In a rare and deeply personal interview, Neil Diamond opened up about a wound he says may never fully heal — the broken relationship with his older brother Harvey, who passed away before the two could reconcile.
Growing up in Brooklyn, the Diamond brothers were once inseparable. Harvey, older by a few years, was not just a sibling — he was Neil’s first audience, first critic, and his closest friend. But as fame found Neil and life took its turns, a rift developed. Misunderstandings grew. Words were left unsaid.
“There were birthdays I didn’t call, times I should’ve been there and wasn’t,” Neil confessed. “He was proud of me — I know that. But I wish I had told him I was proud of him too.”
Harvey passed away in the early 2000s, and Neil was on tour when he received the news. He sang that night, as always — but something had changed. “I sang for him. I still do,” Neil said, his voice cracking.
The pain of unfinished conversations and unsaid apologies has haunted Neil for decades. It even inspired parts of his later songwriting, filled with themes of longing, redemption, and reflection.
For fans, the story offers a poignant reminder: even legends carry regrets. And even in the brightest spotlight, family remains the most complex and vulnerable bond.
If you’re thinking that my life Is a hoot and a holler From the start of the day To the dark of the night And that it’s ringin’ like a bell That you only want to follow Gotta trust me when I say I’m just trying to get it right
Still I think about myself As a lucky old dreamer And if you’re askin’ me to tell Is it worth what I paid You gonna hear me say
Hell yeah, it is And I say it loud I loved it all And I’m not too proud I freed my soul just let it fly Hell yeah, this crazy life around me It confuses and confounds me But it’s all the life I’ve got until I die Hell yeah, it is
If you’re asking for my time Isn’t much left to give you Been around a good long while So I gotta say it fast Time is all we’ll ever need But it’s gotta have a meaning You be careful how it’s spent ‘Cause it isn’t going to last
I hear you wondering out loud Are you ever gonna make it? Will you ever work it out? Will you ever take a chance And just believe you can?
Hell yeah, you will You’re gonna be okay And you might get lost But then you’ll find a way Don’t go alone Can’t be afraid Hell yeah, this life is here and it’s made for livin’ And love’s a gift that’s made for givin’ You give it all away and have it still And hell yeah, you will
I’ve been living in a bowl With a lot of people staring With my feet on shaky ground And my head up in the sky But it’s where I want to be It’s a life that’s made for caring Got a song to pass the day And a girl to share the night
So if they ask you when I’m gone Was it everything he wanted? When he had to travel on Did he know he’d be missed? You can tell them this
Hell yeah, he did! He saw it all He walked the line Never had to crawl He cried a bit But not for long Hell yeah, he found the life that he was after Filled it up with love and laughter Finally got it right and made it fit Hell yeah, he did! Hell yeah, he did! Hell yeah, he did!
