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)
Stand Behind Me
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Needing to let myself out
Knowing beyond a doubt the past is behind me
There was nowhere but here to walk to
Letting the time go by
Trying to see if I could ever find me
Thinking about the dent I'd made in the world to date
Was I too late, you say
Should I create today
Or let it be
Now needing a hand to cling to
Lucky I was to find
Someone of similar mind to stand behind me
Not letting dazzlement blind me
Showing me where to find me
Willing to just be kind and stand behind me
In Carole King's song "Stand Behind Me," the singer expresses her feeling of needing someone to talk to and to let herself out. She acknowledges that the past is behind her and sees nowhere else to go but to move forward. She contemplates her significance in the world and if it's too late to create something new or if she should just let things be. She then finds solace in someone who has similar thinking to her by not letting her get blinded by distractions and reminding her of who she is. The person is willing to support and stand behind her as she moves forward.
The lyrics of this song paint a picture of a person who is experiencing self-doubt and is searching for direction. It shows that even the most successful and accomplished people can struggle with doubts and need support to move forward. The song illustrates the importance of having someone to talk to, someone to lean on, and someone to guide us when we need advice or direction.
Line by Line Meaning
I was wanting someone to talk to
I was feeling lonely and in need of emotional support
Needing to let myself out
I had been suppressing my true feelings and needed to express myself
Knowing beyond a doubt the past is behind me
I was aware that the past could not be changed and I needed to focus on the present and future
There was nowhere but here to walk to
I felt stuck in my current situation and saw no clear path forward
Letting the time go by
I was letting time pass and hoping for clarity or a new direction
Trying to see if I could ever find me
I was searching for my true self and direction in life
It didn't seem to make much sense
I was struggling to understand my purpose or make sense of my life
Thinking about the dent I'd made in the world to date
I was reflecting on my past accomplishments or lack thereof
Was I too late, you say
I was questioning if it was too late for me to make a difference or find my path
Should I create today
I was wondering if I should take action and create a new future for myself
Or let it be
I was considering the possibility of accepting my current situation and not making any changes
Now needing a hand to cling to
I felt vulnerable and in need of support
Lucky I was to find
I felt fortunate to have found
Someone of similar mind to stand behind me
Someone who shared my values and beliefs and was willing to support me
Not letting dazzlement blind me
This person wasn't impressed by superficial things and helped me stay focused on what was important
Showing me where to find me
This person helped me find my true self and path forward
Willing to just be kind and stand behind me
This person was supportive and kind, and willing to stand by me no matter what
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind