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)
Daughter Of Light
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a welcome sight
To a weary soul
Seeing you just lifts me out of the cold
It's only temporary
You have to go away
But you're beautiful
And you never fail to make my day
Daughter of light
You smile and all the sadness leaves my heart
It's an easy course for sailing that you chart
But it's only temporary
You have to go away
You're too beautiful
And you know I'd never ask you to stay
Riding on the beach at sunset
Dreaming of the world that waits for you
That's where my mind's eye sees you
In a world that frees you
To do anything that you want to do
Daughter of light
Though you can only be a sometime friend
You restore my faith in love again
And that's not temporary
Even though you go away
You're too beautiful
Much more than words can say
Carole King’s “Daughter of Light” is a moving and heartfelt tribute to a beautiful and inspiring woman who brings light and hope to the world around her. Throughout the song, King uses fluid and poetic language to capture the magic and resilience of this “daughter of light,” who is always there to lift spirits, ease pain, and restore hope.
The opening verse lays out the central metaphor of the song, likening this woman to a beacon of light in the darkness. Her presence is like a warm and comforting glow that helps to dispel the cold and loneliness that often besets us in difficult times. Yet, at the same time, the song recognizes the transitory nature of her influence. She can’t be with us all the time – but as long as we know she’s out there shining her light, we can take solace and move forward with hope in our hearts.
The second verse builds on this theme, emphasizing the healing power of this woman’s smile and the way that she helps to guide us through life’s turbulent waters. Though we may feel lost or without direction at times, her light helps us to chart a course and find our way again. Throughout the song, King strikes a delicate balance between recognizing the impermanence of this woman’s presence while still acknowledging its lasting impact. “Even though you go away,” the song says, “you’re too beautiful, much more than words can say.”
Line by Line Meaning
Daughter of light
The person referred to as 'Daughter of Light'
You're a welcome sight
Seeing this person brings a feeling of comfort and joy
To a weary soul
To someone who is tired or fatigued
Seeing you just lifts me out of the cold
Interacting with this person helps the artist feel emotionally warm and happy
It's only temporary
The interaction with this person doesn't last forever
You have to go away
This person will leave after the interaction
But you're beautiful
This person is aesthetically pleasing
And you never fail to make my day
Interacting with this person always brightens the artist's day
You smile and all the sadness leaves my heart
The person's smile helps the artist feel less sad
It's an easy course for sailing that you chart
The person makes life easy
But it's only temporary
The interaction with this person doesn't last forever
You have to go away
This person will leave after the interaction
You're too beautiful
This person is too aesthetically pleasing to keep for oneself
And you know I'd never ask you to stay
The singer wouldn't want to force this person to stay
Riding on the beach at sunset
Imagery of a person riding on a beach during sunset
Dreaming of the world that waits for you
Imagining the possibilities that await this person
That's where my mind's eye sees you
The artist visualizes this person in their imagination
In a world that frees you
Imagining a world where this person is free to pursue anything they want
To do anything that you want to do
This person has the freedom to do anything they want to do
Though you can only be a sometime friend
This person isn't always around to interact with
You restore my faith in love again
Interacting with this person helps the artist believe in love again
And that's not temporary
The artist's restored faith in love lasts beyond the interaction
Even though you go away
This person will leave after the interaction
You're too beautiful
This person is too aesthetically pleasing to keep for oneself
Much more than words can say
This person's beauty cannot be fully expressed with words
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind