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)
Dreamlike I Wander
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another day is over and you're still not back
Quarter moon is rising up over my head
With stars for companions and clouds for a bed
Dreamlike I wander through my life without you
I know that you wish me well and I wish the same for you
Your kiss, the touch of your hand
Why did you leave me
I just don't understand
Don't know every morning if the dawn's gray or gold
All I know is another night is over
And my bed is empty and cold
I can't forget you
Can't set myself free
I hope you find peace of mind
It's too late for me
The verses of Carole King's song "Dreamlike I Wander" portray the feeling of loneliness and longing for the person who has left. The first verse describes the end of another day with a quarter moon rising up over the head. The absence of the person in the singer's life is emphasized by the stars as companions and clouds as the bed, both of which are the default substitutes for human presence. The singer is walking through life in a dreamlike manner without the person and yearning for their return.
The following verse implies that the person who left had good intentions but had to leave for some reason. However, the singer cannot stop missing them and wishing that they were still there with her. She cannot comprehend the reason behind the person leaving her and is left confused and hurt. The following lines suggest that not being able to forget the person is a hindrance to the singer's life, which has made it impossible for her to set herself free from the memory of the past.
Overall, the lyrics of the song convey the depth of emotions that a person can experience when they are away from someone they love. The lyrics touch upon the themes of loneliness, longing, confusion, and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Evening is falling velvety black
The day is coming to an end, and darkness is slowly enveloping everything and the silence is prevailing.
Another day is over and you're still not back
Despite the day's end, the absence of your presence makes every day incomplete and unfulfilled.
Quarter moon is rising up over my head
As a quarter moon rises up above, it illuminates the night sky, revealing the beauty and wonder of nature.
With stars for companions and clouds for a bed
Surrounded by the sparkling celestial bodies and the cozy softness of the cloud, I'm left to ponder on my own.
Dreamlike I wander through my life without you
My life has become a surreal existence, as if in a dream, without your presence, and everything lacks its luster.
I know that you wish me well and I wish the same for you
Although we're apart, we still care for each other's well-being, harbor no ill will towards one another.
But oh, why'know how I miss you
Yet, despite the mutual understanding, I can't help but express how much I long for you.
Your kiss, the touch of your hand
It's the intimate moments that I yearn for the most, the physical contact that we shared.
Why did you leave me
I'm plagued with the question that has no answer, why you departed from me.
I just don't understand
I can't wrap my head around the motive behind your actions, and it leaves me bewildered.
Don't know every morning if the dawn's gray or gold
Life seems uncertain and unpredictable, making it even harder to recognize the joy in every passing moment.
All I know is another night is over
Every night feels like an eternity without your presence, and it comes to an end, bringing me closer to another day without you.
And my bed is empty and cold
The emptiness of the bed accentuates the void in my heart, the warmth of your touch missed terribly.
I can't forget you
I realize the impossibility of forgetting someone who had such a profound impact on my life.
Can't set myself free
I'm trapped in constant longing, in a state of limbo, unable to let go and move on.
I hope you find peace of mind
Despite my own turmoil, I still wish for your serenity and contentment.
It's too late for me
Yet, for myself, the damage is done, and the emptiness becomes an inevitable part of me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind