Dry Your Eyes
The Band & Neil Diamond Lyrics
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(Thanks very much, I'm gonna do one song for you, but I'm gonna do it good)
Dry your eyes, take your song out
When it's a newborn afternoon
And if you can't recall the singer, can you still recall the tune?
Dry your eyes and play it slowly, just like you're marching off to war
Sing it like you always wanted, like you sung it once before
If it ever is forgotten, sing it long and sing it loud
And come dry your eyes
And you taught us more about living, than we ever cared to know
And we came to learn a secret, and we never let it go
And it was more than being holy, though it was less than being free
And if you can't recall the reason, can you hear the people see?
Right through the lightening and the thunder, to the dark side of the moon
To that distant falling angel, that descended much too soon
Come dry your eyes
Dry your eyes, take your song out
It's a newborn afternoon
And if you can't recall the singer, you can still recall the tune
And come dry your eyes
Come dry your eyes
Dry your eyes
(Alright, Neil Diamond) (thanks so much)
The lyrics to the song Dry Your Eyes by The Band & Neil Diamond tell an emotional story of loss, remembrance and tribute. The song speaks about the act of saying goodbye to a loved one and the importance of keeping their memory alive. The first verse starts with a call to action to the person who is grieving; to take their song out, to sing it slowly and to try to remember the singer that inspired the song. The movement from the first verse to the second verse feels like a transition, where the singer is speaking directly to the audience in the historic context of the song. In the second verse, the singer talks about the lessons they learned from the person they lost and the impact he had on their life. The lyrics talk about the importance of keeping their memory alive, not forgetting the reason behind their teachings and the impact they had on the world. The chorus connects the two verses, where the singer asks the person to come and dry their eyes, to remember the past but not stay stuck there, to continue to move forward.
One interpretation of the song is that it speaks to the passing of Richard Manuel – a member of The Band, who died by suicide in 1986. Many believe that Neil Diamond wrote this song as a tribute to his dear friend Manuel. The song has since become a cherished symbol of his life, talent and legacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Dry your eyes and take your song out, it's a newborn afternoon.
Wipe your tears and express your emotions through your music; it's a fresh start to the day.
And if you can't recall the singer you can still recall the tune.
Even if you forget the person who sang this song, you can always remember its melody.
Dry your eyes and play it slowly like you're marching off to war;
Compose yourself and perform the song with solemnity as if you're heading into battle.
Sing it like you know he'd want it, like we sang it once before.
Sing the song as if you're following the artist's wishes, just like how we sang it together in the past.
And from the center of the circle to the midst of the waiting crowd,
From the focal point to the viewers who are eagerly waiting for the next performance,
If it ever be forgotten sing it long and sing it loud and come dry your eyes.
If the song ever fades into obscurity, perform it with passion and vigor and don't cry anymore.
And he taught us more about giving than we ever cared to know,
The songwriter taught us more about generosity than we realized.
But we came to find the secret and we never let it go.
We discovered the hidden message and kept it in our hearts forever.
And it was more than being holy and it was less than being free,
The song's meaning wasn't purely about righteousness nor liberty,
And if you can't recall the reason can you hear the people sing.
If you can't remember the meaning of the song, listen to the fans who are singing it in unison.
Right through the lightning and the thunder to the dark side of the moon,
Through the tumultuous times to the most obscure places,
To that distant falling angel that descended much too soon
To the angel who left us too soon and is now far away,
And come dry your eyes.
Just dry your eyes and move on, we will meet that angel eventually.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jamie Robertson, Neil Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind