Brooklyn Roads Neil Diamond (1968)

Oops! I worked on this video for awhile and had two different versions. This is the one I meant to put up. While I like the spinning cube in the other and it took a long time to make with stills I was thinking it might not translate well on youtube. Oh well! For now I have two versions up.
What Neil had to say about this song: "I had just signed with MCA Records and wanted to stretch my creative wings. This is the most literal and personal story I had written up to that point. 'Brooklyn Roads' told of my youth and my aspirations. I loved the freedom of being able to write something without the charts in mind."
Recorded in 1968 from the album 'Velvet Gloves and Spit'

[@stephendizon3490]

God bless you Neil Diamond! This is my all-time favorite song of yours. I have so many memories of my youth while living on Washington Boulevard with all my friends back in the 1960s and 1970s. We used to ride bicycles and play games and going to the riverbed and hang out by the water. Those are the days when kids could be kids. Brooklyn Roads reminds me of those good old days. Me and my friends are now 60 and older. We are all scattered now all over the place and hardly hear from each other or see each other. I miss them all and all those Carefree times being young with no worries or cares in the world. Thank you Neil for being such a treasure to me and the whole world!

[@johnholmes5667]

ALWAYS!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!❤

[@mikemasse]

The best song by Neil Diamond, or the best song by anyone ever? Moves me deeply every time I hear it.

[@nitalightell336]

He knew he had to break free and aren't we so blessed that he did!!!! 💜💜😊

[@jakestokes398]

Neil tapped into another world . Almost spiritual. What a musical genius

[@teresadbrownbrown3785]

I agree

[@patriciajrs46]

Thank you Mr. Neil Diamond. You are the greatest simple legend of Rock and Roll. I always had you and Elvis in a tie for my number 1 favorite singer.

[@MarieClaireBeckx]

Still one of my favourite songs from Neil 😊

[@themcserdwar]

Me too!

[@wt35702]

Absolutely one of my favorites by Neil, or anyone. Such a story told in this song, and to great music.

[@jamessullivan6583]

First time I heard this, I immediately embraced it as a song that I had been waiting for. A song that belonged in me.

[@spookedhorse]

Totally get that, James. I feel that way about a few songs.

[@rosfelrub]

Neil Diamond, more than Wonderful .... He will be the Best for a long, long, long time... That is, Forever !!!! His Superb sound, whether if it comes from his Music or Voice, together with his enormous feeling, always giving all from himself, makes it difficult for other singers,to occupy his Untouchable place on Music..... Neil do not doubt it for a second, 'YOU ARE UNIQUE' from Madrid-SPAIN, with all my Admiration..

[@spookedhorse]

Thee most prolific writer of modern times. This is simply a masterpiece.

[@NewsHistorian]

This song is so cinematic and calls for a video of a man returning to his old childhood apartment in Brooklyn and perhaps seeing a minority young boy in his window dreamingly looking at his Brooklyn Roads. My father from Brooklyn expressed the same dismissive attitude of returning. “Thought of going back - but all I’d see are strangers faces - and all the shadows time erases..”

[@908shayes]

A master storyteller. I was lucky to see Neil in concert 20 yrs. ago. He will also be one of my favorites. Thanks Neil.

[@tompinneyjr.1736]

You don't have to be from Brooklyn to fell this this song. I'm from Kansas and it fells like the same as if I was raised in Brooklyn.

[@1214jet]

Beautiful. 💞🙋‍♀️👦

[@tabithaedie]

If I close my eyes I can almost hear my mother Callin', "Neil, go find your brother Daddy's home, and it's time for supper Hurry on" And I see two boys Racin' up two flights of staircase Squirmin' into Papa's embrace And his whiskers warm on their face Where's it gone Oh, where's it gone Two floors above the butcher First door on the right Life filled to the brim As I stood by my window And I looked out of those Brooklyn Roads I can still recall The smells of cookin' in the hallways Rubbers drying in the doorways And report cards I was always Afraid to show Mama'd come to school And as I'd sit there softly crying Teacher'd say, "He's just not trying He's got a good head if he'd apply it" But you know yourself It's always somewhere else I built me a castle With dragons and kings And I'd ride off with them As I stood by my window And looked out on those Brooklyn Roads Thought of going back But all I'd see are stranger's faces And all the scars that love erases But as my mind walks through thoses places I'm wonderin' What's come of them Does some other young boy Come home to my room Does he dream what I did As he stands by my window And looks out on those Brooklyn Roads Brooklyn Roads

[@dasgupta.27]

One of my favourite songs during my svhool days

[@isabeltejero7425]

Maravilloso Neil ! Eres el mejor .Me trasportas me haces feliz con tu musica .Guapo muchos besos desde España.

[@gloracisandreleopoldino6877]

Eu lhe conheço, desde 1970, porque só agora nós encontramos!!!!!!!!!!!! Que mistério é estes ??????!!!

[@humboldtgift9462]

One of Neil's best, and it really showcases his talent for blending lyrics and melody so well. One caveat: the use of the word "roads" throws me. When I hear roads I think of country roads and highways, not cities like New York, which have streets.

[@adamcarrey9115]

I read somewhere that he actually wrote it and sung it as "Brooklyn Rows." The "rows" referring to the row houses in Brooklyn. But somehow it got changed to "Brookly Roads" by the record company or publishing company. That makes sense to me.

[@rslitman]

As of right now, both the very first time I ever saw Neil on TV (way back in 1966, and I didn't know who he was at the time) and the most recent time I have seen Neil on TV (3/20/11 on the RRHOF induction show), someone mentioned he was from "the state of Brooklyn". On the 1966 show, which was a local show in Washington, DC, he's the one who said it. On the RRHOF show, Paul Simon mentioned it while introducing Neil (and may have said, "the great state of Brooklyn").

[@anamariaminisale]

Hermosa canción y hermosa vos escucho y sos mi cable a tierra 😍❤

[@mariajosecanadarodrigo3936]

Fantástica canción.

[@patcavasin5947]

Beautiful song

[@kimberlysmith909]

Awesome job on your end! Thanks

[@Mazzaaaaman]

Love this ❤️

[@neilcopeland5928]

As I approached 70 and my mom just died 😢

[@oldermusiclover]

where was this recorded at, and who were the musicians thanks