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.

Bringing Me Back to Life
Neil Sedaka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can hear the grass that's growing
See the movies that are showing
Hear the church bells down the road
They're playing a song for me

I can wind my watch each morning
Try to face each day that's dawning
Under my umbrella sky

Walking through clouds of gray

I can turn off all the music
Living in my secret smile
While my mind is going wild
Trying to search my soul

I can always buy a present
For no one that I know
I can always cook some dinner
Got no place to go

Oh mama, will you stand by me
Wind is blowing
Through the crooked trees

I need laughter
I need music
I need some one
Taking me home
And bringing me back to life

I need sunshine, yeah, yeah
Pretty faces, yeah, yeah
In the moonlight
Bringing me back to life

There's a crazy roller coaster
That is screaming in the wind
Take a breath before it drops
Gotta hold on so tight

When the story gets so tired
And the pen runs out of ink
There's another piece of paper
Giving a silent wink

There's a noisy speeding subway
Coming down the track
Don't you know I got to ride it
But will it take me back?

I can hear a choir of angels
Singing in my ear
Chances are that I won't hear it
Through all the things I fear

Oh mama, will you stand by me
Wind is blowing
Through the crooked trees

I need laughter
I need music
I need some one
Taking me home
Bringing me back to life

I need sunshine, yeah, yeah
Pretty faces, yeah, yeah
In the moonlight
Bringing me back to life

There's a whiskey staring at me
What's the harm in just a sip?
Can I find it in a bottle?
I can't go on like this

What's the secret sweet sensation
That will bring me peace of mind?
I keep searching all around
Why am I going blind?

I need laughter
I need music
I need some one
Taking me home
Bringing me back to life

I need sunshine, yeah, yeah
Pretty faces, yeah, yeah

In the moonlight
Bringing me back to life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Neil Sedaka's song "Bringing Me Back to Life" express a sense of feeling lost and alone, accompanied by a yearning for connection, joy, and purpose. The opening lines describe the ability to perceive life's simple pleasures and beauty, such as the sound of grass growing, movies playing, and church bells ringing. Sedaka emphasizes the personal nature of these experiences by indicating that the bells are playing a song for him. The following verse mentions mundane daily routines, like winding a watch every morning, facing the day that's dawning, and walking through gray clouds under an umbrella sky. The lyrics evoke a sense of loneliness, with Sedaka describing living in his own world and cultivating a "secret smile" while his mind runs wild and seeks to find purpose in his soul.

In the chorus, Sedaka notes that he needs laughter, music, and someone who can "take him home" and "bring him back to life." He mentions pretty faces, the moonlight, sunshine, and the sense of living life to the fullest. The lyrics suggest that despite the seeming futility of searching for something meaningful, Sedaka still yearns for a sense of joy and passion that can counteract the mundanity and depression that he is experiencing. Towards the end of the song, Sedaka mentions whiskey and the search for a "secret sweet sensation" that can bring peace of mind. The lyrics carry a sense of hopelessness and despair, but the chorus is a reminder that there is always a chance for a better, brighter tomorrow.

Line by Line Meaning

I can hear the grass that's growing
I am listening to the smallest things in the world and feeling truly present in the moment

See the movies that are showing
I am enjoying the potential for escapism in films that can transport me to another world entirely

Hear the church bells down the road
I am engaging with the world around me without fear or hesitation

They're playing a song for me
I am feeling a sense of belonging and knowing that I am not alone

I can wind my watch each morning
I am taking control of my life by committing to a routine that brings me calm

Try to face each day that's dawning
I am combating the fear of the unknown by choosing to face each day with open eyes and an open heart

Under my umbrella sky
I am creating my own sense of comfort and protection from the world

Walking through clouds of gray
I am continuing to move forward, despite the obstacles and difficulties that I may face

I can turn off all the music
I have the power to remove external distractions when I need to focus on my internal struggles

Living in my secret smile
I am hiding my true emotions from the world while trying to maintain a positive outlook

While my mind is going wild
I am struggling with my own thoughts that seem to be consuming me entirely

Trying to search my soul
I am attempting to find answers to the questions that have been troubling me

I can always buy a present
I can distract myself by spending money on pointless things that I don't need

For no one that I know
I am indulging in a form of escapism by buying things that have no real meaning or value to me

I can always cook some dinner
I can try to get lost in the routine of cooking a meal, even if I have no one to share it with

Got no place to go
I am feeling lost and alone, with nowhere to turn for comfort or guidance

Oh mama, will you stand by me
I am calling out for help and support from someone who cares about me

Wind is blowing
I am experiencing feelings of change and instability, which are causing me anxiety

Through the crooked trees
I am navigating through the confusion and chaos of my life, seeking a way forward

I need laughter
I am craving the joy and relief that comes from sharing a moment of humor with someone else

I need music
I am seeking solace in the emotional power of music to connect with my feelings

I need some one
I am feeling lonely and isolated, and I need someone to hold my hand on this journey

Taking me home
I am searching for a sense of comfort and familiarity that can offer me peace

And bringing me back to life
I am hoping to find a way to re-engage with the world again and rediscover the energy and passion for life that I have lost

I need sunshine, yeah, yeah
I am longing for the warmth and brightness of the sun to bring light into the darkness of my life

Pretty faces, yeah, yeah
I am seeking beauty and pleasure in the world around me, hoping to find moments of pure joy

In the moonlight
I am looking to the universe beyond myself, seeking answers in the vastness of creation

There's a crazy roller coaster
I am feeling overwhelmed and disoriented by the unpredictability of life and the many ups and downs that I must navigate

That is screaming in the wind
I am feeling like my life is out of control and there is nothing I can do to change it

Take a breath before it drops
I know that I need to gather my strength and hold on tight, even when life feels out of control

Gotta hold on so tight
I am reminding myself that I am strong and capable, and that I have the power to endure whatever comes my way

When the story gets so tired
I am feeling worn down and exhausted by the constant struggles and challenges of my life

And the pen runs out of ink
I am feeling like I have nothing left to give, and that my creative energy has been exhausted

There's another piece of paper
I am reminding myself that there is always a fresh start waiting around the corner, and that I can begin anew even after failure

Giving a silent wink
I am hoping for a sign or signal that will help me on my journey, even if it is just a small hint of hope

There's a noisy speeding subway
I am surrounded by the chaos and noise of the world, which can be overwhelming and frightening

Coming down the track
I feel like I am being dragged ever forward by the relentless force of time and circumstance

Don't you know I got to ride it
I know that I must keep moving forward, even if it is uncomfortable or feels dangerous

But will it take me back?
I am uncertain of where this journey will lead me, and I am fearful that I may be lost forever

I can hear a choir of angels
I am sensing that there is something transcendent and spiritual that exists beyond my everyday experience

Singing in my ear
I am feeling like there is a higher power that is trying to communicate with me, even though I cannot understand it

Chances are that I won't hear it
I am acknowledging that I am not always receptive to the messages that the universe is sending me, even though they may be right in front of me

Through all the things I fear
I am struggling with my own anxieties and fears, which prevent me from seeing the beauty and meaning in the world around me

There's a whiskey staring at me
I am confronting my own addiction and destructive tendencies, even as I feel powerless to stop them

What's the harm in just a sip?
I am trying to rationalize my behavior and find excuses for why I continue to indulge in self-destructive habits

Can I find it in a bottle?
I am hoping that alcohol or other substances will provide me with temporary relief from the pain and suffering of my life

I can't go on like this
I am admitting to myself that I am in need of help and desperate to find a way to break free from the cycle of addiction and self-harm

What's the secret sweet sensation
I am searching for a sense of euphoria or pleasure that will help me to escape from the difficulties of my life

That will bring me peace of mind?
I am hoping that there is some kind of solution or fix to my problems that will allow me to experience happiness and peace

I keep searching all around
I am constantly seeking new solutions and alternatives to my problems, even when they seem to be elusive or nonexistent

Why am I going blind?
I am feeling like my vision and understanding of the world around me is becoming distorted or obscured, making it difficult for me to find my way forward

Contributed by Mila A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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