Putting It Together Lyrics

The song Putting It Together is performed by Barbra Streisand in the album named Just for the Record... in the year 2003 .



Look, I, I've spent a lot of time working on this
Look, no one's gonna buy it, no one
Nobody in middle America, anyway that's for sure
He's right
Sweetheart, it's just not commercial
What is commercial?
It's not what's selling nowadays
I mean personally, I love it, but

Be nice, girl
(Nobody's into this kind of material)
You have to pay a price, girl
(This album needs a hit single we can push)
They like to give advice, girl
(The whole idea's too risky)
Don't think about it twice, girl
(The audience won't understand this kind of thing)
It's time to get to work

(I disagree! Why don't you wait until you hear it?)
(This is like your old stuff)
Art isn't easy
(You've got to appeal to the kids)
Even when you're hot
(Why would you want to make an album like this anyway?)
Advancing art is easy
(I think we ought to talk seriously about this)
Financing it is not
(Why take chances?)

A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head
(Nobody respects your artistic integrity more than I do, but)
If no one gets to hear it, it's as good as dead
(You have to think about you career)
It has to come to life

Bit by bit, putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution
Every little detail plays a parts
Having just a vision's no solution
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that's what counts

Ounce by ounce, putting in together
Small amounts, adding up to make a work of art
First of all you need a good foundation
Otherwise it's risky from the start
Takes a little cocktail conversation
But without the proper preparation
Having just a vision's no solution
Everything depends on execution

The art of making art
Is putting it together, bit by bit
(Do we really need all these musicians?)
Link by link, making the connections, yes we do
Drink by drink, taking every comment as it comes
Learning how to play the politician
Like you play piano, ba*s and drums
Otherwise you'll find your composition
Isn't gonna get much exhibition

Art isn't easy
Every minor detail is a major decision
Have to keep things in scale
Have to hold to your vision
(Why don't we talk about this over dinner, darling?)
What's a little cocktail conversation
If it gets the funds for your foundation
Every time I start to feel defensive
I remember vinyl is expensive
(Would you agree to do an interview?)

Maybe one
Dot by dot, building up the image
Shot by shot, keeping at a distance doesn't pay
Still if you remember your objective
Not give all your privacy away
A little bit of hype can be effective
As long as you can keep it in perspective
Even when you get some recognition
Everything you do you still audition

Art isn't easy
Overnight you're a trend
You're the right combination
Then the trend's at an end
You're suddenly last year's sensation

All they ever want is repetition
All they really like is what they know
Gotta keep a link with your tradition
Gotta learn to trust your intuition
While you re-establish your position
So that you can be on exhibit
So that your work can be on exhibition

Be new, girl
They tell you till they're blue, girl
You're new, or else you're through, girl
And even if it's true, girl
You do what you can do

Bit by bit, putting it together
Piece by piece, working on the vision night and day
All it takes is time and perseverance
With a little luck along the way
Putting in a personal appearance
Gathering supporters and adherents
(Well, she's an original)
(Was)

Mapping out the songs but in addition
Harmonizing each negotiation
Balancing the part that's all musicians
With the part that's strictly presentation
Balancing the money with the mission
Till you have the perfect orchestration
Even if you do have the suspicion
That it's taking all your concentration
The art of making art

Is putting it together, bit by bit
Beat by beat, part by part
Sheet by sheet, chart by chart
Track by track, bit by bit

Reel by reel, pout by pout
Stack by stack, snit by snit
Meal by meal, shout by shout
Deal by deal, spat by spat
Spiel by spiel, doubt by doubt
And that is the state of the art



Barbra Streisand - Just for the Record...

Jul 2003

  1. You'll Never Know (1955)
  2. A Sleepin' Bee
  3. P. M. East - Moon River
  4. I Can Get It For You Wholesale - Miss Marmelstein
  5. The Garry Moore Show - Happy Days Are Here Again
  6. Bon Soir - Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
  7. I Hate Music
  8. Nobody's Heart (Belongs To Me)
  9. Value
  10. Cry Me A River
  11. Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?
  12. (I Had Myself A) True Love
  13. Lover, Come Back To Me
  14. The Tonight Show - Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
  15. The Barbra Streisand Album - My Honey's Lovin' Arms
  16. The Second Barbra Streisand Album - Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home
  17. The Ed Sullivan Show - When The Sun Comes Out
  18. Be My Guest & The Judy Garland Theme/Dialogue with Judy Garland and Ethel Merman
  19. Medley #1 (with Judy Garland)
  20. Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again (Duet with Judy Garland)
  21. Funny Girl - Broadway - I'm The Greatest Star
  22. My Man/Auld Lang Syne
  23. People
  24. Family Recording/My Name Is Barbra
  25. 1965 Emmy Awards
  26. My Name Is Barbra, Two - He Touched Me
  27. You Wanna Bet
  28. Harold Sings Arlen (With Friend) - House Of Flowers
  29. Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead (Duet with Harold Arlen)
  30. Color Me Barbra
  31. Starting Here, Starting Now
  32. Belle Of 14th Street
  33. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
  34. Sleep In Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)
  35. Don't Rain On My Parade
  36. Funny Girl
  37. 1969 Academy Awards
  38. Friar's Club Tribute Harold Arlen
  39. Jule Styne
  40. Don Rickles
  41. Richard Rodgers
  42. Hello, Dolly (With Louis Armstrong)
  43. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
  44. When You Gotta Go/In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning/Happy Days
  45. The Singer
  46. I Can Do It
  47. Stoney End
  48. (They Long To Be) Close To You
  49. We've Only Just Begun
  50. Since I Fell For You
  51. You're The Top (With Ryan O'Neal)
  52. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (Duet with Michel Legrand (demo)/album version)
  53. If I Close My Eyes
  54. Between Yesterday And Tomorrow
  55. Can You Tell The Moment?
  56. The Way We Were (Soundtrack Version)
  57. Cryin' Time (Duet with Ray Charles)
  58. God Bless The Child
  59. A Quiet Thing/There Won't Be Trumpets
  60. Lost Inside Of You
  61. Evergreen (Demo/Soundtrack Version)
  62. 1977 Academy Awards
  63. The Stars Salute Israel At 30 (With Golda Meir) - Hatikvah
  64. You Don't Bring Me Flowers (with Neil Diamond 1980 Grammy Awards
  65. Aclu Tribute To Alan & Marilyn Bergman
  66. Guilty
  67. Yentl - Papa, Can You Hear Me? (demo)
  68. The Moon And I (demo)
  69. A Piece Of Sky (Demo/Soundtrack Version)
  70. I Know Him So Well (Session Outake)
  71. The Broadway Album - If I Loved You
  72. Putting It Together
  73. One Voice - Over The Rainbow
  74. Theme From Nuts (End Credits) (End Credits)
  75. Here We Are At Last
  76. Warm All Over
  77. You'll Never Know (duet)

Putting It Together