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)
Quiet Place to Live
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I can enjoy the fruits of my labor
Read the paper
And not have to cry out loud
In my mind I can see it crystal clear
Sharing my dreams with the people around me
Now they surround me
What will become of us
What about the children
What will they do to us next time around
What will the answer be
What will it mean to me
When are they gonna see we're underground
Here underground
And all I want is a quiet place to live
Where I can be free in a world of my making
Instead of taking
What they decided to give
I wouldn't want what they have, no
If I could only find
A quiet place to live
In this song, Carole King sings about her desire for a peaceful and quiet life, away from the chaos and noise of the world. The first verse expresses her simple desires, such as enjoying the fruits of her labor and reading the paper without having to cry out loud. She contemplates her ideal world where she can share her dreams with people around her and be just a part of the crowd. However, her thoughts turn to the reality of her situation, and her fears about what the future holds for her and her children. She wonders what will become of them and what they will do to her and her community. The world seems to be moving at such a quick pace that people cannot keep up with it, and this situation has left many people feeling like they are living underground, away from the light of the sun.
In the chorus, King repeats her desire for a quiet place to live where she can be free in a world of her own making. She wishes she could have a life where she does not have to take what society has decided to give her. Instead, she wants to live on her own terms and have complete control over her life. She ends the song with a powerful statement that if she could find a quiet place to live, she wouldn't want what they have, meaning the people who are living a life that society has dictated for them.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want is a quiet place to live
I desire a peaceful home where I can relax and enjoy the rewards of my hard work without any disturbance.
Where I can enjoy the fruits of my labor
A place where I can indulge in the benefits of all my achievements.
Read the paper
I crave a space where I can read the newspaper without any noise or distraction.
And not have to cry out loud
Somewhere I can express my emotions silently without having to shout or scream in frustration.
In my mind I can see it crystal clear
I have a vivid imagination of my peaceful haven.
Sharing my dreams with the people around me
I wish to converse about my aspirations with those close to me.
Now they surround me
Those same people are present in my life and around me.
And I'm just a part of the crowd
Despite living in a utopia, I am still just a member of society.
What will become of us
I am concerned about our future.
What about the children
I am worried about the younger generation's fate.
What will they do to us next time around
I fear what the future holds for us, as well as the mistreatment we may face.
What will the answer be
I am uncertain about the solution to these issues.
What will it mean to me
I ponder how the future will impact my own life.
When are they gonna see we're underground
I feel our situation is dire and not being taken seriously enough by those in power.
Here underground
We are living in a state of marginalization and neglect.
And all I want is a quiet place to live
Still, all I crave is a sanctuary to live in silence and serenity.
Where I can be free in a world of my making
A place where I am liberated to craft my ideal environment.
Instead of taking
In contrast to being given what others dictate.
What they decided to give
To have autonomy, instead of being forced to accept whatever is given to me.
I wouldn't want what they have, no
I reject the common lifestyle and don't want the same as those in power.
If I could only find
If only I could discover that perfect, tranquil residence.
A quiet place to live
Where living in peace is a given and not a dream.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind