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)
Standin' On The Borderline
Carole King Lyrics
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Between falling in love and falling apart
I'm ready to cross the borderline
If I can't have you, it'll break my heart
Nothing really holds a candle to love
But why'gotta know how to handle your love
If why'want it to last
Why'can't stand still on the borderline
You either make your move or why' turn away
I'm too close to the borderline
I'm coming across it, why' want me to stay
Why'know I'm experienced
Every day can't be a fireworks show
But when why'walk in the room
And it starts to glow
You don't have to tell me
I already know
We're ready to cross the borderline
Between falling in love and falling apart
We're ready to cross the borderline
If I can't have you, it'll break my heart
We're standin' on the borderline
Ready to cross the borderline
Standin' on the borderline
If I can't have you, it'll break my heart
We're standin' on the borderline
Ready to cross the borderline
Standin' on the borderline
If I can't have you, it'll break my heart
The lyrics to Carole King's "Standin' On The Borderline" express the tension between falling in love and falling apart. The singer is ready to cross the borderline into a romantic relationship with the subject of the song, but acknowledges that love is delicate and must be handled with care in order to last. The stakes are high; if the relationship doesn't work out, the singer's heart will break. The song highlights the importance of taking risks in love, but also the vulnerability that comes with doing so.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that love is not always easy; the singer notes that not every day can be a "fireworks show," but that there are moments when everything seems to glow. This highlights the ebb and flow of romantic relationships, and the importance of persevering through difficult times.
Overall, "Standin' On The Borderline" is a reflection on the complexities of love and the emotions that come with it. The song encourages listeners to take risks and follow their hearts, even when it feels risky or uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
We're standin' on the borderline
We are in a state of uncertainty and indecision about our relationship
Between falling in love and falling apart
We are at a critical juncture where our relationship can either deepen or end
I'm ready to cross the borderline
I am willing to take the risk of committing to this relationship and moving it forward
If I can't have you, it'll break my heart
This relationship is very important to me, and the thought of losing it is deeply upsetting
Nothing really holds a candle to love
Love is the most powerful force in our lives
But why'gotta know how to handle your love
To make love work, we need to know how to handle it and nurture it
If why'want it to last
If we want our love to endure
Why'just can't let it burn out too fast
We can't let our love fizzle out or die prematurely
Why'can't stand still on the borderline
We can't stay in a state of indecision forever - we need to make a choice
You either make your move or why' turn away
We need to take action to move our relationship forward or else it will stagnate and potentially fall apart
I'm too close to the borderline
I am in danger of falling apart from my partner if we don't take action to deepen our relationship
I'm coming across it, why' want me to stay
I am ready to commit to our relationship, and I hope my partner is willing to do the same
Why'know I'm experienced
I have been in relationships before and understand the challenges that come with them
Every day can't be a fireworks show
Not every day in a relationship will be filled with passion and excitement
But when why'walk in the room
But when I am with my partner and feel their love, it makes everything worthwhile
And it starts to glow
My love for my partner becomes more intense and passionate
We're ready to cross the borderline
Both of us are now willing to take the risk of committing to our relationship
If I can't have you, it'll break my heart
Our love is now so deep that the thought of losing it is almost unbearable
Standin' on the borderline
We are still in a state of uncertainty about our future together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GERRY GOFFIN, CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind