Neil Diamond

thumb|right|"I am," I said To no one there And no one heard at all Not even the chair… Neil Leslie Diamond (born 24 January 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, who, according to Billboard magazine, is the third most successful Adult Contemporary artist ever, ranking behind only Barbra Streisand and Elton John. Quotes Larry King interview (2003) Interview on Larry King Live (29 September 2003) I actually wanted to go to medical school. I actually wanted to be a laboratory biologist. I wanted to study. And I really wanted to find a cure for cancer. My grandmother had died of cancer. And I was always very good at the sciences. And I thought I would go and try and discover the cure for cancer. A thing called "Cherry Cherry", was my first big national hit. It was a top five record. And international, as well. And you know, that's what broke the dam. … Boom, as soon as that record hit, I was out on the road. And I've been out on the road… since then. … I didn't realize it at first, but I did want to perform. I liked it. It was fun. You know, I went through all of the growth experiences that you go through in any field. But I did like it. And you know, I've been doing it since. I'm a perfectionist. I like to get it right. I like to get it good. And you know, writing songs is not -- it's not the kind of thing that you can count on every day. You never know what's going to come or if it's going to come. So you -- you know, it's an uncertain kind of a thing. I'm a writer who performs. And I mean, I'm basically a writer. I've been doing it since I was 16. … For me, the balance between the two, the writing -- a year, two years, whatever it takes to do an album, and then you've had enough of writing and thinking and being introspective and all of that kind of stuff, and you want to get out on the road and you want to, you know, get into the physicality of performing. Song lyrics thumb|right|"I am," I cried "I am," said I And I am lost, and I can't even say why … thumb|right| We've traveled halfway 'round the world To find ourselves again September morn Her eyes would make an angel smile.They'd call her Sunday.She'll take a man and drive him wild.Her name is Sunday,And one day I'm gonna make her mine.It's gonna be so fine.You wait and see,It's gonna beJust Sunday and me. Sunday and Me, performed by Jay and the Americans (1965) Girl, I don't want to fight,I'm a little bit wrong,And you're a little bit right.I said, girl, you know that it's true,It's a little bit me,And it's a little bit you too. A Little Bit Me, performed by The Monkees (1967) Kentucky womanShe shines with her own kind of light.She'd look at you onceAnd a day that's all wrong looks all right.And I love her, God knows, I love her.Kentucky woman,If she get to know you,She goin' to own you.Kentucky woman. Kentucky Woman (1967) The Feel of Neil Diamond (1966) Don't know that I will,But until I can find meThe girl who'll stayAnd won't play games behind me,I'll be what I am:A solitary man, solitary man. Solitary Man Says she loves me Yes, yes she does Gonna show me tonight, yeah She got the way to move me, Cherry Cherry, Cherry Ah, to be so exciting Won't need bright lights No, no we won't Gonna make our own lighting She got the way to move me, Cherry Cherry, Cherry Just for You (1967) Don't you knowGirl, you'll be a woman soon.Please, come take my hand.Girl, you'll be a woman soon.Soon you'll need a man. Girl Red, red wineGo to my head.Make me forget that IStill need her so.Red, red wine,It's up to you.All I can do, I've done.But memories won't go.No, memories won't go. Red Red Wine I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for someone else but not for me … I'm a Believer, first performed by The Monkees in 1966 Then I saw her face Now I'm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind I'm in love I'm a believer I couldn't leave her if I tried. I'm a Believer Shilo when I was young,I used to call your name.When no one else would come,Shilo you always came and we'd play. Shiloh Used to slip though every girl's hand like water There never was one who could ever tie me down Straight ahead and steady as Gibraltar 'Til you brought me tumblin' to the ground You got to me You brought me to may knees You Got To Me Velvet Gloves and Spit (1968) I'm walkin'But I'm going nowhere at all.I'm 'bout to head any place in the worldBut the place that I am Two-Bit Manchild Two bit manchild I wasBorn for nothin' mostlyGood time with sometime women.Nothin' ain't ever hold me.You can't change me none. Two-Bit Manchild Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show (1969) It's Love, Brother Love, sayBrother Love's Traveling Salvation Show.Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies.And ev'ryone goes, 'cause everyone knowsBrother Love's show. Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show Hands, touchin' hands,Reachin' out, touchin' me, touchin' you.Sweet Caroline.Good times never seemed so good.I've been inclinedTo believe they never would.But now I, look at the nightAnd it don't seem so lonely.We fill it up with only two. Sweet Caroline Touching You (1969) Call the sun in the dead of the nightAnd the sun gonna rise in the skyTouch a man who can't walk uprightAnd that lame man, he gonna fly.And I fly, yeah, And I fly. Holly Holy Tap Root Manuscript (1970) Hitchin' on a twilight trainAin't nothing here that I care to take along.Maybe a songTo sing when I want.No need to say please to no manFor a happy tune. Cracklin' Rosie Stones (1971) "I am," I said To no one there An no one heard at all Not even the chair "I am," I cried "I am," said I And I am lost, and I can't even say why Leavin' me lonely still. I Am...I Said Moods (1972) Song sung blue, everybody knows one.Song sung blue, every garden grows one.Me and you are subject toThe blues now and then.But when you take the bluesAnd make a song,You sing 'em out again. Song Sung Blue You are the sun, I am the moon.You are the words, I am the tune.Play me. Play Me Serenade (1974) I've seen the lightAnd I've seen the flame.And I've been this way before,And I'm sure to be this way again.For I've been refused,And I've been regained,And I've seen your eyes before,And I'm sure to see your eyes again.Once again.For I've been released,And I've been regained,And I've sung my song before,And I'm sure to sing my song again.Once again. I've Been This Way Before Longfellow Serenade,Such were the plans I'd made.For she was a ladyAnd I was a dreamer,With only words to trade. Longfellow Serenade Beautiful Noise (1976) And here's to the songs we used to sing;And here's to the times we used to know.It's hard to hold them in our arms again,But hard to let them go. If You Know What I Mean Dry your eyes and take your song out.It's a newborn afternoon.And if you can't recall the singer,You can still recall the tune.Dry your eyes and play it slowly,Like you're marching off to war.Sing it like you know he'd want it,Like we sang it once before. Dry Your Eyes, co-written with Robbie Robertson I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight (1977) Desiree,Oh, Desiree.There I was foundBy the sweet passion soundOf your loving song.Time was right, the night was long.Remember Desiree,Oh, Desiree.And though somehow I knewI could only have you 'til the morning light,The night was long, the time was right. Desiree You don't bring me flowers.You don't sing me love songs.You hardly talk to me anymore.When you come through the doorAt the end of the day. You Don't Bring Me Flowers, co-written with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman You Don't Bring Me Flowers (1978) Money talks,But it don't sing and dance.And it don't walk.And long as I can have youHere with me, I'd much rather beForever in blue jeans. Forever in Blue Jeans September Morn (1979) We've traveled halfway 'round the world To find ourselves again September morn We danced until the night became a brand new day Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play September morning still can make me feel that way September Morn, co-written with Gilbert Bécaud The Jazz Singer (1980) Far We've been traveling far Without a home But not without a star.Free,Only want to be free.We huddle close;Hang on to a dream. America Home,Don't it seem so far away? Oh, we're traveling light today, In the eye of the storm.In the eye of the storm.Home,To a new and a shiny place.Make our bed and we'll say our grace.Freedom's light burning warm.Freedom's light burning warm. America On the Way to the Sky (1981) Yesterday's songsDon't stay around long,Not much anymore.Yesterday's wordsDon't make themselves heardLike they did before. Yesterday's Songs Heartlight (1982) Turn on your heartlight;Let it shine wherever you go.Let it make a happy glowFor all the world to see.Turn on your heartlightIn the middle of a young boy's dream.Don't wake me up too soon.Gonna take a ride across the moon,You and me. Heartlight, co-written with Burt Bacharach and Carol Bayer Sayer External links Official website Neil Diamond's Band's Official Site Category:American country singers Category:Folk singers Category:Guitarists from the United States Category:Jewish songwriters Category:Jews from the United States Category:Pop singers Category:Rock singers Category:Songwriters from the United States Category:Singer-songwriters from the United States Category:1941 births Category:Living people Category:People from New York City Category:Pop music Category:American folk music Category:Country music Category:Soft rock Category:Golden Globe Award–winning musicians