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)
Time Gone By
Carole King Lyrics
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To which we used to hearken
Echoes now in isolation
As the skies in fury darken
A thousand acts of desecration
Hundreds more continue
When why'know that you are all creation
You're gonna fight 'em with all that's in you
I remember time gone by
When peace and hope and dreams were high
We followed inner visions and touched the sky
Now we who still believe won't let them die
Waters dammed to overflowing
Like tears brimming over in our eyes
Sometimes it's so hard to keep on going
When promises turn to lies
Go ahead, give in to confusion
And put aside your ideals, too
Soon you'll see only illusion
Don't care who's hurt
As long as it's not you
I remember time gone by
When peace and hope and dreams were high
We followed inner visions and touched the sky
Now we who still believe won't let them die
Sometimes a leader emerges
And is followed for awhile
Doesn't matter what he encourages
As long as he's got style
Young ones conceived in a passion
Of directions we thought enlightened
Grown-up, they follow the mood in fashion
But beneath their bravado
You know they're frightened
I remember time gone by
When peace and hope and dreams were high
We followed inner visions and touched the sky
Now we who still believe won't let them die
Carole King's song "Time Gone By" speaks to the feelings of disillusionment and isolation that can come with seeing the world's problems and feeling powerless to effect real change. The opening verse sets the stage with a description of the world being in a state of chaos and decay. The rebel cry of the past, heard in movements for change and progress, is now only echoing in isolation as dark clouds of fury gather in the sky. The verse goes on to describe the countless acts of desecration and destruction happening all around us, and the feeling of being tiny and insignificant in the face of it all. Despite these feelings of powerlessness, though, the chorus comes in with a note of hope and remembrance. It takes us back to "time gone by" when "peace and hope and dreams were high." In that time, we followed inner visions and the world was wide open with possibility. The song suggests that time is gone, but not forgotten, and that those of us who still believe in a better world won't let those dreams die.
The second verse speaks more specifically to the feeling of being overwhelmed and not knowing how to keep going in the face of so much devastation. It focuses on the metaphor of overflowing water, suggesting that tears could be a metaphor for the sense of powerlessness and despair many feel when confronted with the world's problems. It suggests that it's easy to be confused and tempted to abandon our beliefs in the face of such challenges, but that this is a trap we must avoid. The illusion that ignoring the world's problems will make them disappear is just that - an illusion - and it will ultimately hurt those around us.
Finally, the last verse speaks to the idea of leadership and its ability to inspire or manipulate. It suggests that we've seen leaders come and go, some more inspiring than others, and that many people will follow someone simply because of their style or charisma. The verse also introduces the idea of generational shifts, and the way that ideas and values can change over time. Young people may be conceived in a passion for progress and change, but they can grow up to follow the "mood in fashion" rather than sticking to their ideals. But even in the face of all this, the chorus reassures us that those of us who still remember "time gone by" won't let those dreams of peace and hope and a better world die.
Line by Line Meaning
The rebel cry of desolation
The despairing shout of those who feel they have no voice
To which we used to hearken
Which we once listened to carefully and reverently
Echoes now in isolation
Now only ringing out in emptiness and solitude
As the skies in fury darken
As trouble and strife loom ever closer and more dangerous
A thousand acts of desecration
A great multitude of offenses against what was considered sacred
Hundreds more continue
With more and more happening every day
When why'know that you are all creation
When we know that all people come from the same divine source
You're gonna fight 'em with all that's in you
You will do everything in your power to struggle against them
I remember time gone by
I have recollections of days past
When peace and hope and dreams were high
When we felt that the future held great promise and goodness
We followed inner visions and touched the sky
We pursued our deepest hopes and desires and felt like we could accomplish anything
Now we who still believe won't let them die
Those of us who continue to have faith will not allow hope and idealism to fade completely
Waters dammed to overflowing
Emotions and frustrations that have been held back for too long and are now becoming overwhelming
Like tears brimming over in our eyes
Like the sorrow and anguish that cannot be contained
Sometimes it's so hard to keep on going
At times, the challenges we face make it seem almost impossible to continue moving forward
When promises turn to lies
When the things we once trusted and believed in turn out not to be true
Go ahead, give in to confusion
Succumb to feeling baffled and uncertain
And put aside your ideals, too
And abandon the principles that you once held dear
Soon you'll see only illusion
You will realize that what you believed was true was nothing more than a mirage
Don't care who's hurt
With no regard for who may be harmed in the process
As long as it's not you
As long as you do not bear the brunt of the negative effects
Sometimes a leader emerges
At times, a person arises who can rally others and be a guiding force
And is followed for awhile
And for a time, others rally behind this person and support them
Doesn't matter what he encourages
It doesn't matter what this person is actually urging others to do
As long as he's got style
As long as this person has charisma and appeals to others
Young ones conceived in a passion
Those who were born from an intense and fervent spirit
Of directions we thought enlightened
Of ways of thinking that we believed were particularly informed and wise
Grown-up, they follow the mood in fashion
As they matured, they began to simply go along with what was currently popular and trendy
But beneath their bravado
But despite their outward display of confidence
You know they're frightened
It is clear that deep down, they are afraid and uncertain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind