Shilo

Neil Diamond

Young child with dreams
Dream, ev'ry dream on your own
When children play
Seems like you end up alone

Papa says he'd love to be with you
If he had the time
So you turn to the only friend you can find
There in your mind

Shilo, when I was young
I used to call your name
When no one else would come
Shilo, you always came
And we'd play

Young girl with fire
Something said she understood
I wanted to fly
She made me feel like I could

Held my hand out, I let her take me
Blind as a child
All I saw was the way that she made me smile
She made me smile

Shilo, when I was young
I used to call your name
When no one else would come
Shilo, you always came
But you'd stay

Had a dream, and it filled me with wonder
She had other plans
"Got to go," says, "you know that I understand"
I understand

Shilo, when I was young
I used to call your name
When no one else would come
Shilo, you always came
Come today

Had a dream, and it filled me with wonder
She had other plans
"Got to go," says, "you know that I understand"
I understand

Shilo, when I was young
I used to call your name
When no one else would come
Shilo, you always came
Come today


"Shilo" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond.
It was originally recorded in 1967 for Bang Records, but Diamond and Bang founder Bert Berns disagreed over Diamond's career path.[1] The singer wanted to move away from his early teen-oriented pop type of recordings that Berns favored, which led to Berns' refusal to release the more introspective "Shilo" as a single,[2] even though Diamond felt it was part of his development as an artist. "Shilo" was instead relegated to an album track on 1967's Just for You.[2] Shortly after what was said to be a "tense" confrontation with Berns, Diamond departed Bang for Uni Records in 1968.
Diamond went into a commercial slump, without hits. But by January 1970, his career had rebounded with "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy" on Uni/MCA Records. Bang Records finally released "Shilo" as a single, albeit with a new backing track recorded to make it sound fresher and more like Diamond's current style.[2] This reached number 24 on the U.S. pop singles chart in spring 1970,[3] inspiring Bang to release a new Neil Diamond compilation album that year titled Shilo.
Following this, Diamond reissued his 1968 debut album with Uni, Velvet Gloves and Spit, in October 1970, to incorporate a completely new recording of "Shilo".[2]
In any case, "Shilo" was not about the American Civil War Battle of Shiloh or the Israeli town Shilo, but was about a childhood imaginary friend:[1]
Shilo, when I was young —
I used to call your name
When no one else would come,
Shilo, you always came
And we'd play ...
The song was Diamond's most autobiographical to date, making reference to his lonely childhood amongst turmoil.[1] Diamond's emotional investment in the song contributed to his and Berns's coming into intense conflict.[1] Decades later, Rolling Stone would compare the song's stance to the emo style.[4]
Though not one of Diamond's biggest hits, "Shilo" has become one of his best-known songs, and is a staple of his concert appearances. It was included on the Diamond's 1972 Hot August Night live album as well as all almost all of his compilation albums.