About the song
A Tribute to the Power of Music: The Timeless Message in Barry Manilow – I Write the Songs
Few songs celebrate the magic of music itself quite like Barry Manilow – I Write the Songs. Released in 1975, this track quickly became one of Manilow’s signature hits, earning him a Grammy Award and cementing his place in the pantheon of artists whose work speaks directly to the heart. And despite the title, it’s worth noting that the song was actually written by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys. But it was Barry Manilow who brought it to life—who gave it voice, emotion, and a sense of grandeur that continues to resonate decades later.
What makes this song truly special isn’t just its soaring melody or lush arrangement, though both are undeniably powerful. It’s the message: an ode to music as a force greater than any one individual. The lyrics present music as a universal spirit—timeless, eternal, flowing through all of us. In this context, the phrase “I write the songs” isn’t a boast, but a poetic metaphor for music’s divine ability to inspire, comfort, and connect.
Barry Manilow – I Write the Songs begins with a gentle piano introduction that gradually builds, mirroring the song’s rising emotional current. Manilow’s voice, clear and controlled, navigates the verses with reverence, almost as if he’s offering a quiet prayer to the art form he loves so deeply. And by the time the chorus swells—“I write the songs that make the whole world sing…”—it’s hard not to be swept away by the sheer sincerity and scale of it all.
This track is particularly meaningful for listeners who view music not just as entertainment, but as a profound part of life’s journey. For many older audiences, it evokes memories of moments when a song changed everything—when music helped articulate a feeling too big for words alone.
In Barry Manilow – I Write the Songs, we find a celebration of music’s power to endure, to uplift, and to speak for generations. It’s a reminder that behind every melody is something eternal—something that connects us all.