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)
Fire And Rain
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
I won't make it any other way
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows, it'll turn your head around
Well there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again, now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
Na na na. Na na na na na na na na na na. Na na na na na na na na
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again, now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
The lyrics to Carole King's song "Fire And Rain," written in 1970, tell a heartbreaking story of loss, grief, and hope. The opening lines announce the death of someone close to the singer named Suzanne, revealing that the plans that they made together have come to an end, and the singer is left with the task of finding a way to process their mourning without any clear outlet. Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the highs and lows of life, from the joy of sunny days to the despair of loneliness, but always with the hope that they will see their loved one again.
The singer appeals to Jesus for help, expressing their desperation for strength to stand and face another day alone. They plead that Jesus "see [them] through," suggesting a need for spiritual guidance and support. The juxtaposition of the sunny days with the lonely times paints a picture of life's unpredictable extremes, where hope and despair are constantly in flux. The final repetition of the phrase "Thought I'd see you one more time again" is a lament at the failure of this hope, mourning the finality of the loss and the absence of the person they held dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone
I received news yesterday morning that you had passed away.
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
The plans made for you (Suzanne) brought about your demise.
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
This morning, I wrote a song after stepping out for some fresh air.
I just can't remember who to send it to
I cannot recall whom I'll send this song to.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I have experienced both intense and destructive times, both joyful and dismal moments.
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve experienced moments of being fully satiated where life seems perfect and no less is attainable.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
In the past, I’ve found myself submerged in isolation, unable to make or keep friends.
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Notwithstanding my rough moments, I always hoped that we would see each other again.
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
Jesus, please look after and help me.
You've got to help me make a stand
Please guide me into making the right decisions.
You've just got to see me through another day
Please see me through yet another day.
My body's aching, and my time is at hand
My body is in pain, and I’m about to face the end.
I won't make it any other way
I can’t survive by any means other than your help.
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun
I’ve been reminiscing on better times when everything felt effortless, completely absorbed in my thoughts.
Lord knows when the cold wind blows, it'll turn your head around
Unexpected and trying times can shift your perspective and focus on things that aren’t really of much importance.
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
There’s plenty of time to chat about our future plans over the phone.
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
Our dreams and aspirations may not materialize, falling apart like inoperable machinery on the ground.
Thought I'd see you one more time again
I hoped to see you again, one final time.
There's just a few things coming my way this time around now
At this point, only a few things are certain and coming my way.
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
I formerly envisioned seeing you, through both good times and bad.
Na na na. Na na na na na na na na na na. Na na na na na na na na
Vocals.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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