Ties That Bind
Carole King Lyrics


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Once I heard long, long ago
That love's so hard to find
But if you got it, don't let go
All the ties that bind

The times when I can hold you
In my heart and in my mind
Are the times when I can really know you
And leave the rest behind

Go on and make believe if you want to
It's a real good sign
And stay with me if you like to
Come on, put your hand in mine

Down on the sidewalk, out on the street
Needing a connecting line
You tie up with some other people you meet
And the day begins to shine
All the ties that bind

The day begins to shine
In my heart and in my mind
All the ties that bind




All the ties
The ties that bind

Overall Meaning

Carole King's "Ties That Bind" speaks about the unbreakable, intangible bonds of love and human connection. The song starts off with the acknowledgment that love is hard to find, and once you find it, don't let it go. It encourages listeners to embrace those times when they can truly know someone and leave everything else behind. The lyrics suggest that imagination, belief, and trust in others are essential to strengthening the connections that tie us all together. When we "tie up" with people we meet on the street, we begin to shine, and these ties that bind us become even more significant.


The song's upbeat tempo and bright melody work together to uplift the listener, emphasizing the presence of light in our lives, even amidst darkness. The song seems to be urging us to cherish the people around us, to connect with others, and to embrace the love we encounter, even if it involves taking a leap of faith. Overall, "Ties That Bind" is a call to action – urging listeners to hold tight to the people and connections that matter most.


Line by Line Meaning

Once I heard long, long ago
I was told a long time ago


That love's so hard to find
That love is difficult to find


But if you got it, don't let go
But if you have it, hold on tight


All the ties that bind
All the connections that keep you together


The times when I can hold you
Moments when I can embrace you


In my heart and in my mind
Emotionally and mentally


Are the times when I can really know you
Are when I can truly understand you


And leave the rest behind
And forget about everything else


Go on and make believe if you want to
Imagining something is fine


It's a real good sign
It's a positive indicator


And stay with me if you like to
If you enjoy my company, stick around


Come on, put your hand in mine
Hold my hand and let's connect


Down on the sidewalk, out on the street
Walking along the side of the road


Needing a connecting line
Desiring a way to link up


You tie up with some other people you meet
You form bonds with other individuals you encounter


And the day begins to shine
And everything starts to look brighter


All the ties that bind
All the connections that keep you bound together


The day begins to shine
The moment when everything is perfect


In my heart and in my mind
Emotionally and mentally


All the ties that bind
All the connections that hold you close


All the ties
All the bonds


The ties that bind
The connections that join people together




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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