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)
Hi De Ho
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna get me a piece of the sky
Gotta find me some o' that old sweet roll
A singin'
Hi de hi de hi de hi de ho
I've been down so long
Bottom looked like up
Was enough to fill my cup
Now I offered all I got
And that ain't no way to live
Bein' taken by the ones
Who got the least amount to give
[Chorus]
Once I met the devil â?? he was mighty slick
Tempted me with wordly goods
And said you could have your pick
But when he laid the paper on me
And he showed me where to sign
I said, â??Thank you very kindly
But I'm in too great a need of mind.â??
[Chorus]
Carole King's song Hi De Ho is about the struggles of life that many people face. The first verse talks about the desire to achieve something in life, to get a piece of the sky, and also the need for some sweetness in life, represented by the old sweet roll. The chorus then reinforces this desire, as the singer sings "hi de ho" repeatedly, almost chanting, as if to push themselves to achieve their goals.
The second verse talks about the singer's experiences of tough times, where the bottom looked like up, referring to times that were so bad that it seemed like things couldn't get worse. However, the singer had believed that second chances would be enough to fill their cup, but they soon realized that sometimes even giving all you have is not enough, especially when people who have the least are taking from you. This reflects the reality that sometimes those who have less are the ones who take more, leaving those who have given everything with nothing.
The final verse talks about an encounter with the devil who tempts the singer with worldly goods. However, the singer ultimately decides not to accept the deal. They thank the devil but explain that they are more in need of peace of mind than the temporary pleasures of materialistic things.
Overall, Hi De Ho is a song about the struggle to find one's place in life, and the desire to overcome obstacles to achieve that. It speaks to anyone who has ever experienced tough times, and can be seen as a message of hope, as the singer continues to strive for their piece of the sky despite the obstacles in their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Hi de ho, hi de hi
Greeting to everyone, greeting to all
Gonna get me a piece of the sky
Hopeful of achieving success and reaching for the stars
Gotta find me some o' that old sweet roll
Looking for some good fortune in life
A singin'
With a joyful and optimistic attitude
Hi de hi de hi de hi de ho
Continuing to greet everyone cheerfully
I've been down so long
I have been facing hardship and difficulty for a long time
Bottom looked like up
I was at my lowest point and things seemed hopeless
Once I thought that second saves
Previously I believed that small victories were enough to make me happy
Was enough to fill my cup
I thought it was sufficient to satisfy me
Now I offered all I got
I have given my all
And that ain't no way to live
But it's not a fulfilling or sustainable way of life
Bein' taken by the ones
Being brought down by those
Who got the least amount to give
Who have the least to offer
[Chorus]
Repeat of the greeting and hopeful message
Once I met the devil â?? he was mighty slick
Recalling a time when I faced temptation
Tempted me with wordly goods
Offered me material possessions
And said you could have your pick
And let me choose what I wanted
But when he laid the paper on me
But when I saw the contract he presented to me
And he showed me where to sign
And where I needed to sign it
I said, â??Thank you very kindly
I politely declined the offer
But I'm in too great a need of mind.â??
As my mental well-being is more important to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ramoncitoelbueno9631
Great job! Another excellent sound recording and presentation of what i think is a Carole King classic. If you could share more of your talent, i think we will all appreciate it.
@ramoncitoelbueno9631
Thanks again for sharing your talent. Sound is great and is much appreciated!
@tippimail1
Great version by Carole.BS&T did it on their 2nd.album,also.
@passiveMenis
Damn what a song
@LurdesCabrera-sh1vn
My song
@kijo3401
Yessss
@loucostello3111
Written by Dusty Springfield.
@JohnnyC93
Lou Costello your joking, right? Carole king and Gerry Goffin wrote this song
@ronaldbork2669
Gerry Goffin & Carole King wrote the words & music.
@JoOp-ic5dp
Is this a joke