Barbra Streisand - I Won't Last A Day Without You Lyrics

Butchered.

karen's reading is understated yet very touching and quite effective

it's Karens all the way.....

Karen sings it better...the honesty in Karen's voice is what is lacking in Barbra...raw honesty and melancholy...

This is why the world needs Barbra Streisand.

💚🕊️🌿💞💞💞♥️💎🌻

Incredible.. Barbra, you still rock with your natural instrument. And a beautiful melodious song !

Beautifully sung, this sounds so "Evergreen." Absolutely brilliant in her own style! 😍😍😍😍😍

Both Barbara streisand and Karen carpenter did a great job with this song. Both of these women were and are in different ways exceptional singer's. You'd have to be a idiot not to see that.

When Barbra sings...any song, it's more about her, not the song.

I used to like her, then she developed TDS.

This is an embellished version of the song and I like it, but I love Karen's rendition more

Barbra Streisand est une étoile qui ne s'éteindra jamais !

jack jones version is the best i've heard.

Ugh. This is awful. With her own songs why would she sing this one???? This IS Karen’s.

I've loved Barbra ever since I was a child living in the inner city projects in the 70's. She brought something beautiful to my gray, ugly, miserable life back then.

You are the best Barbra!!! Love you!!

That lady isn't of this world with that voice, what a beautiful song.

Essa é a maior e melhor,cantora do mundo.

Her's voice is of a woman not a girl's voice in his rendition; an actress who sings!

That woman can sing she hits the high notes very well. I'm the one who can't sing.

Listening to her older albums, I found this song. Glad I did! Its from her '74 album "Butterfly." I love this song so much! I think one of her best songs ever! I also listened to Karen Carpenter's version, and this version blows that version away! Barbra Streisand was so amazing, with her unbelievable, truly gifted voice!
REPLY

I'm so glad I found this sing by you, Barbra. I love it. Your version is the best by far!

Perfection, simply put ... thank you so much for this!!

Obrigado pela difusão desta grande cançonetista Barbra Streisand no seu melhor.Felicidades para ti minha querida amiga.

divine....lush..impeccable singing.

Actually Diana Ross did a pretty decent cover of this also.
I like the lush arrangement on Barbra's version though.

I totally agree. I grew up with Diana's more trippy, floating, soulful version, and always loved it, but I like Bab's full, rich orchestrated version as much. Both versions work because the arrangement suits the vocals.

Michael Warren Yes, perfect description. The “lush” arrangement is what gets me every time with this song.

This is as good as life gets

Damn! Incredible.

I wonder what one of Barbra's DUETS with Karen Carpenter would be like...

how well i remember herman's hermits doing a version of this classic which was written by jack bruce and dave clark

Sweet! Thank you.

this is heaven...Barbra at her best

Absolutely Beautiful!

She's the best singer in the world! I love Barbara!

timeless....great barbra streisand

I love you

Barbra Streisand certainly has a fine instrument, but I never liked her nasal-y sounding voice.

All verklempt!!!

Speak amongst yourselves.

barbra Streisand de magnifiques chansons, bravo!

It's Barbra. Not Barbara.

damn, she's in karen's league. and i say that as a straight man.

Number 2 behind Karen....her voice was clearer and she didn't cry...

I have the album where this version is from titled "ButterFly". I have heard versions by The Carpenters, Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross, Paul Williams and Maureen McGovern, etc. What a great song by Babs and any songs she does she puts her own spin on musically speaking. She is talented and not anyone can take that away from her at all. She is a timeless legend!!!

Williams wrote it btw. So I guess it's like really his song.

As good as Karen's version.

Survey sez . . . no.

@jawtek82 Barbara has a different voice entirely. Both very good versions.

+superstubes - Lessee . . . Streisand's version: about 320 thousand views. Karen Carpenter's version: about 1.4 million views. Like I said, survey sez . . . no.

@jawtek82 It's called an opinion.

I loved the Butterfly album. Her and Jon. They were crazy about each other.

didnt karen carpenter do this?

Bread I think. But the Carpenters may have recorded it too. In fact I am sure they did.

Yes the Carpenters had a hit with it ... Babs then did (better of course). It's on her Butterfly album.

A Paul Williams /Roger Nichols song actually, covered by the Carpenters, yes. Paul Williams  did his own version, which is my personal favourite, as it is obviously the most personal. Mind you Karen and Barbara's versions are lovely too in a different way. Hope that is helpful.

maravillosa voz !!!!!

can't no one else make me smile than the wonder of your voice

Not even Karen?

Obviously I prefer Barbra singing "Guilty", but this version is well orchestrated and she did a good job here.

Obviously. I'm glad you think she did a good job although you prefer Guilty. "" Wow, like I didn't know that. Thanks...

Hun er selvfølgelig et ganske almindeligt menneske, men hun gør ved sit væsen og sit udseende
tingene ganske anderledes, hun skaber glæde og lys bare ved sin fremtoning, hun er fantastisk.

The orchestration is incredible!!! And the voice...it is impossible to sing better.

Et menneske, der bare ved sin til stedeværelse gjorde verden lige pludselig et fantastisk meget bedre sted at være
hun er så fantastisk og dog så ydmyg og menneskelig, hun er pragtfuld.

Perfect and clear.

One of her best!

Day after day, I must face a world of strangers
Where I don't belong, I'm not that strong
It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to
Who will always care, you're always there

When there's no gettin' over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

So many times when the city seems to be
Without a friendly face, a lonely place
It's nice to know that you'll be there if I need you
And you'll always smile, it's all worthwhile

When there's no gettin' over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

Touch me and I end up singing
Trouble seems to up and disappear
You touch me with the love you're bringing
I can't really lose when you're near
When you're near, my love

If all my friends have forgotten half their promises they're not unkind, just
Hard to find
One look at you and I know
That I must learn to live without the rest
I've found the best

When there's no gettin' over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

When there's no gettin' over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
Songwriters: WILLIAMS, PAUL H. / NICHOLS, ROGER S.

I've found the Best

I love both versions. Karen's and Barbara's are forever in my eyes.

Beautiful Barbra

An incomparably superior version than the -Have-a-Nice-Day Carpenters' version.  Streisand is the far greater vocalist and, frankly, invokes far more emotion than the otherwise talented KC.

+Garyb2297 - "Just my opinion" huh? Then why do your comments repeatedly label other "opinions" as "right" or "wrong." Opinions are opinions - they can't be "right" or "wrong." Jagoff.

@jawtek82 Whatever you say, Jerk off.   

Many years ago someone said that the singers of the day were not comparable to Garland, Ella Fitzgerald and Sinatra. BUT, with the mention of KC + Streisand he agreed they were in the same class. Just an opinion.

Clearly. Barbra stays true to Williams' intent. Listen to his recording of the song. No slight on the Carpenters, they were musical gold for a decade, and their version will always be "the" hit version... but I don't even think Streisand released this as a single, so lets keep things in perspective...in the same year (1974) she released a little song and movie called "The Way We Were" which basically eclipses the ENTIRE body of Carpenters work. You like the Carpenters version of this track better? fine. Don't compare Carpenter to Streisand though. NOT.EVEN.CLOSE. And Karen would be the first person to agree.

@Garyb3397 Actually, YOU are the obnoxious here.

Amazing version of the song because its sung by an amazing performer. We all read how difficult and obnoxious she allegedly is but there's no 1 who can put over a song or give a performance on stage or in film better than Barbra!

Beautiful rendition.Barbra in great voice

Truly in great voice!

Beautiful beautiful

yo tony you must be one of the new generation dumbs who dont appreciate good performance, I betcha you like to be freaky listen to her voice between Barbie and Celine Dion my nights are so pleasants; ignorant freak

she always gonna be the woman of my life; I love you Barbie

Streisand - Dom Perignon
Carpenter - Dr Pepper

Streisand - Filet Mignon
Carpenter - Chicken Nuggets

Fact

Beautiful song and two beautifuland talented women.Karen Carpenter being called "chubby" in a newspaper article,started her eating disorder,shame on the nasty comment.

pastre999

Babs vocals: A Fresh Crème Brulee , sensuous and sweet

Karen's vocals : A Starchy Vichyssoise , heavy and monotonous


Babs - The Mercedes Benz S - Class AMG

Carpenters- A 72 VW Bug

Babs- Enduring Inspiration and Joy (life's candy and the sun's a ball of butta)


Carpenters- A Kinda Self Indulgent Melancholy (too busy saying goodbye to love to find it)

stupid comment

Blasphemy.

Too smart by half. Karen is unmatched in vocals and Babs would agree with me on that. Though Babs does own this song.

very good version, still like the Carpenters one the best, but this is a nice arrangement, and Barbra's voice is good as ever.

thanks for this beautiful tribute. One of my favorite (if not THE) Babs tune in over 40 years of "fandom" lol Thank you, it revealed a new meaning to me today ;) god bless

I love both Karen and Barbra.  Barbra sings this song like a mature woman with feeling behind it.  While Karen sings it like a teenager, "bobby socks-er", bubble gum chewing type if you know what I mean.  Just look at Karens picture.  It says everything on how she going to sing it.  Karen is still wonderful, but no Streisand, that's for sure.  But these ladies are both great singers, why does one have to be better than the other.  If someone listened to each version not knowing either one of them.  They'd swear they just heard two different songs.

don't we all wish we could all sing like Barb ,or Karen

@Larry Finney and to write beautiful and heartfelt songs like Paul Williams.

I sing real good when I'm asleep and dreaming! 😁

Why all the comparisons with Karen Carpenter’s version?  Try and open your minds folks.  Barbra did her own take on the song and has actually made it her own with this lovely arrangement and glorious vocals.  It is a sublime recording – 40 years old now - and is like therapy for the senses.  I love it. Bravo Barbra!

+singerchevannes More to the point:  The Carpenters' version is an upbeat, AM-radio, day-at-the-beach-record.  Streisand's superior vocal and emotion make the song sound like more than it really is.  Get over it, KC nuts.

singerchevannes - Beautiful version of Barbra Streisand. She's a legend.

The consensus amongst Carpenter fans you mean.

The carpenters are elevator music. Bette Midler said she recorded Superstar in spite of Karen Carpenters monotone version!

A very nice rendition of this song.  I never knew Barbra sang this song.  I won't compare this to the Carpenters version.  Both Karen and Barbra were/are uniquely gifted singers.  

Barbra Streisand una de las mujeres más bellas y con la voz más hermosa que puede tener un ser humano tan bella como un ángel .

barb does everything her way,gives it her style,her unique flair.

nooooooo thanks.....babs  this version!  sucks

Barbara Streisand has a superb voice, but I find her version "too contrived" and "forced" compared to Karen Carpenter's version.  No one beats Karen's ease of transition from high to low notes, or her rich low "mature" sound.  There is something very beautiful in Karen's version---the simplicity, and hence the artistic elegance.  Barbara's version is so "made-up" and overdone in the instrumental department.  There is too much going on here.   In comparison, the melody in the Carpenters' version is much more touching and sad, yet very pleasant and profound at the same time.  Karen Carpenter delivers the song simply and without a lot of "tricks".

My favourite version of this song is still Bobby Darin's, but this is a great one from Barbara.

This version is SO Barbra, who I love, but The Carpenters version is the best one out there. Paul and Roger wrote it for them in mind, so it's really tailored to their style; Richard's arrangement, Karen's voice, and their backing vocals all work together flawlessly, plus it moves along better. Barbra's version drags a bit...

Yup, you nailed that one. No one sang sad and emotion like Karen Carpenter. Effortless, fluid, gliding changes in her uber pleasant tone.

@Leandro Ciccone euh...no..i won't...at all

I think your like is just a preference of voice. I have always found Barbra Streisand to be the best actress of a song and she certainly can go from high to low notes easily. I think Karen's version was too upbeat for the sad part. Just my opinion however. I do think Karen Carpenter was a great singer however. She had an incredible voice.

Simply stunning vocal....never ceases to amaze me

Of course the Carpenter's version remains the most popular, but as usual Barbra 'borrows' a song, adds a little something special to it and it then becomes the definitive version (at least for me).  Case in point:  At 2:15 when she sings "oooh touch me ... and I end up singing".  Babs ALWAYS conveys emotion in everything she sings.  Karen .... not so much; rather one note in everything she sings.  But then again, it's not really a fair competition because Streisand is " ... an ACTRESS ... who sings."  

she started out singing before she went to acting

You don't say!  

@Micah Kazlinowski
yup

+Micah Kazlinowski A singer...and probably the best ever, who got into a little acting on the side.

I was going through a really rough break-up in 1986 when a friend played this for me. What a gift!  I just heard all the desolation inside me put to music, this song articulated so much of the isolation, hurt, despair, and brittleness I was feeling that it helped bring me out the fog I was walking around in. Knowing that someone else could also feel this way made me feel less vulnerable and lonely. So good to listen to it again .......

I love this song! This came from her Butterfly album. The album was an odd mix of songs but if you love Streisand you will like it anyways. This was for me the only standout song.

Streisand is the only one outside of the Carpenters who should be allowed to sing this song, unless they could resurrect Judy Garland to sing it.  All three are perfect to sing this song, one of my favorite from Richard and Karen's catalog.

Karen Carpenter has the most effortless singing of them all. Barbra does justice to
this, and anything she does. Diana Ross' version is the best, imo.

Barbra and Karen have more talent in their ear wax than Diana Ross has. 

Barbra is Barbra.

I always wonder why some people make competitions about everything.. Barbra v. Karen v. Ms Ross... all their versions are great in their own way enjoy them all!

Babs does this song way justice.  Sorry Karen and Diana but the chick from Brooklyn owns this one. 

.Bardzo piękna praca, z przyjemnością obejrzałem. Dziękuję i pozdrawiam cieplutko.

Love it.

The one and only

This is the most beautiful song that Barbara Streisand has ever sung. Barbara is "singing" the song, not belting it out to the last seat in the back row. I wish she would sing more songs like this. I wonder what she would sound like doing some "European" art song stuff that jazz singers like Stacey Kent and Susan Abuehl do.

LOL ... even uttering the name Helen freaking Ready in the same sentence as Barbra Streisand is laughable. Streisand takes this simple little song and completely gives it life and uses great restraint while doing it.

it is Babs style and it is great , she has a voice. Karen was awesome , change in style . Both great singers. They both sing this song and I'm in tears.

Diana did a beautiful cover of this as well

Karen Carpenter just sings the song; Streisand puts feeling into it.

Not for this song. Babs gives it that degree of biatch that it needs.

God, the Helen Reddy compassion is so bang on.

Can somebody please tell me who was that Helen Reddy and why does remark of her sound rude to you?
And I have to say smth about Carpenters too. Their way to stardom wasn't so easy as you think, because if you remember well, back in that days (end of 60's) the style that ruled was ROCK and psychodelic and not POP. No recording companies wanted to deal with duo, since their sound was considered "too soft".Only after Herp Albert gave them a chance they became a stars.

Sorry, but I've found your words about KC a bit too harsh for me.. I absolutely love Barbra and admire Judy Garland, but Karen is in their league too. She always sang in perfect pitch, an her singing was always on key. She could record a song from one take. She indeed is one of the best singers in American music history. Just as Barbra and Judy. There were almost no bad or even average singers at that time.

Brilliant comment! Agree 100%. There is no any competition here. Both singers are inimitable.

I cannot find Diana's version here. I'm very curious to listen. Can you upload this?

Diana Ross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLFteN-A-s

I can never understand how things are made in a competition all the time.. I can enjoy both versions and enjoy the artistry of each... I have a friend who finds Karen Carpenter's voice off putting... I think she was magnificent as is Ms. Streisand.

Now, that's the Barbra Streisand making music here whom I love and adore! I tingle all all over when I listen to her when she sings like this. Barbra - I love you!
John-Niles of California