was it worth the price you paid

Number one with a heart ache
Hear the man singing on the radio
With every play his heart is breaking
Number one with a heart ache
Sing your song while the whole world sings along
Your love is gone, but the music goes on

Number one with a heart ache
Hear the man singing on the radio
With every play his heart is breaking
Number one with a heart ache

Sing your song while the whole world sings along
Your love is gone, but the music goes on

Overall Meaning

In Neil Sedaka's #1 With A Heartache, the story of a successful musician who has lost the love of his life unfolds. The lyrics convey the perils of fame and success at the cost of a broken heart. In the first verse, Sedaka describes the fame and fortune that the musician has achieved, but the absence of his loved one has left him desolate. The musician has become the king of the charts but also the king of broken hearts. Sedaka ingeniously blends the pain of losing a loved one with the success of a musician, portraying the hardships of both.

The second verse describes the musician's journey to success and the sacrifices he had to make to get there. He missed out on important events in the life of his loved one, birthdays and Christmases, to pursue his dream. The price he paid for his success was high, and now that he has made it, he wonders if it was worth the cost. The chorus repeats the sentiment of the first, with the musician continuing to sing his heart-wrenching songs that remind him of his lost love.

Sedaka highlights the irony of achieving worldly success at the cost of losing what is most important, love. The song illustrates the emotional turmoil faced by many individuals who have to choose between love and their passions, leaving them wondering if it was worth the sacrifice in the end.

Line by Line Meaning

Twinkle twinkle super star, fame and fortune took you far
You achieved great fame and fortune as a superstar, but it came with sacrifices and trade-offs.

Everybody envies you, you're number one
Everyone admires and looks up to you because you're at the top of your game.

Night and day your records play, but ever since she went away, life ain't no fun
Even though your music plays constantly, life feels empty and meaningless without her by your side.

The songs you write about her, keep coming back without her
The songs you write are about her, but they only serve to remind you of what you've lost.

The king of the charts is the king of broken hearts
Your success on the charts doesn't match the emptiness you feel inside due to your broken heart.

Gee it was a long hard climb, and it took a lot of time. Time away from her when you should've been there
You worked hard and sacrificed time with her to achieve your success, but now you realize it wasn't worth it.

Birthdays on the telephone, Christmases she spent alone. I wasn't fair.
You spent important occasions apart while pursuing your career, and you regret not being there for her.

It took so long to make it, the girl just couldn't take it, now that it's made was it worth the price you paid
Your success took a toll on your relationship and caused it to end. Was it worth sacrificing love for fame and fortune?

Number one with a heart ache. Hear the man singing on the radio. With every play his heart is breaking. Number one with a heart ache. Sing your song while the whole world sings along. Your love is gone, but the music goes on.
Despite the pain of heartbreak, you continue to perform and sing, sharing your story with the world as they sing along, unaware of your heartache.

Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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