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)
School Bells Are Ringing
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
School bells are ringing
School bells are ringing
Ba-da
Ba-da
School bells are ringing
I feel so happy
Can't you hear them
School bells are ringing
My heart is singing
For today I can be with you
Ba-da
Ba-da
All the summer long
The blues kept hanging around
You went away to the country
And I had to stay in town
School bells are ringing
I feel so happy
I don't know what to do
Can't you hear them
School bells are ringing
My heart is singing
For today I can be with you
Ba-da
Ba-da
Homework in arithmetic
Can be a drag to do
But I don't think I will mind it too much
As long as I do it with you
Oh now
Oh now
School bells are ringing
I feel so happy
I don't know what to do
Can't you hear them
School bells are ringing
My heart is singing
For today I can be with you
Ba-da
Ba-da
School bells are ringing
I feel so happy
I don't know what to do
Can't you hear them
School bells are ringing
My heart is singing
For today I can be with you
Ba-da
Ba-da
School bells are ringing
Oh
Can't ya hear them
School bells are ringing
Whoa
The song entitled "School Bells Are Ringing" by Carole King is a cheerful and upbeat tune that captures the feeling of excitement and happiness that comes with the start of a new school year. The lyrics begin with the repetition of "School bells are ringing," which serves as a metaphor for the start of a new chapter in life. The singer feels ecstatic and doesn't know what to do with herself, expressing her joy in the lines "I feel so happy, I don't know what to do."
The next verse reveals that the singer had to endure a difficult summer while her partner was away in the country. This makes the start of the school year all the sweeter, as the two can finally be reunited. The verse "All the summer long, the blues kept hanging around," serves as a contrast to the happiness and excitement of the rest of the tune.
The final verse speaks to the excitement of doing homework with a partner. The singer doesn't mind arithmetic homework because she gets to do it with her significant other. This line reinforces the theme of togetherness throughout the song. The refrain repeats twice more, with increasing energy, creating a sense of anticipation and eagerness for the start of a new school year.
Line by Line Meaning
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
I feel so happy
The author is feeling very happy.
I don't know what to do
The author is so happy that they are unsure of how to react.
Can't you hear them
The author is asking if the listener can hear the school bells ringing.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
My heart is singing
The author is feeling overwhelmed with happiness.
For today I can be with you
The author is happy to be spending the day with the person they are with.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
All the summer long
The entire summer season.
The blues kept hanging around
The author was feeling down or sad for a long period over the summer.
You went away to the country
The author's companion left for the countryside.
And I had to stay in town
The author remained in town while their companion was away.
Homework in arithmetic
Math homework.
Can be a drag to do
The author usually does not enjoy math homework.
But I don't think I will mind it too much
The author thinks that doing math homework with their companion will make it more bearable.
As long as I do it with you
The author is happy to do math homework with their companion.
Oh now
An exclamation of enthusiasm or excitement.
Oh now
An exclamation of enthusiasm or excitement.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
I feel so happy
The author is feeling very happy.
I don't know what to do
The author is so happy that they are unsure of how to react.
Can't you hear them
The author is asking if the listener can hear the school bells ringing.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
My heart is singing
The author is feeling overwhelmed with happiness.
For today I can be with you
The author is happy to be spending the day with the person they are with.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
I feel so happy
The author is feeling very happy.
I don't know what to do
The author is so happy that they are unsure of how to react.
Can't you hear them
The author is asking if the listener can hear the school bells ringing.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
My heart is singing
The author is feeling overwhelmed with happiness.
For today I can be with you
The author is happy to be spending the day with the person they are with.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
Ba-da
A non-lyrical sound is heard.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
Oh
An exclamation for emphasis.
Can't ya hear them
A variation of 'Can't you hear them.' The author is again asking if the listener can hear the school bells ringing.
School bells are ringing
The sound of the school bells ringing is audible.
Whoa
An exclamation for emphasis or excitement.
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gail McKenzie
Love it❤❤
Elaine Evans
Life was so good then with nothing to worry about!
Charlene Preza
I WAS in elementary school the boys and girls were sizing each other up and down I LOVED school supplies crayons construction paper rulers pencils glue painting with jars of water paint on big easels wearing apron. For me teachers was authority cp
Tony Russi
Carole trying to sing like Little Eva. This was played on Miami POP radio.
Dana Wilkes
She wrote the songs for Little Eva.
Tony Russi
@Dana Wilkes no shit, I bought all those records new.
Dana Wilkes
@Tony Russi Then wouldn't you think it was the other way around. Little Eva trying to sound like her?
Tony Russi
@Dana Wilkes No, this record was AFTER It Might As Well Rain Until Sept. & Locomotion.