Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer. His film scores include Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. He has scored many Disney-Pixar films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Cars 3 and most recently Toy Story 4.
He has been awarded an Academy Award, three Emmys, four Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Newman was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Newman grew up in a musical family with Hollywood connections; his uncles Alfred and Lionel both scored numerous films. By age 17, Randy was staff writer for a California music publisher. One semester short of a B.A. in music from UCLA, he dropped out of school. Lenny Waronker, son of Liberty Records’ president, was a close friend and, later, as a staff producer for Warner Bros., helped get Newman signed to the label.
Newman’s early songs were recorded by a number of performers. His friend Harry Nilsson recorded an entire album with Newman on piano, Nilsson Sings Newman, in 1970. Judy Collins (“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”), Peggy Lee (“Love Story”), and Three Dog Night - for whom “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” hit #1 - all enjoyed success with Newman’s music.
Newman became a popular campus attraction when touring with Nilsson. His status as a cult star was affirmed by his critically praised debut, Randy Newman, in 1968, which featured his own complex arrangements for full orchestra, and later by 1970’s 12 Songs. He also sang “Gone Dead Train” on the soundtrack of Performance (1970). Live and Sail Away were Newman’s first commercial successes, but his audience has been limited to some degree because his songs are often colored by his ironic, pointed sense of humor, which is rarely simple and frequently misunderstood.
Good Old Boys, for example, was a concept album about the South, with the lyrics expressing the viewpoint of white Southerners. Lyrics such as “We’re rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground” made people wonder whether Newman was being satirical or sympathetic. He toured (to Atlanta and elsewhere) behind the album with a full orchestra that played his arrangements and was conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.
Little Criminals, in 1977, contained Newman’s first hit single, “Short People,” which mocked bigotry and was taken seriously by a vocal offended minority. “Baltimore” from that album was covered by Nina Simone. Following that album’s release, Newman toured for the first time since 1974. He claimed that in the interim he’d done nothing but watch television and play with his three sons. In 1979 his Born Again featured guest vocals by members of the Eagles. In 1981 Newman composed the soundtrack for the film Ragtime (the first of many soundtrack assignments) and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Song, Best Score). His 1983 album, Trouble in Paradise, included guest appearances by Linda Ronstadt, members of Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon, who sang a verse of “The Blues.” That album’s “I Love L.A.” became something of an anthem, thanks in part to a flashy music video directed by Newman’s cousin, Tim Newman (who went on to shoot popular videos for ZZ Top, among others). Land of Dreams (#80, 1988) spawned a minor hit in “It’s Money That Matters” (#60, 1988). It would take Newman 10 more years to make another studio album, 1999’s critically acclaimed Bad Love. With that record peaking at #194, he continues to meet his biggest success in Hollywood, where he spent most of the ’90s becoming one of the town’s most sought-after film composers. Although the material on his own records is literate and biting, the songs he writes for movies are decidedly simpler and with a sunnier outlook - and they usually meet with more success. Both “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, for instance, were nominated for Oscars; in 1998 alone, Newman garnered three Oscar nominations for three different movies.
In 1995 Newman wrote a musical adaptation of Goethe’s Faust. Both the play and the accompanying CD (which featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Don Henley, and James Taylor in the role of God) were commercially unsuccessful. In 2000 he received the Billboard Century Award.
Ghosts
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've nowhere to go
And I've nowhere to go
It makes me so happy
When you smile At me
Work all your life
And you end up with nothing
Once I flew in a plane
And I fought in a war
We lived in a castle
And slept on the floor
And I don't want to be
All alone anymore I'm sorry
Out in the street
There's little colored kids playing
Where my own little boy used to play
So I sit in this chair
And I ache with the gout
And I talk to myself
'Cause I'm scared to go out
And I just want to know
What was it all about I'm sorry
The lyrics of Randy Newman's song "Ghosts" are a poignant reflection on the final stages of life. The singer addresses someone who has nowhere to go and who is in the same situation as the singer. The singer finds happiness in the fact that the other person is smiling at him. The first stanza is a statement of the loneliness that comes with old age.
The second stanza reveals some of the singer's history. He fought in a war and lived in a castle, but in the end, he has nothing to show for his life's work. He ended up living in a single room like a bum, and now he is alone and in pain. In the third stanza, the singer talks about the little colored kids he sees outside playing. This reminds him of his own little boy who used to play in the same spot. He is sorry that he cannot go out and join them because he is too afraid to go outside.
The last line of the song is the most poignant one. The singer says, "And I just want to know what was it all about, I'm sorry." This line is a reflection on the singer's life and the search for meaning that all people go through. The line "I'm sorry" may be seen as an apology to anyone the singer has hurt or failed in his life. It may also be the singer expressing regret for the way his life has turned out.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay with me for a little while
Please accompany me for some time
You've nowhere to go
You have no particular place to be
And I've nowhere to go
I also have nowhere else to be
It makes me so happy
Your presence brings me joy
When you smile At me
Your expression keeps me content
Work all your life
Toil endlessly for an existence
And you end up with nothing
One may find themselves with nothing to show for their life's work
Live in one room like a bum
Dwell in a confined area with minimal means
Once I flew in a plane
I experienced air travel in the past
And I fought in a war
I had battled in a battle conflict
We lived in a castle
We once resided in an opulent dwelling
And slept on the floor
Despite the grandeur, we still slept on the ground
And I don't want to be
I do not wish to remain
All alone anymore I'm sorry
I apologize for not wanting to be solitary
Out in the street
Beyond this residence
There's little colored kids playing
There are youthful individuals of diverse complexions engaging in activities
Where my own little boy used to play
The location where my own child once played
So I sit in this chair
I occupy this seated position
And I ache with the gout
My joints painfully throb due to a condition known as gout
And I talk to myself
I conversate with my own thoughts
'Cause I'm scared to go out
Due to apprehension, I am afraid to leave this space
And I just want to know
I desire to comprehend
What was it all about I'm sorry
I apologize for not comprehending the purpose or reason for everything
Lyrics © RAILROAD TOWN MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ALBERT AYLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kleermaker1000
"Ghosts"
Stay with me for a little while
You've nowhere to go
I've nowhere to go
It makes me so happy
When you smile
At me
Work all your life
And you end up with nothing
Live in one room like a bum
Once I flew in a plane
And I fought in a war
We lived in a castle
And slept on the floor
And I don't want to be
All alone anymore
I'm sorry
Out in the street
Colored kids playing
Where my own little boy used to play
So I sit in this chair
And I ache with the gout
And I talk to myself
'Cause I'm scared to go out
And I just want to know
What was it all about
I'm sorry
Morten Iversen
Randy Newman's back catalogue should be taught in school. Historians and scientists are good at describing how things are, or were. Randy is an expert in telling how things feel, and what double standards and lies most of us live by all our lives.
Dreamwell
You know what I like about Randy Newman's music? You won't outgrow it.
J.M.S _
The world in 2020 needs Newman now more than ever.
Matthew Smith West
Agreed. This, Marie, and Real Emotional Girl are miracles in songwriting, and each one tears me up. Born Again and Trouble in Paradise (the critical low-points) are my favorite albums, along with Good Old Boys.
Schtuff.
This and 'Old Man' are miserable songs that all human beings need to hear to remain human.
Hugo Sánchez
I'd put I Think It's Going To Rain Today in there as well
kleermaker1000
"Ghosts"
Stay with me for a little while
You've nowhere to go
I've nowhere to go
It makes me so happy
When you smile
At me
Work all your life
And you end up with nothing
Live in one room like a bum
Once I flew in a plane
And I fought in a war
We lived in a castle
And slept on the floor
And I don't want to be
All alone anymore
I'm sorry
Out in the street
Colored kids playing
Where my own little boy used to play
So I sit in this chair
And I ache with the gout
And I talk to myself
'Cause I'm scared to go out
And I just want to know
What was it all about
I'm sorry
Joe drew
Kleermaker1000 much appreciated.
jeff kot
I AIN'T SORRY. It was a hell of a ride! From the shitty floors, to the ivory towers...Love, and loss... Long as i got my memory im never going to be alone. If i lose my mind, or life then it won't matter anyway. Good luck to the young , and RIP to the dead. From a o'l grateful ghost.
Michael P.
When folks ask, "what's the saddest song you've ever heard?", this one comes to mind so it's probably the one. Perfect marriage of melancholy lyrics and melody. Randy is on my short list of favorite songwriters with Dylan, McCartney, Brian Wilson and Van Morrison.