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)
You Gentle Me
Carole King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When no one cares to listen
While I'm tryin' to explain
You see the anger rise in me
And you calm me down again
[Chorus]
Like the first spring lilac rain, you gentle me
And the feeling that remains grows
Stronger by degree
When you gentle to me
When rumor comes to call
Suspicion's taking over
And I'm back against the wall
You just smile assuringly
And my defenses fall
[Chorus]
When life seems so relentless, you gentle me
When my striving seems so senseless, you gentle me
You lift my spirits, I get higher by degree
When you're gentle to me
When tension's taking shape
When I feel the pressure building and
It's just too much to take
You touch the anxious need in me
With love for lovin''s sake
[Chorus]
In Carole King's song "You Gentle Me," the singer recognizes the calming and soothing effect that her partner has on her. The first verse speaks of how anger can build up and explode when no one listens, and how her partner's presence soothes her and helps her regain her composure. The chorus repeats the line "You gentle me" three times, indicating the depth of the singer's gratitude and appreciation for her partner's calming influence. The second verse speaks of how suspicion can lead to walls being put up, but her partner's smile and reassurance is all she needs to break down the walls and feel secure again. The last verse talks about how life can become relentless and how the pressure can be too much to take, but her partner's touch and love can ease her anxiousness.
The song is a beautiful testament to the power of love and how love can calm a person and make them stronger. It is a reminder that sometimes all we need is someone to be there for us and to bring a sense of calm and peace to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
When tempers flare to flame
When my anger is about to explode
When no one cares to listen
When no one is willing to listen to me
While I'm tryin' to explain
While I'm trying to make others understand my point of view
You see the anger rise in me
You notice that I'm getting angrier
And you calm me down again
And you help me control my anger
[Chorus]
Refrain
Like the first spring lilac rain, you gentle me
You make me feel refreshed and new, like the first rain of spring
Like innocence regained, you gentle me
You make me feel innocent and pure, like I'm getting a second chance
And the feeling that remains grows
And the feeling of being comforted and understood becomes stronger
Stronger by degree
Growing stronger and becoming more intense as time goes by
When you gentle to me
When you are kind and gentle to me
When rumor comes to call
When rumors or gossip start spreading
Suspicion's taking over
When I start becoming suspicious or paranoid
And I'm back against the wall
And I feel trapped or cornered
You just smile assuringly
You give me a reassuring smile
And my defenses fall
And I start to feel more relaxed and let my guard down
[Chorus]
Refrain
When life seems so relentless, you gentle me
When life feels so difficult and unforgiving, you comfort me
When my striving seems so senseless, you gentle me
When I feel like my efforts are meaningless, you give me hope and encouragement
You lift my spirits, I get higher by degree
You make me feel better and more positive, and my mood improves gradually
When you're gentle to me
When you are kind and gentle to me
When tension's taking shape
When tension or stress is building up
When I feel the pressure building and
When I feel overwhelmed and stressed
It's just too much to take
When I feel like I can't handle it anymore
You touch the anxious need in me
You help me deal with my anxiety and discomfort
With love for lovin''s sake
With genuine love and affection
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, DAVID PALMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind