About the song
Background
- Accidental Song: It started as a TV sitcom theme song but was deemed unsuitable for the show’s concept. Diamond expanded and reworked it.
- Solo Hit: Diamond recorded “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” as a solo track in 1977 for his album I’m Glad You’re Here with Me Tonight.
- Duet Success: Barbra Streisand covered it in 1978. Radio DJs accidentally spliced the two versions, creating a conversational duet. This mashup became incredibly popular, leading them to officially re-record it as a duet.
Lyrics
Here’s a look at a crucial verse and its meaning:
“You don’t bring me flowers You don’t sing me love songs You hardly talk to me anymore When I come through the door at the end of the day”
- Everyday Disconnect: The lyrics portray a couple drifting apart, losing the small gestures of love in the routine of daily life.
- Miscommunication: There’s unspoken longing and sadness. The song highlights how easily couples can take each other for granted.
Themes
- Lost Romance: The central theme is the gradual fading of romance and connection in a relationship.
- Lack of Appreciation: The song hints at a feeling of being taken for granted and the desire to rekindle affection.
- Longing and Regret: There’s an underlying sadness for what has been lost and the possibility of reconnecting.
Legacy
“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” stands as a timeless ballad about the importance of nurturing love and expressing appreciation within relationships. Its conversational duet version adds a unique dimension and further amplifies the emotional impact.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond]
You don’t bring me flowers
You don’t sing me love songs
You hardly talk to me anymore
When you come through the door
At the end of the day
[Chorus: Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond]
I remember when
You couldn’t wait to love me
Used to hate to leave me
Now after lovin’ me late at night
When it’s good for you, babe
And you’re feeling alright
Well, you just roll over
And you turn out the light
And you don’t bring me flowers anymore
[Verse 2: Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand]
It used to be so natural (Used to be)
To talk about forever (Mmm)
But ‘used to be’s’ don’t count anymore
They just lay on the floor
‘Til we sweep them away
And baby, I remember
All the things you taught me
I learned how to laugh
And I learned how to cry
Well, I learned how to love
And learned how to lie
[Chorus: Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand]
So you’d think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
(So you’d think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye)
You don’t bring me flowers anymore
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Chorus: Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond]
Well, you’d think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
And you don’t sing me
And you don’t sing me love songs
You don’t bring me flowers anymore