Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American … Read Full Bio ↴Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of all time, King is the most successful female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century in the US, having written or co-written 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100. King also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1962 and 2005.

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)

Such Sufferin
Carole King Lyrics

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What a life it is
The hardships, the tears
The desperate years
Such sufferin'

Give me a Bufferin!
And what have I got?
True, it's a lot!

But so what?

There's got to be more to being so great
To looking first-rate and staying out late
Just look at the state I'm in!

Oh!
Such sufferin'
My days are full of sufferin' and
Bufferin

I've really learned the hard way
That pastas and cakes
And french fries and steaks
Are not such great shakes

That castles in Spain
Are just a big pain
That life is inane
If you're sufferin'
I'm not blufferin'!

Can't wonders like me
Learn how to be
Happy and grateful
For just a mere plateful

Of life's simple goodies?
I wish it were so
But the answer is NO!
So I suffa

Get tougha
And don't get enougha
Anything
Us Super-Dupers

Are regular troopers
We give all we got
And believe it or not
That's a lot!

The standing ovations!
The keys to all nations!
Bermuda vacations!
Money! Success!

I'd settle for less
If I could stop this

Sufferin'!
Oh such sufferin'
Foo on such sufferin'
Poo on such sufferin'

Oh, nuts to all this sufferin'
Gimme a Bufferin

Overall Meaning

The song Such Sufferin' by Carole King is a poignant reflection on the hardships, tears and desperate years that one has to go through in life. In the first stanza, the singer speaks about the difficulties of life and the constant suffering that accompanies it. She wants relief, and the only thing that she can think of is a Bufferin, which is a brand name for a pain reliever.

In the second stanza, the singer reflects on the concept of greatness and how it is much more than just looking first-rate and staying out late. She is not happy with the state that she is in and expresses her misery through the repetition of 'Oh! Such sufferin'. In the third stanza, she realizes that her dietary habits have led her to this suffering. Eating pastas, cakes, french fries, and steaks have not done her any good. Even castles in Spain are just a big pain. Life seems meaningless if one has to suffer.

In the final stanza, the singer reflects on her life and wishes that she could be happy and grateful for the simple things. But she knows that it is not possible, and she continues to suffer. The song ends with a plea to get tough and not give up. Carole King's Such Sufferin' is a beautiful representation of the struggles and hardships that everyone encounters in life.

Line by Line Meaning

What a life it is
Life is not easy

The hardships, the tears
There are many challenges and difficulties that cause sadness

The desperate years
In some difficult times, it feels like there is no hope

Such sufferin'
All of this can cause great pain

Give me a Bufferin!
A reference to a pain reliever, wanting relief from the suffering

And what have I got?
Despite the struggles, there are still things to be grateful for

True, it's a lot!
There are many blessings in life

But so what?
However, the suffering still persists

There's got to be more to being so great
Success has to be more than just fame and fortune

To looking first-rate and staying out late
Being successful should involve more than just appearances and partying

Just look at the state I'm in!
Despite fame and success, the suffering remains

Oh! Such sufferin'
The pain is overwhelming

My days are full of sufferin' and Bufferin
Trying to manage the pain with medication is a constant struggle

I've really learned the hard way
Experience has taught me some difficult lessons

That pastas and cakes And french fries and steaks Are not such great shakes
Indulging in food and luxury does not bring happiness or relief from pain

That castles in Spain Are just a big pain That life is inane If you're sufferin'
Ambitious dreams can bring more pain than pleasure, life feels meaningless when suffering

I'm not blufferin'!
I'm not lying, the pain is real

Can't wonders like me Learn how to be Happy and grateful For just a mere plateful Of life's simple goodies?
Despite fame and success, cannot find happiness in the simple pleasures of life

I wish it were so But the answer is NO! So I suffa
Sadly, it is not easy to overcome the pain

Get tougha And don't get enougha Anything
Have to be tough and not take anything for granted

Us Super-Dupers Are regular troopers We give all we got And believe it or not That's a lot!
Despite the pain, continue to persevere and give everything

The standing ovations! The keys to all nations! Bermuda vacations! Money! Success!
The rewards of fame and success are great

I'd settle for less If I could stop this Sufferin'!
Despite the rewards, would give it up to stop the pain

Oh such sufferin' Foo on such sufferin' Poo on such sufferin' Oh, nuts to all this sufferin' Gimme a Bufferin
The pain is pervasive and overwhelming, just wanting relief from it all

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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