These poems relate in one way or another to Neil Diamond

This poem is about how I started being a Neil Impersonator. I hope you like it!

A little while ago I heard a guy called Neil

Singing a song and I liked the feel,

The way the words were sung, well if you know him I guess

You'd probably agree that it was just the best.

The more that I listened the more that I liked

I guess I got hooked, right there, that night

So I started to search and I started to look

And I read a lot about him when I found this book

I first bought one album, then two, then three

I knew that I had found the voice for me

I had been a singer for a long, long time

Realized his voice was very close to mine

So I started singing songs that he had written

Everyone who knew me said I had been bitten

I practiced every day to sound more like him

I’d practice in the shower, I’d practice in the gym

Then one day someone heard me and said “Rob, hey!”

You sound just like the guy I heard singing yesterday

It turns out that this guy was the one and only Neil

I still love the voice and I still love the feel

So I listened to my friend who said you should do this for a living

And I gave up my day job, and started in believing

That one day I could get on stage and entertain the crowds

And began to quietly practice, didn’t make it loud

Then two years down the road I felt that it was time

To launch my show and to show the world what’s mine

I had the costumes run up and bought a wig to wear

Never knew just how I’d do, would the people stare?

Opened up with America, did Cracklin' Rosie then

Next song up was Shilo, then I sang Hello Again,

Very quickly followed this with the song, I Am I Said

And then my spot was nearly done, I did Longfellow Serenade

Love On The Rocks and September Morn’ were next in the queue

A Beautiful Noise then I did Song Sung Blue

I finished with a song that had memories of my teens

And wished them all goodnight with Forever In Blue Jeans

That all seems such a time ago, I’ve got better since that time

The repertoire increased, with songs like Sweet Caroline

Play Me quickly followed, then came Solitary Man

And now I sing them each and every single time I can

For those of you who helped me, BIG THANKS for your support

Without it, I’d have struggled, I’ll remember all you’ve taught

And if you’ve stumbled by my site, through accident or other

I’d be happy for each one of you to be my Sister or my Brother

Enjoy the site, "that’s what it’s there for !"

You now know the story, you know the score

If you like what you see and hear, please spread the word

Even though at this time, it may seem quite absurd

I’m here to entertain you, each and every way I can

With my tribute to Neil Diamond, The Solitary Man

It's Wednesday

It's Wednesday and the sun is beating down
Unusual for this time of year I know
But let's enjoy the sunshine while we can
It wasn't that long ago that we had snow

The sunshine lifts your spirits, feel them soar
The weight lifts from your shoulders as you gaze
The future somehow seems more bright, more sure
Thank God for each and every sunny day.

I noticed too, the countryside looks green
No, not just any old green but very, very bright
Spring must have well and truly sprung
I would have missed it had it not been such a sight

So forget all of your troubles for a day
Look out your window on a world that's fresh and new
We all have miseries and burdens to bear
But for a change, forget them for a day or two

And looking round and seeing with fresh eyes
Take in the vision, see and make it stick
And then I'll bet you'll realise
That the world is much, much better than you think

The only things that's missing is a tune
Something that's as uplifting as the sun
A song about the good things would be a boon
One that makes you feel good as it's sung

Now who can we turn to for this inspiration
A song that will lift our spirits and bond
Our new found hope and higher expectation
Well how about a song from Neil Diamond

He seems to get it right , time after time
Each new release enthralling all it can
The tune, the words, the rhythm and the rhyme
Not bad for a Solitary Man

A Poem for the Unbeliever

Neil is awesome, Neil is great,
You hear this in every single state
Neil is Fantastic, Neil is terrific
Descriptions from fans that will surely stick

Where are all the other superlatives
There must be more, hey what gives?
Isn’t Neil Diamond good looking,
When he sings he’s really cooking

What a talent, what a voice
As a singer he’s a Rolls-Royce
What energy, what panache
Let the unbelievers thrash

Around in their own little worlds
Full of spite and un-kind words
We love Neil and his music
Though we know it makes you sick

We don’t care about the sniping
And the groaning and the griping
Because when Neil Diamond sings his tune
We are in heaven, women swoon

The guys are slightly more laid back
Their street-cred makes them stay on track
But even they, those macho guys
Love Neil, OK, let’s hear no lies

So if you aren’t an ND fan
But posted quickly and then ran
Relax,we all have different views
There is no need to be so rude

If you can’t stand the accolades
The ladies to their Neil have made
Find another board to post upon
Do you hear us? Get you gone

There must be boards for the likes of you
Who have no interests in what we do
Seek out your own kind and you’ll see
That you are not that different from WE

Ode to Neil

Can anybody hear me? If you know what I mean,

I Am I Said, forever In Blue Jeans

Wish everything was alright, Surviving the life

Reminisce for a while, The story of my life

Play me, Lady Oh, Red, Red Wine

Kentucky Woman or Sweet Caroline?

Cherry, Cherry, All I really need is you

I’m a believer, Hooked on the memory of you

I’ve been this way before, You got to me

Gold don’t rust, Marry me

Don’t look down, Lonely looking sky

I’ve been this way before, Blue highway

If I couldn’t see you again, Long hard climb

Take care of me, Everything’s gonna be fine

I believe in happy endings, Like you do

I’ve got the feeling (oh no no) Song sung blue

Solitary man, And the singer sings his songs,

Brother Love’s traveling salvation show, Soolaimon

Love on the rocks? Hello again

Headed for the future, Lady Magdalene

The boat that I row, On the Robert E Lee

Thank the Lord for the night time, Cracklin’ Rosie

Beautiful noise, Back in L.A.

Girl, you’ll be a woman soon, Desiree

These are the songs, to name but a few

That make us love the things you do

Some make us happy, some make us sad

Some make us think a lot, others make us glad

So remember Mr. Diamond

Even when your work is done

To each and every one of us

You are “My Special Someone”

It Started With A Kiss

(with apologies to Hot Chocolate)

Saturday and Sunday were the best weekend

That we’ve had for many years

The NEC in Birmingham,

To see the living legend here

Sure he’s been to Birmingham, many times before

But I’ve always been out of reach

We booked for Saturday way back in March

But Sunday’s front row seats were just a peach

And so on Saturday, in our eagerness to see

We got to the Arena way to soon

We walked around for hours it seemed not knowing what to do

Eventually settling for a coffee with no spoon

The people starting filing in, bags searched and questions asked

To see Neil Diamond, Live right here was everybody’s task

We looked at all the merchandise

Bought more than we could afford

Then found our seats and waited

Waited for that first chord

The Overture was first in line

America rocked our socks

Then Mission of Love, Hello Again

And then Love on The Rocks

Neil picked up his guitar right then

A signature just like mine

With a grin as wide as a Cheshire cat

He yells “lets go back in time”

Solitary Man was next in line

Followed by The Boat That I Row

Cherry, Cherry and Red, Red, Wine

And we still had ages to go

A rocking I’m A Believer

Before Neil slowed the pace right down

The “sensitive man” song Play Me

Then came September Morn

This whole scene was repeated

On that Sunday night so rare

I was still surprised to see those girls

With the glitter in their hair

A disappointing Soolaimon

It missed some shine and sheen

And then it slows done once again with

If You Know What I Mean

A Beautiful Noise soon followed

Then came that special song

The front row ladies swooning

Would “HE” really sing their song

My eyes were disbelieving

As he walked across the stage

It was Alice he was singing to

A “Girl” less than half his age

She went up when he beckoned

The kiss took place right there

Some envious eyes from ladies

With glitter in their hair

And then the moment was over

Neil sang some ballads so

HPTSIY and then BPOM

both from TCO

Forever In Blue Jeans stirred the crowd

“Let me hear you now” was the call

Then Starflight played with flair but loud

And then a hush fell on the Hall

Neil spoke of Vince in quiet tones

Still sad after this short time

His dedication chilled the bones

He sang Captain Sunshine

Holly Holy followed this

With heartfelt lyrics flowing

Then he lightened up the mood

The audience soon got going

Sweet Caroline with wo-wo-wo’s

Repeated with so-so goods

The “Flowers” duet with Linda Press

Was indeed so very good

And then as if by magic

A baby grand appeared

A treat in store for all Neil fans

Rarely on the ivory’s heard

Yes I Will / Lady Magdelene

Was played with pure panache

Then picking up the beat once more

Shilo was next in the stache

The “Heroes” were the next in line

To receive the “Diamond” praise

The police, the fire crews and military

The real “Heroes” of today

And so he sang that Hollies’ song

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

I Am…I Said was next in line

And we knew that it was over

To screams and shouts of More! More! More!

The man returned again

Cracklin’ Rosie rang out loud

To the roof and back again

Brothers and Sisters came the cry

The last song in the “jam”

It was Brother Love with sermon

And then GOODNIGHT Birmingham

We sat there stunned, in silence

It was all “Done Too Soon”

The audience filed out the hall

Leaving that cavernous room

Well there is always next time

I feel privileged to have seen the man

The guy whose songs I sing and sing

The Solitary Man

So when I’m next performing

My tribute act to Neil

I’ll remember well the NEC

And just how it made me feel!!

Memories of July 21^st – A Poem

The house lights slowly dim, the stage a blue glow

The hush is replaced by a murmur of anticipation

Are we really here at last, is this the show

Is the tension that we feel, the tension of a nation

There are so many people sitting in here

In this cavernous concert venue

Thousands have made the pilgrimage

To hear the singer’s song, both old and new

The overture begins at last

And we see movement on the stage

Musicians starting to appear

Of varied size and age

And then the floor below us

Rises high above the stage

And there he stands before us

Magnificent with age

The opening bars of America

Bring us all onto our feet

He sings “Far, we’ve been traveling far”

It really sounds so sweet

And then we’re all aboard the train

There is no stopping now

A roller coaster ride of songs

We help to sing and how

When Neil is really rocking

The audience rocks too

The love songs and the ballads

They really are our cue

To sit back down and listen

To the master and his voice

Uplifting us with music

In which we can rejoice

Too soon it is all over

No wait he’s coming back

An encore, this is what we need

Then gone, the stage is once more black

Mixed emotions everywhere

Some happy and some sad

Most feeling privileged to be there

All feeling very glad

That once again the maestro

Has performed his work for us

Hey round the back, c’mon let’s go

Let’s watch them board the bus

And as the transport disappears

Emptiness again prevails

His music ringing in our ears

His music never fails

And memories are all we have

But hey, remember this

A member of our party

Stole that very precious kiss

The souvenirs we bought to wear

The bear that Neil gave

The way the hats cover our hair

The frog king is my fave

No photo’s of the kiss alas

No video though we know

That one of Neil’s entourage

Filmed that part of the show

It made us local celebrities

Newspaper reports and all

We’re very proud and lucky

It makes us stand so tall

So thank you Neil for all you give

Your music, words and song

We hope you come back very soon

Please don’t make us wait too long

Now we return to tribute shows

Performing them as Neil

Trying hard to capture

The look, the sound, the feel

Can Anybody Hear Me