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)
Move Lightly
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you move lightly
That's your heart you're dealing with
That's your head you're messin' around with
Why don't you move lightly
Let it all work out now, just let go
Pretty soon you're gonna know what you want to know
Why don't you walk softly
You ought to walk softly
That's a hard and heavy foot
You've been usin' to put yourself down
Why don't you walk softly
If you win the world and lose your soul
What good will it do you love don't come from gold
Why don't you drift easy why don't you drift easy
If there's something you're still after
Are you sure you're gonna like the way it'll make you feel
Well I won't worry 'cause I know you'll find
Your own way, in your own time, and I'm easy
And I'm gonna move lightly
The lyrics of Carole King's song "Move Lightly" are a reflective call to someone to take a gentler and more thoughtful approach to life. The refrain of "Why don't you move lightly?" and "Why don't you walk softly?" speaks to the singer's desire for the person to carefully consider their actions and words. They encourage the listener to be mindful of the effects of their choices on their own heart and mind, as well as the hearts and minds of others. The singer suggests that by letting go and allowing situations to work themselves out, the listener will eventually come to understand what they truly want and need.
As the song progresses, the singer continues to urge the listener to consider the consequences of their actions. They suggest that by being too forceful or heavy-handed, the listener may cause themselves unnecessary stress or pain. The line "you've been usin' to put yourself down" hints at the possibility that the listener might be causing harm to themselves through their actions. However, the singer is ultimately understanding and reassuring, saying that they trust that the listener will find their way in their own time.
Overall, "Move Lightly" is a message of hope and encouragement. The singer acknowledges that life can be difficult and that we all make mistakes, but they believe that by approaching life with mindfulness and compassion, we can overcome our challenges and find joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you move lightly
Take things easy and let life play out naturally
Why don't you move lightly
Don't be too forceful, let things happen on their own
That's your heart you're dealing with
You need to be gentle with yourself emotionally
That's your head you're messin' around with
Be careful not to overthink things and create problems for yourself
Let it all work out now, just let go
Don't try to control everything and just let things happen
Pretty soon you're gonna know what you want to know
Things will become clear to you if you let go and take things slowly
You ought to walk softly
Be careful with your actions and don't damage yourself or others
That's a hard and heavy foot
You've been too forceful in your actions and need to calm down
If you win the world and lose your soul
It's not worth achieving material success if you sacrifice what's truly important
What good will it do you love don't come from gold
True happiness and love cannot be bought with wealth
Why don't you drift easy
Relax and enjoy the journey
If there's something you're still after
If you're still searching for something
Are you sure you're gonna like the way it'll make you feel
Consider the potential consequences of your actions and whether or not they align with your values
Well I won't worry 'cause I know you'll find
I trust that you'll ultimately make the right decisions for yourself
Your own way, in your own time, and I'm easy
Take your time and make your own decisions without pressure from anyone else, including me
And I'm gonna move lightly
I'll also take things easy and be patient with you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind