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 Out For Love
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still looking for love
Everything we do is in search of it
Everything we say or think of
And every time we reach for somebody
We're reaching out for love
Everybody's looking for love
Everybody is looking for love
When someone says a kind word
It's music to your ears
Yet somewhere inside you're wondering
If you really deserve to let go of your fears
You want to make a connection, you're looking for a way
To escape the loneliness and the tears
That you've had for years
Everybody's looking for love
Everybody is looking for love
But you know you gotta
Hold out, don't settle for less
Hold out for the real thing, hold out for the real thing
Hold out, you deserve the best
Hold out for the real thing, hold out for the real thing
Hold out for love
Maybe you're looking for security
But without a doubt
You're gonna miss the love you wish you had
'Cause love is what life is all about
Well, if it don't feel right, then don't do it
If the night is dark, don't sell your soul to get through it
Listen to your heart, it'll tell you how to do it
Love will be worth the wait
Everybody's looking for love
Everybody is looking for love
But you know you gotta
Hold out, don't settle for less
Hold out for the real thing, hold out for the real thing
Hold out, you deserve the best
Hold out for the real thing, hold out for the real thing
Hold out for love
Carole King's song "Hold Out for Love" highlights the universal human need for love and the various ways in which we pursue it. The song emphasizes the childlike yearning for love that persists within every individual and informs all of our actions and decisions. At the same time, the lyrics acknowledge the hesitation and doubts that can accompany the search for love, particularly when we struggle with feelings of unworthiness and fear of rejection. In this sense, the song encourages listeners to hold out for the real thing, to resist settling for anything less than true love, and to trust their hearts to guide them in the pursuit of happiness.
The song's catchy melody and uplifting lyrics have made it a favorite of many fans of traditional singer-songwriter music. It has been covered by several different artists over the years, including John Tesh, Jennifer Holliday, and The Cox Family. The song's message of hope and perseverance has made it popular as a wedding song, and it has also been used in various films and TV shows.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's got a little child inside
Everyone has an innocent side that longs for love and affection.
Still looking for love
Even as we grow older, we continue to search for the love that we need and desire.
Everything we do is in search of it
Our actions are often driven by the need to find love and connection with others.
Everything we say or think of
Our thoughts and words reflect our desire for love, whether we acknowledge it or not.
And every time we reach for somebody
Whenever we extend ourselves to others, we are reaching out for love and affection.
We're reaching out for love
Our efforts to connect with others are driven by the need for love and the desire to combat loneliness.
Everybody's looking for love
Everyone in the world seeks love in one form or another.
When someone says a kind word
A simple act of kindness can have a profound impact on our emotions and sense of well-being.
It's music to your ears
We experience pleasure and joy when we receive kind words or gestures.
Yet somewhere inside you're wondering
Despite receiving kindness, we may still struggle with self-doubt and question whether we are deserving of love and affection.
If you really deserve to let go of your fears
We may hold onto fears and insecurities that prevent us from fully accepting love and embracing healthy relationships.
You want to make a connection, you're looking for a way
We desire meaningful connections with others and actively seek out ways to form them.
To escape the loneliness and the tears
We hope that forming connections with others will alleviate feelings of loneliness and sadness.
That you've had for years
Loneliness and sadness may be long-standing issues that we seek to resolve through connection and love.
Maybe you're looking for security
Security may be another important factor in our search for love and connection.
But without a doubt
Despite valuing security, we must also recognize the importance of love in our lives.
You're gonna miss the love you wish you had
If we prioritize security over love, we may miss out on opportunities for meaningful connections and relationships.
'Cause love is what life is all about
Love is a fundamental part of our human experience and a key component of a fulfilling life.
If it don't feel right, then don't do it
We should trust our instincts when it comes to forming connections and engaging in relationships.
If the night is dark, don't sell your soul to get through it
We should resist the temptation to compromise our values or needs for the sake of connection or companionship.
Listen to your heart, it'll tell you how to do it
We should trust our intuition and allow our emotions to guide us in matters of love and connection.
Love will be worth the wait
Waiting for the right person and the right relationship is worth it, because love is ultimately what we all seek.
Hold out, don't settle for less
We should not compromise on our standards or needs when it comes to love and relationships.
Hold out for the real thing, hold out for the real thing
We should be patient and wait for a genuine, meaningful connection in our pursuit of love.
Hold out, you deserve the best
We should not settle for less than we deserve in matters of the heart.
Hold out for love
We should continue to seek out love and connection, even if it takes time and patience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind