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)
Take Good Care of My Baby
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And through it really hurts me so
There's something that I gotta say
Take good care of my baby
Please don't ever make her blue
Just tell her that you love her
Make sure you're thinking of her
In everything you say and do
Now don't you ever make her cry
Just let your love surround her
Don't let her see a cloudy sky
Once upon a time that little girl was mine
If I'd been true I know she'd never be with you, so
Take good care of my baby
Be just as kind as you can be
And if you should discover
That you don't really love her
Just send my baby back home to me
Take good care of my baby
Please don't ever make her blue
Just tell her that you love her
Make sure you're thinking of her
In everything you say and do
Take good care of my baby
Now don't you ever make her cry
Just let your love surround her
Don't let her see a cloudy sky
Once upon a time that little girl was mine
If I'd been true I know she'd never be with you, so
Take good care of my baby
Be just as kind as you can be
And if you should discover
That you don't really love her
Just send my baby back home to me
Oh take good care of my baby, take good care of my baby
Just take good care of my baby
The lyrics of Carole King's song "Take Good Care of My Baby" describe the plea of a heartbroken man to his ex-girlfriend's new love interest, asking him to take care of her and make her happy. The song starts with the man's tears falling as he laments the fact that his ex-girlfriend is now with someone else. He admits that it hurts him deeply and that he has something to say. He then implores the new lover to take good care of his former love interest, to never make her feel blue, and to show her his love in every way possible. He asks that the new partner's love should surround her and that she should never see a cloudy sky.
The subject matter of the song might be familiar, but the lyrics delve into the emotional depths of one who has lost a significant other. The singer recognizes that it was his dishonesty or lack of commitment that caused the breakup and allowed for someone else to win her. He acknowledges that if he had been true and faithful to her, she would have never left him. It is clear that he still loves her and wants her to be happy, even if it is not with him, and is willing to let her go if the new partner truly loves her.
The melody of the song is bouncy and has a lively pace, meant to contrast with the melancholy lyrics. It was a success in the early '60s, reaching the top spot on the US charts and staying there for three weeks. It was later re-recorded by other artists such as Dickie Lee and Bobby Vinton, both versions charting well. The song has become a classic and is still played today in oldies radio stations and enjoyed by those who love the original sound of rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
My tears are fallin' cause you've taken her away
I am crying because you took my girl away from me
And through it really hurts me so
It pains me deeply
There's something that I gotta say
I need to say something
Take good care of my baby
Please take care of her
Please don't ever make her blue
Don't make her sad
Just tell her that you love her
Express your love to her
Make sure you're thinking of her
Keep her in your thoughts
In everything you say and do
In everything you do and say
Now don't you ever make her cry
Never make her cry
Just let your love surround her
Show her your love
Don't let her see a cloudy sky
Keep her happy
Once upon a time that little girl was mine
She used to be mine
If I'd been true I know she'd never be with you, so
If I had been honest, she wouldn't be with you
Be just as kind as you can be
Be very kind
And if you should discover
If you realize
That you don't really love her
If you don't truly love her
Just send my baby back home to me
Please send her back to me
Oh take good care of my baby, take good care of my baby
Please take good care of her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@notrombones5041
Interesting that Carole (the composer) doesn't sing the high notes in the bridge
that Bobby Vee sang in his version (in this version, around 1:05).
Compare with Vee's version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkWgQgaHMgg
It's the note that is both syllables in the word, "little".
Vee went higher, and it really works in the song.
It appears Bobby Vee may be responsible for that note, which occurs at a key moment
and is one of the catchiest parts of the song, IMO.
@stephenindc9102
"Oh, and by the way ... here's a new little thing that you might want to hear." Her demo versions are just great.
@RickGibbonsOfficial
As much as I love Bobby Vee's hit recording, this I love even more, so raw and shows off the power of both the writer and the singer (in the same person of course fo sho) without sticky studio syrup.
@jaddison1112
I love this demo ! Carole King is the Queen of early rock songs !
@snortworld
i like the way she casually drops in those great arrangement touches
@jimhilliker2450
She wrote the music and her husband Gerry Goffin wrote the lyrics, from what I have read. Fun to hear how she felt the song should be sung.
@xylfox
Allways interesting when the composer "interprets" his own song.This "versions" have validity Great song: No wonder the Beatles honored it with putting it on their Hamburg-times Set-list
@cbfall
Awesome classic!
@happychirpie3409
Excellent. A true legend.
@lourdescabrera2544
QUEEN OF QUEENS
@trfesok
In my Carole King playlist with the original hit by Bobby Vee, his later remake, and other covers by the Beatles, Dion, & Micky Dolenz. Thanks for the upload!