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Bitter With the Sweet
Carole King Lyrics


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Sometimes I'm tired and I wonder what's so all-fired important
About being someplace at some time
Oh, but I don't really mind
'Cause I could be on East Street, and I know that
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet

I guess it gets to everyone, you think you're not having any fun
And you wonder what you're doing playing the games you play
Hey, well, it's true what they say
If you want to feel complete, don't you know that
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet

A friend of mine once told me
And I know he knows all about feelin' down
He said everything good in life you've got to pay for
But feelin' good is what you're paving the way for

So don't let it get you down, my friend, though it seems the blues will never end
On this you can depend, they always do
And I can tell you that it's true, it's a feeling that can't be beat
And you've got to do it
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet

Overall Meaning

The song "Bitter With the Sweet" by Carole King is a reflective tune about the ups and downs of life, and how we must accept the "bitter" moments along with the "sweet" ones. The opening lines suggest that the singer, at times, feels exhausted and wonders why certain obligations or events are so crucial. However, she admits that she doesn't necessarily mind, and even if she were to be somewhere less thrilling, like "East Street," she knows that every experience comes with a mix of joy and pain. This line sets the tone for the rest of the tune, where King reminds us that every feeling, whether good or bad, helps us to grow and feel complete.


The middle verse speaks to the universal feeling of questioning our choices and wondering why we engage in certain activities or games. However, King asserts that we must remember to accept the bad with the good, as all the struggles and challenges pave the way for the rewarding moments ahead. The final verse offers a message of hope, encouraging the listener to not feel burdened by the blues, as they are only temporary. Instead, she implores us to keep striving and pushing through the rough patches, knowing that the sweetness of life is worth the struggle.


Overall, "Bitter With the Sweet" is a reminder to embrace all of life's moments, both positive and negative, and to be grateful for the journey itself. It's a message that holds relevance for people of all ages and backgrounds, and it's delivered in King's signature soulful and heartfelt style.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I'm tired and I wonder what's so all-fired important
Occasionally, I feel fatigued and ask myself what is so urgent that it cannot wait.


About being someplace at some time
Why must I always be there at a specific location at a specified moment?


Oh, but I don't really mind
Despite my misgivings, I do not let this bother me too much.


'Cause I could be on East Street, and I know that
It's important to recognize that life can be much worse, for instance, I could be wandering aimlessly alone.


You've got to take the bitter with the sweet
To fully appreciate the good things in life, you must accept the bad that comes alongside it.


I guess it gets to everyone, you think you're not having any fun
It is no revelation that everyone can have moments where they feel unfulfilled or bored.


And you wonder what you're doing playing the games you play
At times, you question why you participate in activities that are unfulfilling.


Hey, well, it's true what they say
As the adage goes, sometimes you must do things you dislike to achieve your objectives.


If you want to feel complete, don't you know that
To feel fulfilled, you must recognize that not all moments will be pleasant.


A friend of mine once told me
I received a pearl of wisdom from a close associate.


And I know he knows all about feelin' down
I am aware that this person is well-armored to deal with moments of low mood.


He said everything good in life you've got to pay for
The quality of life improves when an individual pays a price for it.


But feeling' good is what you're paving the way for
Still, it is important to seek better days and happiness, which will be achieved eventually.


So don't let it get you down, my friend, though it seems the blues will never end
I advise you to keep your spirits up, despite feeling down or depressed, as this feeling shall pass.


On this you can depend, they always do
It is essential to remember that these tough times always come to an end.


And I can tell you that it's true, it's a feeling that can't be beat
I speak from experience when I say that is it exhilarating to endure challenging times and come out successful.


And you've got to do it
Therefore, you must persevere in the face of adversity to emerge triumphant.


You've got to take the bitter with the sweet
In conclusion, to attain true happiness and fulfillment, one must be prepared to endure the unpleasant aspects of life along with the good ones.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@daisigonzalez

Sometimes I'm tired and I wonder
What's so all-fired important
About being someplace at some time
Woah, but I don't really mind
'Cause I could be on Easy Street
And I know that
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet
I guess it gets to everyone
You think you're not having any fun
And you wonder what you're doing
Playing the games you play
Hey, well, it's true what they say
If you wana feel complete
Don't you know that
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet
A friend of mine once told me
And I know he knows all about feelin' down
He said everything good in life
You've got to pay for
But feelin' good is what you're paving the way for
La-la-la la, la, la
La, la, la, la-la la, la, la-la
La, la, la-la, la, la
La-la, la-la, la-la, la, la-la, la, la
La-la, la-la, la-la, la, la-la, la, la
So, don't let it get you down, my friend
Though it seems the blues will never end
On this you can depend, they always do
And I can tell you that it's true
It's a feeling that can't be beat
And you've got to do it
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet
You've got to take the bitter with the sweet
You've got to take, you've got to take, you've got to take
The bitter with the sweet
The bitter with the sweet, sweet, sweet, woah, sweet
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All comments from YouTube:

@ronaldrendon2878

Great musicians! Great song! I love this song along with "Been To Canaan. " I grew up with these songs in the 1970's. Great music to listen to now and always.
Carole, you have a beautiful voice!

@timebandit2951

Carole king, she just wrote good music, in the feel good style.

@williamrandolph7695

Carole got the best players for all her albums 😊

@funkysoulguy

the movie Poms, with Diane Keaton, brought me here.

@user-ue4ug2io5r

Me too.🙂

@kellistevens7090

Me too!

@LoveMeetingLove

Funny what a movie still can do!

@TKing-oe4zx

Me too!❤😊

@mysteryof7

Me too!

@tenlittleindians

Another musician that "gets it". Neil Young and John Prine also made the decision to dump much of their early music to You Tube where it can breathe in and out among hopefully a younger group of listeners. Bravo!

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