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)
UP ON A ROOF
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
Up on the roof
On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh, let's go up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-telling you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble-proof
Up on the roof
So if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two, up on the roof
Up on the roof, everything is allright
Up on the roof, oh, come on, baby
Up on the roof
Up on the roof
Carole King's "Up on the Roof" is a song of pure escapism. The song's protagonist has had enough of the chaos and the noise of the outside world, and she knows just the place to find solace- up on the roof. The song's lyrics beautifully describe the feeling of being on top of the world with no one to bother you. The singer talks about how going up on the roof is her way of dealing with the pressure of the world when it gets too much. Carole King's soothing voice, coupled with the gentle strumming of the guitar, transports the listener to a place of peace, away from the madness of the world.
The first verse of the song talks about how difficult it can be to face the world when it gets too much. The singer goes up to the top of the stairs to escape everything that's bothering her. She goes up on the roof, where things are peaceful, and all her worries drift into space. The second verse talks about how tired and beaten she feels when she comes home after a long day, but going up on the roof makes everything better. The chorus acknowledges that for anyone facing the pressures of the world, there is always room enough for two up on the roof.
Line by Line Meaning
When this old world starts getting me down
When I'm feeling overwhelmed by the harshness of reality
And people are just too much for me to face
And I find it difficult to deal with the actions and expectations of others
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
So I go up high to seek solitude and escape the noise of life
And all my cares just drift right into space
And in that space, all my worries and anxiety seem to disappear
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
Being on the roof brings a sense of tranquility
And there the world below can't bother me
On the roof, I feel like I am removed from the distractions and chaos of the world below
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
When I come home feeling exhausted and defeated
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I go to the roof where the air is clean, and I can breathe easy
I get away from the hustling crowds
I escape from the noisy and busy atmosphere of society
And all that rat race noise down in the street
And all the commotion and struggle of daily life on the street
On the roof's the only place I know
Being on the roof is the only place where I feel at peace
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Where I believe that anything is possible as long as I wish it to be
Oh, let's go up on the roof
Oh, come with me to the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
During the night, the stars are a free spectacle to enjoy
And darling, you can share it all with me
And dear, I invite you to share this moment with me
I keep a-telling you
I keep emphasizing to you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
That even in a bustling urban center
I found a paradise that's trouble-proof
I have discovered a place of refuge that is free from distress
So if this world starts getting you down
So if the world ever gets you down
There's room enough for two, up on the roof
There's plenty of space for both of us on the roof
Up on the roof, everything is all right
On the roof, everything feels peaceful
Up on the roof, oh, come on, baby
On the roof, oh please, come with me
Up on the roof
Let's go on the roof
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan1984
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh-oh, let's go up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I've found a paradise that's trouble proof
So if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two
Up on the roof
Up on the roof
Everything is alright,
Up on the roof
Oh, come on, baby
Come on, come on, come on, now darling
Up on the roof
Oh, everything is alright
Everything is alright
Everything is alright
Up on the roof
λΉμ νμΈμ
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right in to space
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh, let's go up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-telling you
Right smack dad in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble free
So if this world starts getting you down
there's room enough for two up on the roof
Up on the roof
Everything is all right
Oh, come on baby
Deany
Inspirational. Healing. Our world is betterthrough Carole King's musical talents and words of wisdom. Tapestry a lovely piece of art, as all her albums. Carole's interviews lift our spirits. Carole reminds us all of our unique gifts & good within. Carole your songs & wise words helped me through a painful week. Bless you. Congrats on your well deserved 2021 Oct Induction to Rock N Roll Hall of Fame!
Martin Tobin
As an ex-musician with a degree in music, I think that's one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard! Brava!!
Yose Mite
How can you be an ex-musician?
Carl Kuss
Soulful and warm. I am a Catholic priest and I stand in awe before the gift God gave to this Jewish woman. For me there is some wonderful message there. Every single person and nation encloses a precious gift of God and I give thanks.
Carl Kuss
@Matt Finish One is better than none!
Raymond LeRoy
Just saw this was recorded the month my wife and I married. One of our first purchases was Tapestry. Wore out the album. It was kind of the soundtrack of our early years of marriage. Just celebrated 51.
maria eugenia Vicencio
UNA GRANDE CAROL KING !!!! bellos recuerdos de mi juventud
Martin Tobin
I think this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written! Truly inspired!!
Matt A.
Such a gifted composer. I love her music.
localtowee
So many of us have been there. But never been up on the roof.
Carole King took us there.
Beautiful song from a beautiful person.