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.
Other Side Of Me
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But how can you tell,
You never get inside my head.
The times we talk, we never speak,
We play hide and seek
So many things are left unsaid.
Why can't you see
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Sweet thoughts and dreams,
Like drops of rain on rippling streams
That wind and bend,
Rivers with no end,
Flowing on the other side of me.
It seems I always get unstrung
I trip on my tongue
With words that come out something else.
I'm so afraid the things I say
Might chase you away,
I have to hide behind myself.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Why must I hide
These feelings that have been denied.
Only you can set me free
See what's on the other side of me.
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la
I have to hide behind myself.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Why must I hide
These feelings that have been denied.
Only you can set me free
See what's on the other side of me,
On the other side of me,
On the other side of me.
Neil Sedaka's song The Other Side Of Me is a beautiful ballad that talks about the complexities of human emotions and the struggle of expressing them. In the song, Sedaka questions whether people truly know him, and ponder on why they never get to know what's going on inside his head. He describes his relationship with others as a game of hide and seek, where they never get to express their feelings openly, and many things are left unsaid. He is afraid that the things he says might push others away, and that's why he hides behind himself.
The song then takes a hopeful turn as Sedaka expresses his desire to let others see what's on the other side of him. He talks about his sweet thoughts and dreams that he longs to share, like drops of rain on rippling streams that wind and bend, rivers with no end, flowing on the other side of him. He pleads with those close to him to see what he hides behind, to acknowledge his feelings, and to set him free.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the human struggle to connect with others and express emotions. It highlights the importance of communication and vulnerability in relationships and reminds listeners that it's okay to show the world who we truly are.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you know me pretty well,
You believe you understand me quite thoroughly,
But how can you tell,
However, how is that possible,
You never get inside my head.
Given that you have never had access to my innermost thoughts.
The times we talk, we never speak,
When we communicate, we do not engage in genuine conversation,
We play hide and seek
Instead, we simply play a game of hide-and-seek,
So many things are left unsaid.
Which inevitably leads to many topics remaining unaddressed.
Why can't you see
Why is it that you are unable to recognize
What's on the other side of me,
What exists in my person that is not readily apparent
The side of me that reaches out to you.
The part of my being that extends towards yours
Sweet thoughts and dreams,
Sentiments of tenderness and desired aspirations
Like drops of rain on rippling streams
Resembling droplets of precipitation cascading over turbulent waterways
That wind and bend,
Which twist and contort
Rivers with no end,
Rivers that seem innately unending
Flowing on the other side of me.
Existing on that side of me which is currently unexpressed.
It seems I always get unstrung
There exists a pattern in which I can become quite disorganized
I trip on my tongue
I can be inclined to stumble over my words
With words that come out something else.
Causing my intended words to be replaced by unintended words
I'm so afraid the things I say
I am quite terrified that any statement I make
Might chase you away,
May result in your retreat from me,
I have to hide behind myself.
Causes me to conceal elements of myself in order to remain comfortable.
Why must I hide
Why is it that I am compelled to conceal
These feelings that have been denied.
These emotions which have been summarily dismissed
Only you can set me free
You are the only person that can liberate me
See what's on the other side of me.
By acknowledging what is concealed within me.
La la la la la la la la
Musical interlude
La la la la la
Musical interlude
La la la la la la la la
Musical interlude
La la la la la la la la
Musical interlude
La la la la la
Musical interlude
I have to hide behind myself.
Causes me to conceal elements of myself in order to remain comfortable.
Why can't you see
Why is it that you are unable to recognize
What's on the other side of me,
What exists in my person that is not readily apparent
The side of me that reaches out to you.
The part of my being that extends towards yours.
Why must I hide
Why is it that I am compelled to conceal
These feelings that have been denied.
These emotions which have been summarily dismissed.
Only you can set me free
You are the only person that can liberate me
See what's on the other side of me,
By acknowledging what is concealed within me.
On the other side of me,
In the region of my being that is hidden
On the other side of me.
In the area that is yet to be revealed
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike 45B
You think you know me pretty well,
But how can you tell,
You never get inside my head.
The times we talk, we never speak,
We play hide and seek
So many things are left unsaid.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Sweet thoughts and dreams,
Like drops of rain on rippling streams
That wind and bend,
Rivers with no end,
Flowing on the other side of me.
It seems I always get unstrung
I trip on my tongue
With words that come out something else.
I'm so afraid the things I say
Might chase you away,
I have to hide behind myself.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Why must I hide
These feelings that have been denied.
Only you can set me free
See what's on the other side of me.
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la
I have to hide behind myself.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Why must I hide
These feelings that have been denied.
Only you can set me free
See what's on the other side of me,
On the other side of me,
On the other side of me.
Songwriters: Howard Greenfield / Neil Sedaka
The Other Side of Me lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Matthew Ollerenshaw
One of the best songs ever written and performed.... The best solo singer songwriter that ever lived
Daniel Hines
He is incredible.
John Davis
Neil Sedaka has written so many great songs, this is one.
MisterHot
I only knew Crystal Gayles version, but after listening to this one, I have to say it’s truly heartfelt ❤️
Mike 45B
You think you know me pretty well,
But how can you tell,
You never get inside my head.
The times we talk, we never speak,
We play hide and seek
So many things are left unsaid.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Sweet thoughts and dreams,
Like drops of rain on rippling streams
That wind and bend,
Rivers with no end,
Flowing on the other side of me.
It seems I always get unstrung
I trip on my tongue
With words that come out something else.
I'm so afraid the things I say
Might chase you away,
I have to hide behind myself.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Why must I hide
These feelings that have been denied.
Only you can set me free
See what's on the other side of me.
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la
I have to hide behind myself.
Why can't you see
What's on the other side of me,
The side of me that reaches out to you.
Why must I hide
These feelings that have been denied.
Only you can set me free
See what's on the other side of me,
On the other side of me,
On the other side of me.
Songwriters: Howard Greenfield / Neil Sedaka
The Other Side of Me lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Daniel Hines
Such a beautiful song
Bob Rodriguez
Lovely song; heard him do this live a couple of days ago in Lancaster, PA, and he sounds great even today!
Stuart Sandham
Hi, I'm from Lancaster, UK, and saw Neil in Manchester in 2009. This was his opening number. What a fabulous show it was.
Stuart Sandham
My favorite song by Neil and indeed, any composer. There are plenty of covers but the only one that comes anywhere close to Neil's is that by Mae Mckenna, released in 1975.
Aziz Azizov
I've heard this song in my childhood on father's tapes.. Thought it was Beatles.. Now have searched and found it was Neil.. Great catching song!