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.
Superbird
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to flap my arms, and fly around the bed,
Just like a super bird, zoom, zoom, zoom.
Up and down the chandelier, all around the room.
When I told the people that I could really fly,
They said that little boys ain't supposed to lie.
Poor little super bird sitting on the ground,
Fly, fly, fly super bird, super bird.
While you're young super bird, super bird.
There's time enough to wreck your dreams.
Have your fun, super bird.
They said I couldn't, so what did I do then?
I cried myself to sleep and never tried again.
Poor little super bird they woke you up too soon.
No Santa Claus or green cheese on the moon.
It skipped my mind for years, at least until tonight,
When I tucked the kids in bed and I turned out the light.
There at the doorway, you'll never guess what I heard
"Zoom, zoom, zoom, super bird."
Fly, fly, fly super bird, super bird.
While you're young super bird, super bird.
There's time enough to wreck your dreams,
Have your fun, super bird.
The lyrics of Neil Sedaka's "Superbird" speak to the imaginative and carefree spirit of childhood. The song is about a boy who was once able to fly around his room like a "super bird," but when he shared his secret with others, they dismissed it as a lie. The boy is left feeling discouraged and unable to fly anymore. The song serves as a reminder to hold onto our childhood dreams, to not listen to those who say we can't achieve them, and to enjoy our youth while we can.
The lyrics vividly describe the freedom and exhilaration of flying like a bird, a fantasy that many children have had at some point. The boy's encounter with naysayers who dismiss his dream as childish or impossible is a common experience many kids face when they share their imaginative ideas. The boy's decision to stop trying after being shot down is a poignant reflection of how easily we can be discouraged from pursuing our passions.
In the end, the boy is reminded of his childhood dream when he hears his own child "flying" around the house. This nostalgic moment is a reminder that we are never too old to dream and that we should cherish the memory of our youthful spirit. "Superbird" is a sentimental and inspiring song about the importance of holding onto our childhood dreams and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young, no worries in my head,
As a child, I had no stress or concerns
I used to flap my arms, and fly around the bed,
I used to pretend to fly by flapping my arms around the bed
Just like a super bird, zoom, zoom, zoom.
I imagined myself as a superhero bird, zooming around
Up and down the chandelier, all around the room.
I zoomed around the room, even flying up and down the chandelier
When I told the people that I could really fly,
I shared my imaginative experience of flying with others
They said that little boys ain't supposed to lie.
Others dismissed my imaginative play as a lie due to societal gender expectations
Poor little super bird sitting on the ground,
I felt sad and rejected as my imaginative play was criticized
No zoom, zoom, zoom, when anyone's around.
I stopped pretending to fly when others were around
Fly, fly, fly super bird, super bird.
I encourage my childhood self to continue to imagine flying
While you're young super bird, super bird.
I recommend to take advantage of the opportunity to imagine and pretend while young
There's time enough to wreck your dreams.
As people grow older, societal or personal pressures may limit or discourage imaginative play
Have your fun, super bird.
Enjoy and indulge in imaginative play while you can
They said I couldn't, so what did I do then?
I felt discouraged by people's negative reaction but I continued to pretend to fly
I cried myself to sleep and never tried again.
Over time, the criticism discouraged me and I eventually stopped pretending to fly
Poor little super bird they woke you up too soon.
The pressures and demands of adulthood caused me to forget about my imaginative play
No Santa Claus or green cheese on the moon.
The loss of my imaginative play caused me to forget about the magic and wonder of childhood beliefs
It skipped my mind for years, at least until tonight,
I forgot about my childhood imaginative play for a long period of time, until a recent moment
When I tucked the kids in bed and I turned out the light.
Reflecting on my own children, I remembered my childhood imaginative play
There at the doorway, you'll never guess what I heard
To my surprise, I overheard my own child pretending to fly
"Zoom, zoom, zoom, super bird."
My child was having the same imaginative experience I had as a child, pretending to fly like a superhero bird
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shigenobutakarakuratera1138
1971年私は中学生で英語を習い始めの頃でした。最初聞いて時曲の素晴らしさより英語の歌詞の聞きやすさが印象に残り、当時のレコード屋さんへ買いに行きました。
@pimpapornsatawaranon5989
I like this song the most among all Neil Sedaka’s songs.
@numnum3108
Me too, but the most among all American songs.
@hh5944
歳を取ってから聞くと歌詞が心に染み入ります。
@hiroshi590717
私は1959生れです。中学３年生の冬に「LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN」で彼の曲に巡り合いました。でもベスト盤を購入したりYOU-TUBEでこの曲や「JOANNA」を聴いてソングライターとしての実力を更に知ることが出来てとてもいい気分です。FUKUI.JAPAN
@libertelibre
Such a beautiful song !
@user-tg3gm1bj8k
曲を聞くと音楽家としてのニールセダカを感じます。いい曲たくさん作って提供してますよね。
@suchitranaphuket7701
My childhood song.
The rich and innocent dream of any child, understanding parents needed for those children. 😊😊😊
@gunterstommel3297
I´ve heard it today for the first time in your "Mini-Concert" at YouTube. What a great song, inspired by my great hero J.S.Bach. Now I´m 73 an listen every day to the "Mini-concerts" here in Cologne. My first record from the great Neil Sedaka was in 1961 "Hey, little devil". Since then I´m a great fan from the american way of Music, like Doo-Whoop, Carole King, Del Shannon and all the others. Hope of a long life to hear them all.........
@elizabethrodriguez4833
What is the Bach's reference? Greetings.