You’ve heard it at weddings. You’ve definitely heard it in grocery stores or while stuck on hold with the bank. It’s that soaring, slightly melancholic but ultimately hopeful melody that defines a specific era of 1970s romance. But when people ask who wrote the song evergreen, they usually aren't looking for a single name. Music is rarely that simple. Especially when Hollywood royalty is involved.
Most people immediately point to Barbra Streisand. They aren't wrong, but they aren't entirely right either. While Barbra is the voice that made the song a global phenomenon, the heavy lifting of the lyricism and the structural Polish came from a man named Paul Williams. If you don't know Paul, you should. He’s the guy behind "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "The Rainbow Connection." He’s a songwriting giant who somehow fits a massive amount of emotion into a very small frame.
It wasn't just a professional assignment. It was a collaboration born out of the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.
The Piano in the Living Room: How the Melody Started
Basically, Barbra Streisand had been tinkering with a melody. This is the part of the story people often miss. She wasn't just the "performer" who showed up to sing what was written for her. She was the composer. Streisand had this specific tune stuck in her head while she was living in her Malibu home. She’d play it on the piano, over and over, trying to find the right shape for it.
Honestly, it’s kind of rare for a superstar of her caliber to get their hands dirty in the actual composition of a film's theme. Usually, you hire a big-name composer like Marvin Hamlisch or Burt Bacharach and call it a day. But Barbra had a vision. She knew the character of Esther Hoffman needed a song that felt organic. She played the tune for Paul Williams, who was already on board to work on the film’s soundtrack.
Paul describes the moment vividly in various interviews. He tells the story of sitting with her while she played this "simple, beautiful little melody" on the guitar—or sometimes the piano, depending on which archive interview you're digging through. He realized immediately that she had the "hook" of the century. But he had to find the words that matched that specific, breathy vulnerability she brings to her lower register.
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The Paul Williams Touch
Paul Williams is a master of the "sad-happy" song. He’s the guy who can make you feel lonely and comforted at the exact same time. When he sat down to figure out who wrote the song evergreen in terms of its poetic soul, he looked at the relationship between the characters in the movie. It wasn't just a love song; it was a song about a love that stays fresh, even when everything else is falling apart.
He came up with the "Love, soft as an easy chair" line. Some critics at the time thought it was a bit cheesy. You know what? It didn't matter. The public ate it up. That opening line is one of the most recognizable lyrics in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. It sets a mood. It’s domestic. It’s safe. It’s exactly what a 1976 audience wanted after the chaos of the early 70s.
The Oscar Win and the Controversy
When the 49th Academy Awards rolled around in 1977, "Evergreen" was the favorite. It won Best Original Song, making Barbra Streisand the first woman to win an Oscar for composing music. That’s a massive deal. It broke a glass ceiling that had been reinforced with steel for decades.
But, as with anything in Hollywood, there were whispers. Some people in the industry found it hard to believe that a "diva" could actually write a melody that good. There were rumors that maybe Paul Williams did more than he was credited for, or that a ghostwriter was involved. This is a common trope when women in the arts achieve something technical. It’s nonsense, of course. Williams has always been the first to defend Streisand's contribution, stating clearly that the melody—the DNA of the song—was hers.
- Barbra Streisand: Composed the music.
- Paul Williams: Wrote the lyrics.
- Phil Ramone: Produced the track (along with Streisand).
This trio created a perfect storm. Phil Ramone's production is worth mentioning because he kept it sparse. He didn't over-orchestrate it at first. He let the voice lead. That’s why the song still works today. It’s not buried under a mountain of 70s disco synthesizers.
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Why the Song "Evergreen" Still Matters in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss old ballads as "dad rock" or "grandma music." But look at the charts today. Artists like Adele or Olivia Rodrigo are essentially doing what Streisand did—stripping back the noise to focus on a raw, melodic core. When you look at who wrote the song evergreen, you're looking at a blueprint for the modern power ballad.
The song spent three weeks at number one. It sold millions of copies. It’s been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Luther Vandross. Why? Because the structure is mathematically perfect. The way the bridge builds into that final, soaring chorus is a masterclass in tension and release.
Streisand’s performance on the track is also a lesson in restraint. If you listen to the original recording from the A Star Is Born soundtrack, she doesn't start off belting. She’s almost whispering. It’s intimate. It feels like you’re eavesdropping on a private moment. That was intentional. It was meant to be the song her character writes for the man she loves (played by Kris Kristofferson).
Surprising Facts About the Recording Session
Did you know the version you hear in the movie was recorded live on set? Usually, actors lip-sync to a pre-recorded track to ensure perfect audio quality. Streisand refused. She wanted the raw emotion of the scene to be captured in the vocals. She played the piano live while Kris Kristofferson sat nearby. That’s why there’s a certain "air" to that version that you don't get in the polished radio edit. It’s the sound of a room, not just a studio.
Paul Williams once joked that his biggest challenge was keeping the lyrics from becoming too "saccharine." He wanted it to be "Evergreen," not "Artificial Turf." He pushed for words that felt timeless. "Love, ageless and evergreen." It’s a simple thought, but it’s hard to execute without sounding like a greeting card. He pulled it off.
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The Legacy of the 1976 Soundtrack
The movie itself received mixed reviews—some people loved the chemistry between Streisand and Kristofferson, while others thought it was a vanity project. But nobody could argue with the music. The soundtrack was a monster hit. It actually outperformed the movie in many ways.
For Streisand, "Evergreen" was a turning point. It proved she wasn't just a Broadway star who could sing pop; she was a creator. She was a songwriter. For Paul Williams, it solidified his status as the poet laureate of soft rock. Together, they created a standard.
If you’re a musician or a songwriter, there’s a lot to learn from who wrote the song evergreen and how they did it. It wasn't about ego. It was about two people with very different styles—a perfectionist pop icon and a soulful, bohemian lyricist—finding a middle ground.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Lovers and Creators
If you want to truly appreciate the craftsmanship of this song, don't just listen to it on a tiny phone speaker. Do these three things:
- Listen to the "Live on Set" version: Compare it to the studio single. Notice the tiny imperfections in the live take. That’s where the magic is.
- Study the Lyrics of Paul Williams: Look up his other hits. You’ll see a pattern of "organic" metaphors—trees, rainbows, rain, seasons. He uses nature to describe human feelings, which is why his songs never feel dated.
- Analyze the Melody: If you play an instrument, try to play the basic chords (A-flat major to D-flat major). Notice how the "Evergreen" hook isn't a complex jazz chord—it’s a simple, descending line that feels like a sigh.
Understanding who wrote the song evergreen is really about understanding the power of collaboration. It takes a melody from one person and a story from another to make something that lasts forever. The song didn't just happen by accident; it was a deliberate piece of art designed to survive the decades. And here we are, fifty years later, still humming it.
The next time you hear those opening notes, remember the Malibu living room where it started. Remember the guy who thought about easy chairs and the woman who wouldn't stop playing a tune until it was perfect. That’s how a classic is born.