Simon's career began with a short-lived music group with her sister Lucy as The Simon Sisters. They had a minor hit in 1964 called "Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod", and made three albums together before Lucy left to get married and start a family. Later, Carly Simon collaborated with eclectic New York rockers Elephant's Memory for about six months. She also appeared in the 1971 Milos Forman movie Taking Off, playing an auditioning singer, and sang "Long Term Physical Effects", which was included in Taking Off, the 1971 soundtrack for the movie.
Simon's major breakthrough was 1972's No Secrets. The album spawned several successful singles, including Simon's biggest hit, "You're So Vain". Simon continued to produce successful albums through the 1970s and early 1980s, moving into film scores after she was dropped by her record label in 1985. She performed the main title song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me - "Nobody Does It Better" which was a worldwide hit in 1977.
In Times When My Head
Carly Simon Lyrics
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Was together about you
I was an expert at silence.
I enjoyed the blonds in their red jeeps
Stopping you on the street
Knowing none could compare with me
In my my airy skirts and cool retreats
I was an expert at silence
You could have told the truth all the time
I was that at ease in side
You never made me cry
And then one night I lied
I got down with a boy in the backwoods
I didn't tell you and you didn't see
And that's when jealousy got the dog up in me
Now every look you get
Seems like another threat
I pick your pockets almost hoping to find
Something to hurt about, to prove you unkind
Oh but I still love you baby
Though now I just can't sit still
And though that boy meant nothing to me
I believe I've lost that simple thrill of the...
The lyrics of Carly Simon's song "In Times When My Head" depict a woman grappling with jealousy and insecurity. In the beginning, the singer reveals that she previously felt confident and secure in her relationship with her partner. But, after cheating on him with another man, she becomes consumed by a "jealousy [that] got the dog up in [her]." She describes feeling threatened by any interaction between her partner and other women and obsessively searching for evidence that he is unfaithful. Despite realizing that the affair meant "nothing" to her, the singer laments that she has lost the "simple thrill" of being in love and is unable to feel at ease in her relationship.
The song is a deeply introspective exploration of the corrosive effects of jealousy and the pain that it can inflict on a relationship. The lyrics capture the singer's realization that her own actions have contributed to her mistrust and insecurity. The line "You could have told the truth all the time/I was that at ease inside" shows that the singer recognized her partner's honesty and loyalty, but her own betrayal shattered her confidence and made her suspicious of everything.
Ultimately, the song is a powerful testimony to the ways in which jealousy can erode trust and intimacy in even the strongest relationships. By acknowledging her own role in the cycle of mistrust and recrimination, the singer suggests that it may be possible to break free from these destructive patterns and find a way back to love.
Line by Line Meaning
In times when my head
During the times when I was consumed by thoughts of you
Was together about you
My mind was focused solely on you
I was an expert at silence.
I knew how to keep my emotions and thoughts to myself
I enjoyed the blonds in their red jeeps
I found pleasure in the attention I received from other men
Stopping you on the street
Making you pause and notice me
Knowing none could compare with me
I was confident that no other woman could measure up to me
In my my airy skirts and cool retreats
I felt comfortable and serene in my flowing dresses and tranquil surroundings
You could have told the truth all the time
You were capable of being honest with me from the beginning
I was that at ease in side
I was so content and carefree with you
You never made me cry
You never caused me any emotional pain or distress
And then one night I lied
But then I betrayed you by lying
I got down with a boy in the backwoods
I had a sexual experience with another man
I didn't tell you and you didn't see
I kept my infidelity hidden from you
And that's when jealousy got the dog up in me
My jealousy and insecurity began to consume me after my own deception
Now every look you get
Every gaze you receive
Seems like another threat
Feels like a warning, a sign of potential betrayal
I pick your pockets almost hoping to find
I search through your belongings, almost hoping to discover evidence of wrongdoing
Something to hurt about, to prove you unkind
Something to inflict pain upon me, to validate my belief that you are unkind
Oh but I still love you baby
Despite my negative feelings, I still have strong emotions towards you
Though now I just can't sit still
However, I am now restless and unable to stay grounded
And though that boy meant nothing to me
Though the other man held no significance to me
I believe I've lost that simple thrill of the...
I feel that I have lost the pure happiness and satisfaction that I once had with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLY SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind