As I was listening to songs to share, today I kept coming back to Barbra Streisand. Love her or hate her, there is something timelessly vulnerable and honest about her sound. Authenticity is what a listener craves, and Barbra always delivers.
This song comes from the film Yentl, which tells the story of a Jewish girl from Poland who defies all expectations to follow her dreams. Yentl assumes the name and appearance of a man in order to pursue her education, eventually leaving Europe to pursue a life of greater freedom in the United States.
Not only does this song remind me of the promise and freedom of this great country I call my home, but it also inspires me to reach out of my comfort zone and set my sights both high and wide. One particular passage of lyrics stands out:
The more I live, the more I learn
The more I learn, the more I realize
The less I know
Each step I take
Each page I turn
Each mile I travel only means
The more I have to go
What’s wrong with wanting more?
If you can fly, then soar!
With all there is, why settle for
Just a piece of sky?
Please enjoy “A Piece of Sky” from Yentl, sung by Barbra at her best.
This week we welcome baritone Efrain Solis to Song of the Day! He has sung with companies such as San Francisco Opera, Virginia Opera, and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. You can hear him with NYFOS on Tuesday, April 26th concert at Merkin Hall in Compositora: Songs by Latin American Women (get tickets here).
Happy Days Are Here Again (Ager/Yellen)