Neil Diamond Electric Proms

# Ah, I love the way that you do me

# Cherry, babe, you really get to me. #

Welcome to BBC Radio 2, the final night of the Electric Proms.

-I'm Jo Whiley.

-And I'm Chris Evans.

What a night we have for you lined up this evening.

About to take to the stage, about to raise the roof,

is a man who has sold 128 million records worldwide.

His hits include I'm A Believer, Cherry Cherry,

there are so many, and we're going to hear a load of the classics,

some of the new album as well. It's going to be a memorable night.

Let's say hello, hello to Neil Diamond.

CHEERING

# What a beautiful noise

# Comin' up from the street

# Got a beautiful sound

# It's got a beautiful beat

# It's a beautiful noise

# Goin' on everywhere

# Like the clickety-clack Of a train on a track

# It's got a rhythm to spare

# It's a beautiful noise

# A sound that I love

# It fits me as well

# As a hand in a glove

# Yes, it does

# Yes, it does

# What a beautiful noise

# Comin' up from the park

# It's the sound of the kids

# And it plays until dark

# It's the sound of the cars

# On their furious flights

# But there's even romance In the way that they dance

# To the beat of the lights

# It's a beautiful noise

# A sound that I love

# And it makes me feel good

# Just like a hand in a glove

# Yes it does

# Yes, it does

# What a beautiful noise

# It's a beautiful noise

# Made of joy and of strife

# Like a symphony played By the passing parade

# It's the music of life

# It's a beautiful noise

# A sound that I love

# And it makes me feel good

# Just like a hand in a glove

# Yes, it does

# Yes, it does

# What a beautiful noise

# Comin' into my room

# And it's beggin' for me

# Just to give it a tune

# Yeah and it's beggin' for me

# Just to give it a tune. #

CHEERING

Thank you, England!

Thank you, London.

# Money talks

# But it don't sing and dance and it don't walk

# And long as I can have you here with me

# I'd much rather be forever in blue jeans, yeah... #

They're out gettin' washed! Sorry.

# Honey's sweet

# But it ain't nothing next to baby's treat

# And if you pardon me I'd like to say

# We'll do OK Forever in blue jeans, yeah... #

Dig it now!

# Maybe tonight

# Maybe tonight by the fire

# All alone you and I

# There's nothing around but the sound

# Of my heart and your sighs... #

Let me hear it now.

Let me hear it now. Let me hear it now.

# Money talks

# It can't sing and dance And it don't walk

# As long as I can have you here with me

# I'd much rather be Forever in blue jeans, yeah

# Honey is sweet

# But it ain't nothing next to baby's treat

# And if you'll pardon me

# I'd like to say we'll do OK

# Forever in blue jeans, yeah... #

You take this next bridge. Here we go. Maybe tonight.

# Maybe tonight

# Maybe tonight by the fire All alone, you and I

# Nothing around but the sound Of my heart and your sighs... #

You got it! Here we go. Come on now!

# Money talks

# It don't sing and dance And it don't walk

# As long as I can have you here with me

# I'd much rather be

# Forever in blue jeans, yeah... #

Oh, yes!

# And honey's sweet

# But it ain't nothing next to baby's treat

# And if you'll pardon me

# I'd like to say we'll do OK

# Forever in blue jeans, yeah

# Blue jeans, yeah. #

Oh, yes! Oh, yes!

CHEERING

Oh, that makes me feel so good.

You know, I have not performed for two years

and I was wondering before I came out here tonight,

are you gonna make a fool of yourself?

ALL: No!

And the answer is, absolutely yes!

I have every intention of doing that.

So, we've got a beautiful band.

APPLAUSE

Beautiful string section.

STRING MUSIC PLAYS

All for your pleasure.

# Hello again

# Hello

# I just called to say hello

# I couldn't sleep at all tonight

# And I know it's late

# I just couldn't wait

# Hello, my friends, hello

APPLAUSE

# Just called to let you know

# I think about you every night

# When I'm here alone

# And you're there at home

# Hello

# Lately, it's been crazy

# And lately, I'm to blame

# Won't you put your heart above your head

# We've been through it all

# And you've loved me just the same

# And when you're not there

# I just need to hear

# Hello, my friends, hello

# It's good to need you so

# It's good to want you like I do

# And to feel this way when I hear you say

# Hello

# Hello, my friends, hello

# Just called to let you know

# I think about you every night

# And I know it's late

# But I just couldn't wait

# Hello. #

Thank you so much.

We're going to go way back and do some early songs for you.

# Belinda was mine till the time that I found her

# Holding Jim

# Loving him

# Then Sue came along, loved me strong

# That's what I thought

# Me and Sue

# But that died too

# Don't know that I will

# But until I can find me

# A girl who'll stay

# And won't play games behind me

# I'll be what I am

# A solitary man

# Solitary man

# I've had it to here

# Being where love's a small word

# A part time thing

# A paper ring

# I know it's been done

# Having just one girl who loves you

# Right or wrong

# Weak or strong

# Don't know that I will

# But until I can find me

# A girl who'll stay

# And won't play games behind me

# I'll be what I am

# A solitary man

# A solitary man

# Don't know that I will

# But until love can find me

# A girl who'll stay

# And won't play games behind me

# I'll be what I am

# A solitary man

# A solitary man, oh

# Solitary man, oh. #

Thank you so much.

# Girl

# You'll be a woman soon

# Love you so much Can't count all the ways

# I'd die for you, girl And all they can say is

# He's not your kind

# They never get tired of puttin' me down

# And I never know when I come around what I'm gonna find

# Don't let them make up your mind

# Don't you know, girl?

# You'll be a woman soon

# Please come take my hand

# Girl, you'll be a woman soon

# Soon, you'll need a man

# I've been misunderstood for all of my life

# But what they're sayin', girl Just cuts like a knife

# The boy's no good

# Well, I finally found what I've been lookin' for

# But if they get the chance They'll end it for sure

# Sure they would

# Baby, I've done all I could It's up to you, girl

# You'll be a woman soon

# Please come take my hand

# Girl, you'll be a woman soon

# Soon, you'll need a man

# Oh, girl, you'll be a woman soon

# Please come take my hand

# Girl, you'll be a woman soon

# Soon, you'll need a man

# Soon, you'll need a man

# Soon, you'll need a man. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you.

# Baby loves me Yes, yes, she does

# Girl's outta sight, yeah

# Says she loves me Yes, yes, she does

# She's gonna show me tonight, yeah

# She got the way to move me, Cherry

# She got the way to groove me, Cherry

# She got the way to move me, Cherry

# She got the way to groove me

# Hey!

# Tell your mamma, girl I can't stay long

# We got things we got to catch up on

# Yeah, you know, you know What I'm sayin'

# Can't stand still While the music is playin'... #

Come on, y'all!

# You ain't got no right No, no, you don't, Cherry, Cherry

# To be so exciting

# We won't need bright lights No, no we won't, Cherry, Cherry

# Gonna make our own lightning... #

Huh! Come on, now.

# She got the way to move me, Cherry

# Cherry, baby

# All right She got the way to groove me, yeah

# Tell your mamma, girl I can't stay long

# We got, we got We got things we got to catch up on

# Yeah, you know, you know What I'm sayin'

# Can't stand still While the music is playin'

# Here we go!

# She got the way to move me, Cherry

# She got the way to groove me

# She got the way to move me Oh, yeah

# She got the way to groove me. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you so much.

You know, when I was here for the first time in England,

way back in 1966 or 1967...

..I was introduced to a little tiny girl

because she had a hit with one of my songs called The Boat That I Row...

CHEERING

..and my heart just went out to her.

I knew she was a little spark plug, like a little bit of champagne.

And she came from a very poor family.

I know because they could only afford one name for her!

And even that had two of the same syllables.

They really had to save money on this kid.

So would you please welcome back, after all these years,

Lulu, come on over here.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING Oh, my goodness, she's grown up.

Wow!

Come on.

-They love you.

-They love you, too.

She is still a spark plug.

Now, would you do that, would you do The Boat That I Row?

-Absolutely.

-Come on!

It's a Neil Diamond song.

# I don't have a lot But with me that's fine

# Whatever I got Well, I know it's mine

# I don't go around with the local crowd

# I don't dig what's in So I guess I'm out

# I'm sayin' these things so you know me, baby

# So you better know where you're coming on

# The boat that I row won't cross no ocean

# The boat that I row won't get me there soon

# But I got the love If you got the notion

# The boat that I row's big enough for two

# Me and you

# There ain't a man in life can tell me what to say

# I choose my own side and I like it that way

# Oh, my goodness!

# I don't worry about all the things that I'm not

# There's only one thing I want I ain't got

# You know that I'm thinking about you, baby

# So you better know for you're coming along

# The boat that I row won't cross no ocean

# The boat that I row won't get me there soon

# But I got the love If you got the notion

# The boat that I row's big enough for two

# Me and you

# Hah!

# Well, move, baby

# Brrr-rrrrr! Hah-hah!

# You know that I'm thinking about you, baby

# You know, you

# You better know for you're coming along

BOTH: # The boat that I row won't cross no ocean

# The boat that I row won't get me there soon

# But I got the love If you got the notion

# The boat that I row's big enough for two

# Me and you... Hah!

# The boat that I row won't cross no ocean

# The boat that I row won't get me there soon

# But I got the love If you got the notion

# The boat that I row's big enough for two

# Me and you. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Oh, yes.

So sweet, so inspirational.

-Thank you so much.

-Lulu!

-Neil Diamond!

-Lulu!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Wow!

Oh! Well, thank you.

Let's do it.

Beautiful song...

..called Midnight Train To Georgia.

# LA...

# Proved too much for the girl

# So she's leavin' the life she's come to know

# She's goin' back to find

# What's left in her world

# The world she left behind

# Not so long ago

# She's leaving

# On that midnight train to Georgia

# She's goin' back, she's goin' back

# To a simpler place and time

# And I'll be with her

# On that midnight train to Georgia

# I'd rather live in her world

# Than live without her in mine

# She kept dreamin'

# Someday she'd be a star

# But she sure found out the hard way

# Some dreams don't come true

# So she pawned all her hopes

# Even sold her car

# She bought a one way ticket back

# To the life that she once knew

# She's leavin'

# On the midnight train to Georgia

# She's goin' back, she's goin' back

# To a simpler place and time

# Yes, and I'll be with her

# On that midnight train to Georgia

# I'd rather live in her world

# Than live without her in mine

# Yes, and I'll be with her

# On that midnight train to Georgia

# I'd rather live in her world

# Than live without her in mine

# Oh, yes, I would

# Yes, I would. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Can I do one more you've never heard me do before, or should I...?

CHEERING OK.

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# It's not warm when she's away

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And she's always gone too long

# Any time she goes away

# Wonder this time where she's gone

# Wonder if she's gone to stay

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And this house just ain't no home

# Any time she goes away

# And I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know, I know, I know, yeah

# I gotta leave that girl alone

# Cos ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# Only darkness every day

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And this house just ain't no home

# Any time she goes away

# Wonder this time where she's gone

# Wonder if she's gone to stay

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And this house just ain't no home

# Any time she goes away

# And I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know, I know, I know, yeah

# I gotta leave the young girl alone

# Cos ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# It's not warm when she's away

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And this house just ain't no home

# Any time she goes away

# Any time she goes away

# Any time she goes away. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

INAUDIBLE

This one's in the album too,

but you've heard me sing it before, maybe not this way.

# I thought love was only true in fairy tales

# Meant for someone else

# But not for me

# Love was out to get me

# That's the way it seemed

# Disappointment haunted all of my dreams

# Then I saw her face

# Now I'm a believer

# Not a trace

# Of doubt in my mind

# I'm in love

# And I'm a believer

# I couldn't leave her

# If I tried

# No, not if I tried

# I thought love

# Was more or less

# A giving thing

# Seems the more I gave

# The less I got

# What's the use in trying?

# All you get is pain

# When I needed sunshine

# I got rain

# Then I saw her face

# Now I'm a believer

# Not a trace

# Of doubt in my mind

# I'm in love

# And I'm a believer

# I couldn't leave her

# If I tried

# No, not if I tried

# Love was out to get me

# That's the way it seemed

# Disappointment haunted

# All of my dreams

# Then I saw her face

# Now I'm a believer

# Not a trace

# Of doubt in my mind

# I'm in love

# And I'm a believer

# I couldn't leave her

# If I tried

# No, not if I tried

# Not if I tried, no

# Cos I'm a believer

# Yes, I'm a believer. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you, so much.

You know, we have

a beautiful and talented Scottish lass

waiting here.

Her name is Amy Macdonald...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

..and she sings like an angel.

And I'd like her to come out.

Amy, would you come out and bless us with a song?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That a girl.

Thank you so much.

Amy, I asked her to sing one of my songs

and she went from one to another - A little Bit Me, A Little Bit You -

and finally settled on Shilo.

CHEERING

So, would you please give her

a nice, warm listen. Thank you.

APPLAUSE

-SCOTTISH VOICE IN CROWD:

-Gaun' yerself!

# Young child with dreams

# Dream every dream on your own

# When children play

# Seems like you end up alone

# Papa says he'd love to be with you

# If he had the time

# So you turn to the only friend

# You can find

# There in your mind

# Shilo, when I was young

# I used to call your name

# When no one else would come

# Shilo, you always came

# And we'd play

# Young girl with fire

# Something said she understood

# I wanted to fly

# She made me feel like I could

# Held my hand out and let her take me

# Blind as a child

# All I saw was the way that she made me smile

# She made me smile

# Shilo, when I was young

# I used to call your name

# When no-one else would come

# Shilo, you always came

# And you'd stay

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Had a dream and it filled me with wonder

# She had other plans

# Got to go, she said I know you'll understand

# I understand

# Shilo, when I was young

# I used to call your name

# When no-one else would come

# Shilo, you always came. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you!

Thank you, Amy!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE CONTINUES

Ah, to be young...

and Scottish.

# Holly holy I

# Dream of only you

# Where I am

# What I am

# What I believe in

# Holly holy

# Holly holy dream

# Well, Holly, only you

# And she comes and I run

# Just like the wind will

# Holly holy

# Sing your song

# Sing your song of songs

# Sing it out

# Sing your song

# Yeah, yeah

# Yeah

# Yeah-ah

# Come on now, yeah-ah

# Call the sun in the dead of the night

# And the sun's gonna rise in the sky

# Touch a man who can't walk upright

# And that lame man, he's gonna fly

# And I fly

# And I fly

# Holly holy love

# Take a lonely child

# And the seed

# Let it be filled with tomorrow

# Holly holy

# Sing your song

# Sing your song of songs

# Sing it out

# Sing it strong

# Yeah, yeah, yeah

# Yeah-ah

# Come on, yeah-ah

# Call the sun In the dead of the night

# And the sun's gonna rise in the sky

# Touch a man who can't walk upright

# And that lame man, he's gonna fly

# And I fly

# And I fly

# Holly holy dream

# Dream of oh Only you

# Where I am

# What I am

# What I believe in

# Holly holy

# Holly holy

# Yeah! #

Oh, yes!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

VERY LOUD CHEERING

# Cracklin' Rosie, get on board

# We're gonna ride Till there ain't no more to go

# Taking it slow

# Lord, don't you know

# Had me a time with a poor man's lady

# Hitchin' on a twilight train

# Ain't nothing here that I care to take along

# Maybe a song

# To sing when I want

# Don't need to say please

# To no man for a happy tear

# Oh, I love my Rosie child

# You've got the way to make me happy

# You and me, we go in style

# Cracklin' Rose You're a store-bought woman

# Make me sing like a guitar hummin'

# Hang on to me, girl Our song keeps runnin' on, yeah

# Play it now, play it now Play it now, my baby

# Cracklin' Rosie, make me a smile

# God, if it lasts for an hour Well, that's all right

# We got all night

# To set this world right

# Find us a dream that don't ask no questions, yeah

# Oh, I love my Rosie child

# You got the way to make me happy

# You and me, we go in style

# Cracklin' Rose You're a store-bought woman

# Make me sing like a guitar hummin'

# So hang on to me, girl Our song keeps runnin' on, yeah

# Play it now, play it now Play it now, my lady

# Cracklin' Rosie, make me a smile

# God, if it lasts for an hour Well, that's all right

# We still got all night

# To set this world right

# Find us a dream that don't ask no questions, yeah. #

CHEERING

Thank you, so much!

Thank you, so much.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYS INTRO TO "I AM, I SAID"

CHEERING

# LA's fine The sun shines most the time. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

# And the feeling is laid back

# Palm trees grow and rents are low But you know

# I keep thinking about making my way back

# Well, I'm New York City born and raised

# But nowadays I'm lost between two shores

# LA's fine

# But it ain't home

# New York's home, but it ain't mine no more

# I am, I said

# To no-one there

# And no-one heard at all

# Not even the chair

# I am, I cried

# I am, said I

# And I am lost

# And I can't even say why

# Leaving me lonely still

# Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of being a king?

# And who became one

# Well, except for the names and a few other changes

# If you talk about me

# The story's the same one

# But I've got an emptiness deep inside and I've tried

# But it won't let me go

# And I'm not a man who likes to swear

# But I never cared for the sound of being alone

# I am, I said

# To no-one there

# And no-one heard at all Not even the chair

# I am, said I

# I am, I cried

# And I am lost And I can't even say why

# Leaving me lonely still

# Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of being a king?

# Oh, no

# LA is fine The sun shines most of the time

# Oh, no

# Oh, no, no, no

# Oh, no. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

We're going to need you for this one.

Take a deep breath. Let's try it together.

# Where it began

# I can't begin to knowin'

# But then I know That it's growing strong

# Was in the spring

-CROWD:

-# Oh-oh-oh-oh

# Spring became the summer

# Who'd have believed You'd all come along?

# Hands

# Touching hands

# Reaching out

# Touching me

# Touching you

-# Sweet Caroline

-Oh-oh-oh

# Good times never seemed so good

-# I've been inclined

-Oh-oh-oh

# To believe they never would

# But now I

-# I look at the night

-Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

# And it don't seem so lonely

# We fill it up with only two

-# But when I hurt

-Oh-oh-oh-oh

# Hurtin' runs off my shoulders

# How can I hurt when I'm here with you? #

Impossible!

# Warm

# Touching warm

# Reaching out

# Touching me

# Touching you

-# Sweet Caroline

-Oh-oh-oh

# Good times never seemed so good

# So good, so good, so good

-# I've been inclined

-Oh-oh-oh

# To believe they never would

# Here we go, one more

-# Sweet Caroline

-Oh-oh-oh

# Good times never seemed so good

# So good, so good, so good

-# I've been inclined

-Oh-oh-oh

# To believe they never would

# Sweet Caroline. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING