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.
Diary
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
How I'd like to look into that little book
The one that has the lock and key
And know the boy that you care for
The boy who's in your diary
Oh, what I'd give if I could see
Am I the boy that you care for?
The boy who's in your diary
Do you recall and make note of all
The little things I say and do?
The name you underline, I'm hoping that it's mine
Darling, I'm so in love with you
Please don't leave me blue, make all my dreams come true
You know how much you mean to me
Say I'm the boy that you care for
The boy who's in your diary
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Whoa-oh-oh-whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh)
The Diary by Neil Sedaka is a song that speaks to the universal experience of teenage love and the need for reassurance of one's place in a person's life. The song talks about wanting to look at the diary of the girl he loves and knowing the name of the boy she cares for. There is a deep sense of uncertainty and insecurity in the singer’s voice, as he is unsure about his status in the girl’s life. He is anxious to know what she writes about him in her diary, and he hopes that his name is underlined. Through the song, the singer is asking the girl to affirm her love for him and to choose him over anyone else.
In this song, the diary represents a symbol of the girl's innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires, of which the boy seeks access to. This craving for intimacy and closeness is something that we can all relate to as we have all been in love or had a crush on someone at some point in our lives. The Diary speaks to the universal desire of wanting to know someone else's thoughts and feelings. The song’s lyrics are straightforward, and Sedaka's soothing voice creates a sense of nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
How I'd like to look into that little book
The singer wants to know what is written in the girl's diary.
The one that has the lock and key
The diary is a private, secret book that nobody else can access.
And know the boy that you care for
The singer wants to know who the girl loves and cares for.
The boy who's in your diary
The girl is keeping the name of her love interest in her diary.
When it's late at night what is the name you write?
The singer is curious to know who the girl is thinking about when she writes in her diary.
Oh, what I'd give if I could see
The singer really wants to know who the girl has feelings for.
Am I the boy that you care for?
The singer is hoping that the girl has feelings for him and not someone else.
Do you recall and make note of all
The singer wonders if the girl remembers and writes down everything he says and does.
The little things I say and do?
The singer is referring to the small details of their interactions that he hopes the girl notices and records.
The name you underline, I'm hoping that it's mine
The singer is hopeful that the girl has underlined his name in her diary to indicate that she likes him.
Darling, I'm so in love with you
The singer confesses his love for the girl.
Please don't leave me blue, make all my dreams come true
The singer is asking the girl to reciprocate his feelings and make him happy.
You know how much you mean to me
The singer is emphasizing how much the girl means to him and how important she is in his life.
Say I'm the boy that you care for
The singer asks the girl to confirm that he is the one she cares about and loves.
The boy who's in your diary
The singer is referring to himself as the one the girl has feelings for, and wants her to tell him this directly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ronaldherrera3479
How I'd like to look - into that little book ....
The one that has the lock and key !!
And know the boy that you care .... for
The boy who is in your diary ....
When it's late at night -
What is the name you write ¿¿??
Oh - what I'd give if I could see .....
Am I the boy that you care for?
The boy who is in your diary ......
Do you recall and make note of all ¡¡!!
The little things I say and do -
The name you underline -
I'm hoping that it's mine ....
Darling - !!I'm so in love with you ....
Please don't leave me blue .....
Make all my dreams come true
You know how much you mean to me ¡¡!!
Say I'm the boy that you care for ....
The boy who is in - your ... diary ....
@kenhatchett7645
My late wife and I first met in 1958 and this song was one of the first we listen to together,great memories.
@napoleonmendoza4502
One of my favorite singers of the 50's
@juliereminiec4937
And early sixties
@WendyKS93
I've always loved Neil Sedaka's music. I grew up listening to it because I loved his voice and he recorded so many wonderful songs. I also know that he often wrote songs for other artists as well. Of all the songs he recorded, this one is my personal favorite. I just love this song.
@colingraham8360
Absolutely wonderful as are all his songs ,a great singer too and very attractive. Verity 1960
@ma.victoriavargas4268
My Papa sings this to me when I was around 4 or 5. Now he's passed away, our songs comfort me. But I still really miss him everyday.
I love you so much, Papa.
@venteaven
Listening today. Wanna go back during 90s when i was born. Played during afternoon. Memories with my grannys.
@patmillspaugh5176
He’s fantastic! Love this song!!
@reyza9240
My mom used to played this songs when i was about 4-7 years old, now i can speak English because of him, thank you ma love you 😘
@AloysiusEmanuel-.-
Powerful voice has this singer. The 50's were a romantic time, the songs sound so artificial today! Bravo, Neil Sedaka!