King's major success began in the 1960s when she and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote more than two dozen chart hits, many of which have become standards, for numerous artists. She has continued writing for other artists since then. King's success as a performer in her own right did not come until the 1970s, when she sang her own songs, accompanying herself on the piano, in a series of albums and concerts. After experiencing commercial disappointment with her debut album Writer, King scored her breakthrough with the album Tapestry, which topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks in 1971 and remained on the charts for more than six years.
King has made 25 solo albums, the most successful being Tapestry, which held the record for most weeks at No. 1 by a female artist for more than 20 years. Her record sales were estimated at more than 75 million copies worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a performer and songwriter. She is the recipient of the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the first woman to be so honored. She is also a 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_King
Studio albums
Writer (1970)
Tapestry (1971)
Music (1971)
Rhymes & Reasons (1972)
Fantasy (1973)
Wrap Around Joy (1974)
Thoroughbred (1976)
Simple Things (1977)
Welcome Home (1978)
Touch the Sky (1979)
Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King (1980)
One to One (1982)
Speeding Time (1983)
City Streets (1989)
Colour of Your Dreams (1993)
Love Makes the World (2001)
A Holiday Carole (2011)
A Natural Woman
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to feel uninspired
And when I knew I'd have to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
Your love was the key to my peace of mind
'Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural woman
Oh, when my soul was in the lost-and-found
You came along to claim it
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
'Til your kiss helped me name it
Now I'm no longer doubtful
Of what I'm living for
'Cause if I make you happy I don't need to do more
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural woman
Oh baby, what you've done to me
(What you've done to me)
You make me feel so good inside
(Good inside)
And I just wanna be
(Wanna be)
Close to you, you make me feel so alive
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural, natural woman
You make me feel
You know you make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural woman
You know you
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural woman
Natural woman
In "A Natural Woman," Carole King describes her life before and after she met someone who changed her outlook completely. Before meeting this person, she was uninspired by her surroundings, particularly the constant rain which symbolizes the dissatisfaction with her life. She was weary of having to face another day and felt tired.
However, after meeting someone special (possibly her husband, Gerry Goffin), King felt as though someone had come along to claim her lost soul when she didn't even realize it was missing. She was no longer uncertain about what she was living for because she was happy with him. Carole King's lyrics suggest that true love can make anyone feel like a natural woman. She feels complete and like she has found her true identity.
In conclusion, the lyrics of Carole King's "A Natural Woman" describe a change of heart and spirit after meeting someone who brings love and inspiration into one's life. The song is a celebration of the transformative power of love which can make us feel like everything is in its right place. It shows that meeting the right person can change our perspective on life and how we navigate it.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel uninspired and stuck, and everything seemed dull and gray
I used to feel uninspired
I lacked motivation and inspiration to do anything meaningful
And when I knew I'd have to face another day
The thought of facing another day felt daunting and overwhelming to me
Lord, it made me feel so tired
It drained my energy and made me feel exhausted before I even started the day
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
My life was filled with hardship and pain, and I felt like I was going through it all alone
Your love was the key to my peace of mind
Your love brought a sense of calm and serenity to my life, and helped me find peace of mind
'Cause you make me feel
Your presence and love have a profound effect on me
Like a natural woman
You make me feel comfortable and confident in my own skin
Oh, when my soul was in the lost-and-found
I felt lost, confused and unsure of who I was or what I wanted in life
You came along to claim it
You helped me rediscover myself and gave me a sense of direction and purpose
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
I was unable to identify the source of my inner turmoil and unease
'Til your kiss helped me name it
It was only after I experienced your love and affection that I realized what was missing in my life
Now I'm no longer doubtful
I have complete faith and trust in you and our relationship
Of what I'm living for
I have a clear sense of purpose and direction in my life because of you
'Cause if I make you happy I don't need to do more
Your happiness is my top priority, and I don't need to do anything else as long as I can make you happy
Oh baby, what you've done to me
You've had a profound effect on me, and have transformed my life in every way
You make me feel so good inside
Your love and affection make me feel happy and fulfilled from within
And I just wanna be
All I want is to be with you and build a life together
Close to you, you make me feel so alive
Your presence and love makes me feel alive and energized, and gives me a reason to live
Like a natural, natural woman
You make me feel like I don't have to pretend or put on a façade, and can be myself with you
You know you make me feel
I want you to know how much your love and presence means to me
Like a natural woman
You make me feel like I'm enough, just the way I am
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@norateresa
Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel so uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But you're the key to my peace of mind
'Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman (woman)
When my soul was in the lost and found
You came along to claim it
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
'Til your kiss helped me name it
Now I'm no longer doubtful, of what I'm living for
'Cause if I make you happy I don't need to do more
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman
Oh baby what you've done to me (what you've done to me)
You make me feel so good inside (good inside)
And I just wanna be (wanna be)
Close to you you make me feel so alive
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural, natural woman
You make me feel
You know you make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman
You know, you
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman
Natural woman
@gretamarcheselli3209
Lookin' out on the morning rain
I used to feel uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But your love was the key to my peace of mind
'Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like
A natural woman
When my soul was in the lost-and-found
You came along to claim it
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
Till your kiss helped me name it
Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for
'Cause if I make you happy I don't need to do more
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like
A natural woman
Oh, baby, what you've done to me
You make me feel so good inside
And I just want to be close to you
You make me feel so alive
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like
A natural woman
@Gobear1
Aretha's version is for when you need to feel inspired, and Carole's version is for when you need a good cry.
@eugenedoyle9960
Without Carole we would not have Aretha version
@cc-ln9pf
@Eugene Doyle And? That doesn't negate the point the Original comment made. The different version give different vibes.
@eugenedoyle9960
@c ks and those different vibes would not exist without Carole King.
@ItsSmoak
@Eugene Doyle she never denied that idiot
@eugenedoyle9960
@Smoak Aretha could never deny it.
@rogerhenry6489
I prefer the intimacy of this version. Its like she's singing it right to you in a room. Its very stripped down and it allows you to really hear the words and the beauty of the music. Its great. Carole King can do no wrong in my book.
@fraundakelmbrilpondaprost90
Perfectly put. On top of all that, King also carries a very slight remorse and pain to her inflection. As if her new love is bringing her away from a pain she still carries on some level.
@murtheblur
You both may then like this version from 12 year old Angelina Jordan https://youtu.be/rt6KhBxiaDo. This was recorded days after Aretha passed. It is recorded more in the Carole King style, however, as a tribute to Aretha. Slowed down and heartfelt.
@gato0082
well said its very intimate & moving... sweet .. 🙄🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀natural 🎶🎤soul 💜🎶🎶💜🎶