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.
Is Anybody Gonna Miss You
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
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Kickin' dogs and little children was his cup o'tea.
Came the day that he died, no one prayed for his soul,
Now he's fuel for the devil's fire, burnin' like a piece o'coal.
Is anybody gonna miss you,
Is anybody gonna cry?
Is anybody gonna say he was a nice fella, too bad he had to die.
When it's time to go,
Is anybody gonna pray you up to heaven, or wish you down below?
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh yeah.
There are those who may say, when you're gone you're gone,
And on the other hand, there are those who say that your soul lives on.
I'm not sure, and you're not sure, where the road may lead,
But if there's a light at the end of that tunnel
Get all the help you'll need.
Is anybody gonna miss you,
Is anybody gonna cry?
Is anybody gonna say he was a nice fella, too bad he had to die.
Who's gonna be your salvation
When it's time to go,
Is anybody gonna pray you up to heaven, or wish you down below?
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh yeah.
Every hand that you shake
Is like a savin's bond,
And every smile is a down payment for a ticket to the great beyond.
There's no man on this earth who couldn't use an extra friend,
So tell me what's wrong with a little insurance
When you reach the end.
Is anybody gonna miss you,
Is anybody gonna cry?
Is anybody gonna say he was a nice fella, too bad he had to die.
Who's gonna be your salvation
When it's time to go,
Is anybody gonna pray you up to heaven, or wish you down below?
Is anybody gonna miss you,
Is anybody gonna cry?
Is anybody gonna say he was a nice fella, too bad he had to die.
Who's gonna be your salvation
When it's time to go
The lyrics of Neil Sedaka's song "Is Anybody Gonna Miss You?" revolve around the theme of death and afterlife. The song's storyline revolves around a mean-spirited old man who brings destruction and evil to the community. The singer of the song asks who would miss him or cry when he is gone. He wonders if anyone would pray for his soul or wish him down below. The song is a reminder to the listeners that we should be careful about how we treat people during our lifetime, as it will ultimately affect how people remember us when we are gone.
The song raises important questions about what happens to us after we die. The lyrics suggest that we need to be good to one another, as the afterlife is a mysterious realm. The singer of the song suggests that we should try to do good in the world, as it may pay off in the end. We should seek salvation and the help of our fellow humans to carry us to the ultimate destination.
Overall, Neil Sedaka's "Is Anybody Gonna Miss You?" is a touching song that urges us to be kind and gentle to others. The song is a poignant reminder that our deeds and actions during our lifetime will significantly impact others. It is a reminder that we should always strive to make a positive impact in the world before our time is up.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I knew a mean old man, meaner than mean could be,
I once knew a cruel and unkind man who was nastier than anyone else.
Kickin' dogs and little children was his cup o'tea.
He enjoyed mistreating innocent dogs and children.
Came the day that he died, no one prayed for his soul,
On the fateful day that he passed away, no one wished for his eternal peace.
Now he's fuel for the devil's fire, burnin' like a piece o'coal.
Now, he serves as a source of fuel for the fires of Hell, burning like a piece of coal.
Is anybody gonna miss you,
Will someone long for your presence when you're gone?
Is anybody gonna cry?
Will anyone shed tears for you?
Is anybody gonna say he was a nice fella, too bad he had to die.
Will someone say that you were a good person, but it's a shame that you had to pass away?
Who's gonna be your salvation
Who will be the one to save you?
When it's time to go,
When the moment of departure arrives,
Is anybody gonna pray you up to heaven, or wish you down below?
Will somebody pray for your ascension to Heaven or are they going to wish for your descent to Hell?
There are those who may say, when you're gone you're gone,
Some people believe that once you're dead, you're gone forever.
And on the other hand, there are those who say that your soul lives on.
On the other hand, some people claim that your soul never dies.
I'm not sure, and you're not sure, where the road may lead,
Neither of us knows where our journey will take us.
But if there's a light at the end of that tunnel
If there is an end in sight,
Get all the help you'll need.
You better be prepared with all the help you can get.
Every hand that you shake
Every handshake you make
Is like a savin's bond,
Is akin to a savings bond
And every smile is a down payment for a ticket to the great beyond.
And every smile is equivalent to a down payment for a ticket that would take you to the world beyond.
There's no man on this earth who couldn't use an extra friend,
There's no person on this earth that wouldn't benefit from an extra friend.
So tell me what's wrong with a little insurance
So, what's the harm if you get a little insurance?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind