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)
One Was Johnny
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One was Johnny who lived by himself
Two was a rat who jumped on his shelf
Three was a cat who chased the rat
Four was a dog who came in and sat
Five was a turtle who bit the dog's tail
Six was a monkey who brought in the mail
(One was Johnny)
Eight was a tiger out selling old clothes
Nine was a robber who took an old shoe
Ten was a puzzle, what should Johnny do
(One was Johnny)
He stood on a chair and said,
Here's what I'll do, I'll start to
Count backwards
And when I am through
If this house isn't empty, I'll eat
All of you!
Nine was the robber who left looking pale
Eight was the tiger who chased him to jail
Seven was the blackbird flew off to Havana
Six was the monkey who stole the banana
Five was the turtle who crawled off to bed
Four was the dog who slid home on a sled
(One was Johnny)
Three was the cat who pounced on the rat
Two was the rat who left with the cat
(One was Johnny, one was Johnny,
One was Johnny)
One was Johnny who lived by himself
And liked it like that!
(One was Johnny, one was Johnny)
The lyrics of Carole King's "One was Johnny" tell the story of a whimsical and somewhat chaotic sequence of events that take place in a single individual's home. The eponymous Johnny is introduced first, as a solitary figure living alone. The story then unfolds via a series of numerical increments, from two to ten, each of which depicts another creature (animal or human) entering the scene and affecting Johnny's environment in one way or another. As the sequence progresses, the events become more nonsensical, with a turtle biting a dog's tail, a monkey delivering the mail, and a blackbird attacking Johnny's nose. The final section of the song depicts Johnny's strategy for restoring order: counting backwards down from ten and threatening to eat whoever remains when he is finished counting. Through this escalating absurdity, the song emphasizes the value of a solitary life, suggesting that Johnny is content with his own company and able to confront even the most chaotic of circumstances.
The lyrics of "One was Johnny" represent a clear departure from the more straightforward, heartfelt content that characterizes much of Carole King's songwriting. Instead, the song's playful tone and silly narrative structure align it more closely with the genre of children's music. The tune is simple and upbeat, with a melody that lends itself to singalong interpretation. Despite this childlike whimsy, however, there are elements of the lyric that may resonate with an adult audience as well; Johnny's preference for solitude, for example, may speak to anyone who has ever craved a moment of peace and quiet. Ultimately, however, the song is a lighthearted romp through a zany, imaginative world.
Line by Line Meaning
One was Johnny who lived by himself
There was a man named Johnny who preferred to be alone.
Two was a rat who jumped on his shelf
A rodent named Rat intruded on Johnny's personal space by leaping onto his shelf.
Three was a cat who chased the rat
A feline named Cat pursued Rat, seeking to capture or kill it.
Four was a dog who came in and sat
A Canine named Dog entered the room and casually took a seat.
Five was a turtle who bit the dog's tail
An amphibian named Turtle bit the tail of Dog, causing discomfort or annoyance.
Six was a monkey who brought in the mail
A primate named Monkey delivered mail to Johnny's home.
Seven a blackbird pecked poor Johnny's nose
A bird named Blackbird pecked Johnny on the nose, causing pain or injury.
Eight was a tiger out selling old clothes
A feline named Tiger was selling second-hand garments or textiles.
Nine was a robber who took an old shoe
A criminal named Robber stole a singular, unimportant article of footwear.
Ten was a puzzle, what should Johnny do
Johnny was presented with a quandary, unsure of how to proceed.
He stood on a chair and said,
Johnny took action and stood on a higher surface to address the inhabitants of his home.
Here's what I'll do, I'll start to
He articulated a course of action, specifically involving counting backwards.
Count backwards
Johnny began to recite decreasing numbers in order.
And when I am through
Once Johnny finishes counting, his next course of action will depend on the state of his domicile.
If this house isn't empty, I'll eat
If Johnny still has unwelcome guests, his intentions involve consuming them.
All of you!
Johnny desires to devour all who remain present.
Nine was the robber who left looking pale
Robber, having heard Johnny's declaration, fled nervously.
Eight was the tiger who chased him to jail
Tiger pursued Robber and escorted him to confinement.
Seven was the blackbird flew off to Havana
Blackbird flew to Havana, Cuba, likely to escape Johnny's wrath or find new opportunities.
Six was the monkey who stole the banana
Monkey appropriated one of Johnny's bananas for personal consumption.
Five was the turtle who crawled off to bed
Turtle withdrew from the situation and retired to sleep.
Four was the dog who slid home on a sled
Dog returned home via sled, likely implying their home was snowbound.
Three was the cat who pounced on the rat
Cat recaptured Rat after their initial conflict.
Two was the rat who left with the cat
Rat and Cat left Johnny's home together, looking for new adventures or opportunities.
One was Johnny who lived by himself
The song ends with reaffirmation of Johnny's initial status as an independent individual.
And liked it like that!
Johnny's last line serves as a declaration of his preference for life without companionship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, MAURICE SENDAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind