About the song
Title: Finding Courage in the Heart’s Return — Barry Manilow’s “Ready to Take a Chance Again”
There’s a rare sincerity in Barry Manilow’s – Ready to Take a Chance Again that speaks to anyone who has ever been hurt, healed, and dared to open their heart once more. Written for the 1978 film Foul Play, the song stands as one of Manilow’s most poignant and inspiring works — a gentle anthem of emotional renewal. It’s not a grand declaration of love, but a quiet moment of truth, the kind that comes when the heart whispers, “Maybe it’s time to believe again.”
What makes this song so powerful is its emotional authenticity. Barry Manilow, known for his ability to blend vulnerability with grace, delivers a performance that feels deeply personal. His voice moves through the melody with a soft steadiness — reflective, cautious, and filled with warmth. There’s no rush in his phrasing; he lets every word breathe, giving listeners time to feel the cautious optimism that defines the song’s message. This is a man who understands loss, yet chooses hope over hesitation.
Musically, “Ready to Take a Chance Again” is a masterclass in understatement. The arrangement begins with gentle piano and strings, slowly building to a sweeping orchestral embrace that mirrors the emotional awakening of its lyrics. The melody flows effortlessly, both melancholic and reassuring, like sunlight breaking through clouds after a long storm. Every instrument seems to echo the song’s sentiment — that courage doesn’t come from certainty, but from the willingness to try once more.
Lyrically, it’s about rediscovery. It captures the moment when fear gives way to faith, when someone realizes that love, despite its risks, remains one of life’s most meaningful pursuits. Yet Manilow’s delivery never turns sentimental. Instead, he approaches it with quiet dignity, as if sharing a hard-earned wisdom with those who’ve walked the same road.
Decades later, Barry Manilow – Ready to Take a Chance Again still resonates deeply because it reminds us that the heart, no matter how bruised, was made to keep hoping. It’s a song about resilience — about how the human spirit continues to rise, to reach out, to love again. In a world that often feels uncertain, Manilow’s gentle assurance feels timeless: sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to simply be ready — ready to take a chance again.