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 Baby James
Carole King Lyrics
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His horse and his cattle are his only companions
He works in the saddle and sleeps in the canyons
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rockabye sweet baby James
Now the first of December was covered with snow
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
The Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me
So goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rockabye sweet baby James
"Sweet Baby James" is a folk song that was released by Carole King in 1970. The song features King on piano accompanied by acoustic guitar and harmonica. The lyrics tell a story of a young cowboy who lives on the range with his horse and cattle as his only companions. He works hard and waits for summer when his pastures will change. As night falls, he sits by his fire and sings a song about women, beer and the colors of nature. The chorus of the song features the singer bidding goodnight to the moonlight ladies and asking for rockabye for sweet baby James.
The song is a melancholic yet soothing lullaby that highlights the beauty of nature, home and companionship. The young cowboy is portrayed as a man who enjoys the simple things in life, such as taking care of his horse and cattle, waiting for summer and singing songs while gazing at the moon. The chorus, "rockabye sweet baby James" is an invitation to rest and sleep, suggesting that the young cowboy dreams of a deeper sense of companionship and belongingness.
"Sweet Baby James" was released in 1970 as the title track of Carole King's second album. The song went on to become one of her most popular songs of all time, and it has been covered by various artists, including James Taylor, for whom the song was written. The song was inspired by Taylor's upbringing in North Carolina where he spent most of his childhood on a farm. The song is said to have been written in 1969 when Taylor was feeling homesick and longing for a simpler way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range
A solitary cowboy lives in the vast expanse of the wilderness.
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
The cowboy keeps himself company with his horse and cows.
He works in the saddle and sleeps in the canyons
Working on horseback and sleeping under the stars in the canyons, the cowboy has a life of freedom.
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change
Looking forward to a change of season and grazing grounds, the cowboy waits patiently.
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Sitting by his campfire, the cowboy watches the moon ascend to the night sky.
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
The cowboy's thoughts drift to women and merry times, maybe with a pint of ale or two.
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
With the end of the day, the cowboy rests as his faithful cattle dogs slumber by his side.
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
Out of pure joy or maybe loneliness, the cowboy hums a tune that's soft but melodious.
As if maybe someone could hear
The cowboy sings as if to hope that someone may hear him and his cattle's echoes through the canyons.
Goodnight you moonlight ladies
The cowboy bids farewell to the beauty of the moonlight.
Rockabye sweet baby James
The cowboy softly sings out to someone called James, maybe a child or a beloved friend.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
The colors of nature that surround the cowboy - deep greens of the fields and blues of the sky - are his favorites.
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
The cowboy pleads to sleep peacefully with no disturbance or interruption.
And rockabye sweet baby James
Once again, the cowboy hums his song to James to maybe fall asleep.
Now the first of December was covered with snow
The scene changes from summer to winter and Carole King starts a new narrative.
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
The snowfall covers the roads leading up to Boston, creating a picturesque scene.
The Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
Berkshires, the elevated region shining with snow, looks like a dreamland.
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go
King imagines a long journey ahead with ten miles already gone behind her.
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
There is a folk tune that people sing when traveling on the highways.
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
There is also a sea shanty that many sing while taking voyages.
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
People sing about their belief in a home up in the sky or heaven.
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
People may believe in a heavenly abode if it gives them solace during sleepless nights.
But singing works just fine for me
King finds peace just by singing and humming her tunes while on her way.
So goodnight you moonlight ladies
As the song concludes, King bids adieu to the ladies of the moonlit night.
Rockabye sweet baby James
One more time, King quietly hums the song to soothe someone called James to sleep.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR, JAMES V TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind