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.
Older Sister
Carly Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's my older sister
She knows her power over me
She goes to bed an hour later than I do
When she turns the lights out
What does she think about?
And what does she do in the daylight
That makes her so great?
Oh but to be,
Oh but to be,
Oh but to be,
I'd like to be
My older sister
She flies throught the back door,
She's my older sister
She throws French phrases 'round the room
She has ice skates and legs that fit right in
She's wicked to all the beaming dreamers
Who'll later boast of an evening
By her fiery side
Oh but to be,
Oh but to be,
Oh but to be,
I'd like to be
My older sister
And in her black gymnastic tights
She runs into some elastic nights
Sophisticated sister sings for the
Soldiers of the soccer team
Their silver I.D.'s and sororities
They tinker with love in their Model T's
Oh lord, won't you let me be her for just one day
She turns everybody's heads
While I wear her last year's threads
With patches and stitches and a turned up hem
Oh, but to be,
Oh but to be,
I'd like to be,
Just once to be
My older sister
Carly Simon's song "Older Sister" is a tribute to the singer's elder sibling, whom she admires deeply. The song's melody is nostalgic and sweet, and the lyrics offer a glimpse into the sister's daily life. It's almost like the younger sibling is turning her elder sister into an ideal or a dream she can't quite reach.
The opening lines, "She rides in the front seat, She's my older sister, She knows her power over me" create a feeling of admiration for the sister's maturity and authority. There is a power dynamic that exist between them, common to most sibling relationships, where the older sibling is allowed certain privileges that the younger one is not. The singer wonders what goes on in her sister's mind when the lights are out, and what makes her so great. These lines suggest that the singer is unsure of her own worth, and sees her sister as something she aspires to be.
Simon describes the ways in which the older sister stands out from others. She has a sophistication that is alien to the singer's own world - she flings French phrases around the room and can ice-skate. The younger sister realizes that her interest is uncommon and exotic, and she is envious of it. She also sings for the soccer team's soldiers and seems to have a dating life that the singer finds alluring.
The song can be read as a tale of self-discovery, as the singer grapples with the differences between her and her elder sibling. She sees her sister as something to emulate, the gold standard of cool, and is filled with longing to occupy those enviable shoes.
Line by Line Meaning
She rides in the front seat,
Carly Simon introduces her older sister as superior, as her sister rides in the front seat of the car
She's my older sister
The singer emphasizes the sisterly bond, despite their differences
She knows her power over me
The older sister is cognizant of her authority over Carly Simon
She goes to bed an hour later than I do
The older sister is allowed to stay up late, implying that Carly Simon isn't
When she turns the lights out
Carly Simon wonders what goes through her sister's mind late at night
What does she think about?
The singer is curious about her sister's thoughts
And what does she do in the daylight
Carly Simon is intrigued by her sister's daytime activities
That makes her so great?
The artist wonders what qualities contribute to her older sister's perceived greatness
Oh but to be,
Carly Simon starts a refrain about her desire to be like her older sister
Oh but to be,
The refrain continues
Oh but to be,
The refrain repeats again
I'd like to be
The artist wants to be like her older sister
My older sister
The singer repeats who they desire to be like
She flies throught the back door,
The older sister enters the room in a spectacular way
She's my older sister
The singer reiterates the sisterly bond
She throws French phrases 'round the room
The older sister is cultured and intelligent, throwing around impressive language skills
She has ice skates and legs that fit right in
The older sister has the right equipment, body, and skill required to be successful in ice skating
She's wicked to all the beaming dreamers
The older sister is cruel or dismissive towards those who are enthusiastic and hopeful
Who'll later boast of an evening
These 'beaming dreamers' will later brag about their experience with the older sister
By her fiery side
The older sister is described as passionate and exciting
And in her black gymnastic tights
The older sister's choice of clothing is highlighted
She runs into some elastic nights
The imagery implies that the older sister goes out and has adventures
Sophisticated sister sings for the
The older sister is sophisticated and talented
Soldiers of the soccer team
The artist is impressed by the popularity and attention the older sister receives
Their silver I.D.'s and sororities
The older sister is desirable and associated with status symbols like college sororities and identification cards
They tinker with love in their Model T's
The older sister is part of a young and romantic social scene
Oh lord, won't you let me be her for just one day
The singer would like to have her sister's experiences and popularity, but just for a brief time
She turns everybody's heads
The older sister is undeniably the center of attention
While I wear her last year's threads
The younger sister wears clothes that once belonged to the older sister, emphasizing the age difference
With patches and stitches and a turned up hem
The singer's clothes are altered and imperfect
I'd like to be,
The desire to be like the older sister is repeated
Oh but to be,
The refrain continues
Oh but to be,
The refrain repeats again
Just once to be
The artist clarifies that they only want to experience being the older sister once
My older sister
The singer repeats who they desire to be like
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARLY SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind