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)
Hold On
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The old ones have spoken
Old young friend of ours
It won't be long until we can touch the stars
Like a quicksilver flash, your liquid light
Flows into our hearts and makes us feel allright
You know when we get there
All the dark forces will be gone
We need each other now more than ever
Our love is the sun--young lord of the light
It's a shame that one such as you
Should have to walk this cold and lonely night
Hold on until we can get there
You know when we get there
All the dark forces will be gone
Carole King's song "Hold On" is a powerful piece that speaks of the strength of unity and love in the face of adversity. The first stanza paints a picture of a long-awaited transformation, where the oppressive chains of darkness and negativity have been lifted, and the wise elders have spoken words of wisdom to guide the way forward. The song addresses a "young lord of light" who is experiencing a "cold and lonely night," which could be a metaphor for a person or a generation of people caught in a difficult time. The chorus emphasizes the need to have faith and stay hopeful, assuring that all the dark forces will be gone if they hold on until they reach their destination.
The second stanza embodies a message of hope and encouragement. The lines "Like a quicksilver flash, your liquid light flows into our hearts and makes us feel all right" describe a transformative light that infuses collective consciousness to empower individuals and strengthen their bonds of love. The song highlights the importance of solidarity and cohesion, especially during challenging times when it's easy to feel alone and disheartened. The final lines repeat the chorus, emphasizing the importance of staying strong and having faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavy chains have been broken
The past troubles that held us back are now released, and we can move forward.
The old ones have spoken
Our ancestors' wisdom and guidance have been passed down to us.
Old young friend of ours
We are addressing someone who is wise beyond their years, yet familiar to us.
It won't be long until we can touch the stars
We are optimistic about our future and believe that anything is possible.
Like a quicksilver flash, your liquid light
You have a captivating energy that brightens our spirits and brings us joy.
Flows into our hearts and makes us feel allright
Your presence brings us a sense of comfort and happiness.
Hold on until we can get there
We must remain patient and persevere through difficulties until we reach our destination.
You know when we get there
We have confidence that we will eventually reach our goal.
All the dark forces will be gone
Once we achieve our goal, all negativity and obstacles in our path will disappear.
We need each other now more than ever
We must rely on and support each other to overcome the challenges we face.
Our love is the sun--young lord of the light
Our love is powerful and illuminating, and will guide us through the darkness.
It's a shame that one such as you
We feel empathy for the hardships you have faced.
Should have to walk this cold and lonely night
We regret that you have had to endure difficult times on your own.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JEAN-MARC CHARRON, LARRY KLEIN, DAVID HURST BATTEAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind