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)
Sweet Adonis
Carole King Lyrics
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In a city filled with numbers, they've forgotten their names
Like a lonely broken people without title, without claim
When every day's survival is one more night
Of shame, night of shame
Welcome home, sweet Adonis
Welcome back, my old friend
Welcome home, sweet Adonis
You heart needs time to mend
Welcome home, sweet Adonis, my old friend
Hoping for the promise, staying for the show
In a world of brief advantage, the victims come and go
Their faces seem so honest, their manners have such style
Oh, but when hunger means existence
There's a feast in every smile, every smile
So welcome home, sweet Adonis
Welcome back, my old friend
I'm glad to see you made it up that hard
Road once again
Welcome home, sweet Adonis
Your highway's found an end
Welcome home, sweet Adonis, welcome home
In 'Sweet Adonis,' a bittersweet ballad by Carole King, the listener is introduced to the scene of a city filled with people living on the edge. The title character, Adonis, has returned home after making it through some difficult challenges. He is warmly welcomed and congratulated on his survival, but it is clear that his heart is still in need of recovery. The lyrics depict a world where people are struggling to survive, living one day at a time, and 'waiting on tables while waiting on fame.' The lyrics paint a picture of a city where people are known only by their numbers and have forgotten their names. In this city of broken dreams, even the most honest faces and the most polished manners can't conceal the hunger that permeates the air.
The melancholy tone of 'Sweet Adonis' is lamenting the sad reality of a city where people live on the edge. The song speaks of a world where the distance between success and failure is a mere millimeter, and those who lose are left to cope with their shame. The welcome home message is one of hope, but it is also a reminder of the struggles that lay ahead. The song is a poignant reminder of the fact that it is often the most vulnerable who are most likely to experience the harsh realities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting on tables while waiting on fame
Working a menial job while hoping for a big break in show business
In a city filled with numbers, they've forgotten their names
Living in a crowded city where people are anonymous and lost among the masses
Like a lonely broken people without title, without claim
Feeling disconnected and hopeless, lacking any sense of purpose or belonging
When every day's survival is one more night
Struggling to get by every day, with each night bringing new challenges
Of shame, night of shame
Feeling embarrassed and degraded by their circumstances, with no way out
Welcome home, sweet Adonis
Celebrating the return of a person who has struggled and overcome obstacles
Welcome back, my old friend
Acknowledging a deep connection and history with the person being welcomed home
I'm glad to see you made it through your contests once again
Expressing relief and admiration that the person has survived and triumphed over their challenges
Your heart needs time to mend
Recognizing that the person has been through difficult experiences and needs time to heal emotionally
Hoping for the promise, staying for the show
Holding onto the hope of success while enduring the daily grind of trying to make it in show business
In a world of brief advantage, the victims come and go
Living in a society where success is fleeting and people are easily replaced and forgotten
Their faces seem so honest, their manners have such style
Being fooled by appearances and charm, even in a cutthroat industry
Oh, but when hunger means existence
When survival is at stake and there are no other options
There's a feast in every smile, every smile
Finding joy and sustenance in even the smallest pleasures or moments of success
Your highway's found an end
Acknowledging that the person's journey has reached a destination or conclusion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, DAVID PALMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind