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)
Machine Gun Kelly
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He rode along the outlaw trail.
Machine Gun Kelly was a simple man
But the woman was as hard as hell.
Watch out Machine Gun,
Don't let her run you round.
Don't let the woman put you six feet
In the ground, Machine Gun.
I'll tell you about Katherine Kelly,
Tired of being such small time, now.
Figured they'd kidnap a rich man's son,
Make it in the world of crime.
Watch out Machine Gun,
Don't let her run you round.
Don't let the woman put you six feet
In the ground, Machine Gun.
You'd better watch out Machine Gun Kelly,
Careful of what you do, now.
If you keep listening to your old lady,
Ain't no telling
What'll happen to you, now, Machine Gun.
The government boys they came
For Machine Gun, took the poor boy away.
Stuck him in a hole in Leavenworth prison
Where he lived until his dying day.
Watch out Machine Gun,
Don't let her put you down.
Don't let a woman make you
Out to be a clown, Machine Gun.
Watch out Machine Gun.
Carole King's song "Machine Gun Kelly" is a story about the notorious gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his equally dangerous wife Kathryn. The song details how their partnership turns from petty crime to kidnapping, which ultimately leads to Machine Gun Kelly's arrest and imprisonment. The lyrics caution him against letting his volatile and ruthless wife control him and lead him down a path of destruction.
The song captures the essence of the American outlaw couple spirit of the 1930s Depression-era. Kathryn, also known as "Machine Gun Kelly's moll," was a woman who was part of the Chicago underworld. Machine Gun Kelly, who was an almost illiterate man before joining the criminals, was known to be excessively violent and partner to many different women, but Kathryn was the most notorious of them all.
Throughout the song, Carole King plays with the idea that Machine Gun Kelly is equal parts the victim of his wife's influence and a willing participant in the criminal life they lead together. The warning to him continues throughout the song, highlighting the danger of allowing himself to be controlled by this toxic partner. The song ends with him being arrested by the government, making it clear that the consequences of his choices have inevitably led to his downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll tell you about Machine Gun Kelly
The singer is going to talk about a man named Machine Gun Kelly.
He rode along the outlaw trail.
Machine Gun Kelly was a criminal.
Machine Gun Kelly was a simple man
Machine Gun Kelly was not a sophisticated person.
But the woman was as hard as hell.
Machine Gun Kelly's female partner was very tough and difficult.
Watch out Machine Gun,
The singer is warning Machine Gun Kelly to be careful.
Don't let her run you round.
Don't let his partner dominate him.
Don't let the woman put you six feet
Don't let his partner cause him to die.
In the ground, Machine Gun.
I'll tell you about Katherine Kelly,
The singer is going to talk about Machine Gun Kelly's partner, Katherine Kelly.
Tired of being such small time, now.
Katherine Kelly wanted to be more successful as a criminal.
Figured they'd kidnap a rich man's son,
Katherine Kelly and Machine Gun Kelly decided to kidnap a wealthy man's son.
Make it in the world of crime.
They thought this act of kidnapping could raise their status as criminals.
You'd better watch out Machine Gun Kelly,
The singer is again warning him to be careful.
Careful of what you do, now.
Be cautious about his actions.
If you keep listening to your old lady,
If Machine Gun Kelly continues to follow Katherine's orders.
Ain't no telling what'll happen to you, now, Machine Gun.
Something bad could happen to him if he listens to Katherine's advice.
The government boys they came For Machine Gun,
The authorities arrested Machine Gun Kelly.
took the poor boy away.
Machine Gun Kelly was taken into custody.
Stuck him in a hole in Leavenworth prison
He was imprisoned in Leavenworth prison.
Where he lived until his dying day.
He remained there until he died.
Don't let her put you down.
Don't let his partner undermine him.
Don't let a woman make you out to be a clown, Machine Gun.
Don't let his partner make fun of him or humiliate him.
Watch out Machine Gun.
The singer repeats his warning to be careful.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY KORTCHMAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind