Bette Midler

Released: January 8, 1976

Songwriter: Fred Burch Gerald Nelson

Producer: Mark “Moogy” Klingman

Wind storm, comes the sound
From the stars my dark has come
You've gone from me
Whoa, tragedy
Mmm, tragedy

Whoa, come back. Help me here
Call me my love, love. Be sincere
You've gone, you've gone
You've gone from me
Whoa, tragedy
Whoa, tragedy

Like smoke from a fire of love, love, love
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Our dreams have all gone
A fire. Ooo-oo-oo-ooh

Blown by wind, kissed by snow
All that's left is the dark
We know you've gone from me
Whoa-oo-oo-oo-o-o-hy?
Tragedy
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

Songs for the New Depression

From the album

Songs for the New Depression (1976)

Bette Midler popular songs

TragedyBette Midler

Bette Midler

Songs for the New Depression