About the Song:
“I’ve Been This Way Before” is a reflective ballad by Neil Diamond, released as the second single from his 1974 album Serenade. The song was a chart success, reaching No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart and peaking at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track received critical praise for its strong lyrical content and Diamond’s emotive vocal performance. Billboard described it as “stronger lyrically” compared to his more recent songs, while Cash Box highlighted the song’s “moody” atmosphere, with its piano opening building into a rich arrangement of strings, all underscored by Diamond’s confident voice.
The lyrics of “I’ve Been This Way Before” explore the cyclical nature of life. Diamond reflects on the experiences of joy and hardship, suggesting that both are inevitable and will recur throughout life. He draws on personal reflections, expressing familiarity with the emotions of being “refused” and “regained,” signifying both pain and recovery. The song’s chorus contrasts how people cope with life’s ups and downs, pointing out that while some express their emotions freely, others simply endure without asking why.
Through the song’s lyrics, Diamond muses on the cyclical process of life—how past experiences shape our resilience for the future. It carries the message that by recognizing and accepting these recurring patterns, we can find the strength to face new challenges. “I’ve Been This Way Before” ultimately presents a sense of acceptance about the ongoing nature of life’s highs and lows, portraying the wisdom gained from understanding this cycle.
Lyrics
The scene was a small roadside café
The waitress was sweepin’ the floor
Two truck drivers drinkin’ their coffee
And two okie kids by the door
“How much are them candies?” They asked her
“How much have you got?” She replied
“We’ve only a penny between us”
“Them’s two for a penny, ” she lied
And the daylight grew heavy with thunder
With the smell of the rain on the wind
Ain’t it just like a human?
Here comes that rainbow again
One truck driver called to the waitress
After the kids went outside
“Them candies ain’t two for a penny”
“So what’s it to you?” She replied
In silence they finished their coffee
Then got up and nodded goodbye
She called, “Hey, you left too much money”
“So what’s it to you?” They replied
And the daylight was heavy with thunder
With the smell of the rain on the wind
Ain’t it just like a human?
Here comes that rainbow againAdvertisement
