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)
He's a Bad Boy
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy doesn't like him 'cause he says he heard him swear
He's a bad boy
But I don't care
He's not happy working, he's got no use for school
Never feels the least bit sorry when he treats me cruel
He's a bad boy
Don't it kinda break your heart now, don't it make you sad
When the boy you love so much turns out to be so bad
He's a bad boy
A bad boy, oh yeah
Don't it kinda break your heart now, don't it make you sad
When the boy you love so much turns out to be so bad
He's a bad boy
He's a bad boy
He's a bad boy
Oh yeah
In Carole King's song He's a Bad Boy, the lyrics describe a love interest that doesn't quite meet the standards of the singer's family. The mention of the disapproval from both the mother and father suggest that this relationship is faced with opposition from the start. The bad boy persona is reinforced with a refusal to conform to societal norms, shown by his refusal to cut his hair and his lack of interest in work or school. His treatment towards the singer is also questionable, with unremorseful cruelty being one of his characteristics. Despite this, the singer admits to being a fool for him, indicating that this relationship is toxic but irresistible to her.
The lyrics of He's a Bad Boy depict a common struggle within relationships; the constant need to prove oneself to family members or society. The singer is torn between societal expectations and the love she feels towards a boy who doesn't quite meet those expectations. This inner conflict is relatable and ultimately explores the themes of toxic love and the pressures of conforming to society's ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama doesn't like him 'cause he never cuts his hair
His unkempt appearance is not approved by my mother
Daddy doesn't like him 'cause he says he heard him swear
My father disapproves of him as he has heard him use profanity
He's a bad boy
He is generally considered to be a miscreant
But I don't care
Despite his flaws, I am still in love with him
He's not happy working, he's got no use for school
He lacks enthusiasm for both menial labor and academic pursuits
Never feels the least bit sorry when he treats me cruel
He shows no remorse for his hurtful behavior towards me
He's a bad boy
He is still seen as a delinquent
But I'm a fool
Despite his mistreatment, I still have love for him and am therefore foolish
Don't it kinda break your heart now, don't it make you sad
Doesn't it pain you to realize the one you love is not good for you?
When the boy you love so much turns out to be so bad
Despite my feelings for him, it is apparent that he is not a good match for me
He's a bad boy
He maintains his status as a troublesome individual
A bad boy, oh yeah
He is truly not a good person, no doubt about it
He's a bad boy
Once again, his delinquent nature is highlighted
He's a bad boy
This point continues to be emphasized
He's a bad boy
One final assertion of his negative personality traits
Oh yeah
The artist is resigned to their unfortunate situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KOSMICKEN09
Such a great voice 😀
@desertfox3742
Back in '63 KFXM with their 'fab 59' survey & the 10 or so bubbling under songs played quite a variety of new music. This was 1. It stood out with a different sound & i got the record. Who'd a thot . . . another 1 they were playing about a year earlier was 'The Prince', an early Jackie DeShannon record that got up to # 2. Pretty good for an Inland Empire 1000 watter. Being at the bottom of the dial their signal really carried by day but at nite became lost in the ether.
@countrypaul
A minor gem, but a gem nonetheless. The acoustic guitar work makes it sound almost folky. I love Pam Dickinson's version (produced by Ray Stevens), too. Word is that this was a demo that was considered release-worthy.
@cheapholiday8111
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
@IozziEric
Shakey was surely paying attenion.