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 Still Want Her
Carole King Lyrics
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Running circles 'round the emptiness within
And you wonder what it's been like to be her
As you feel yourself awakening
Though she fills her life between with new adventure
There's confusion in her eyes each time you meet
You don't think she's gonna last another winter
You can't believe you still want her
After all these years of knowing her so well
All the same you'd willingly consign yourself
To a life of hell
You would think by now you'd see it in perspective
She's too insecure to ever really change
You've convinced yourself this time you'll be objective
You won't need any breakin' in
There's no reason to believe it will be different
She's still playing games and running from herself
But you've always thought your love for her could save her
And that's how you get taken in
The lyrics to Carole King’s song “You Still Want Her” describe the conflict that one feels when they still have feelings for someone who they know is not good for them. In the first verse, the singer is in a place of introspection and reflection, wondering what it’s like to be the person they still want. They are awakening to the realization that despite spending time away from this person in their own solitude, they still yearn for them. In the second verse, the singer takes a closer look at the person they still want and recognizes that despite filling their life with new adventure, they are still confused and insecure. The singer doesn’t think this person will last another winter with all the challenges they continue to face.
Despite all the ways this person has shown the singer that they are not good for them, the singer still believes that their love can save them. The singer is aware that they are willingly consigning themselves to a life of hell but are determined to continue hurting themselves for the sake of love. The final verse explains that the singer has been in this position before, where they convince themselves that they will be objective this time and not fall for the same games. However, they are still taken in and remain convinced that their love can save this person despite all evidence to the contrary.
Overall, the lyrics of “You Still Want Her” reveal a situation where one’s emotions are in conflict with their own better judgment. The singer struggles to overcome their attachment to a person who they know is not good for them, choosing to believe that their love is powerful enough to save them.
Line by Line Meaning
From the shelter of your solitude you see her
You observe her from a distance, while being emotionally distant yourself.
Running circles 'round the emptiness within
Her chaotic lifestyle is a way to avoid confronting her inner emptiness.
And you wonder what it's been like to be her
You imagine what it must be like to be in her shoes.
As you feel yourself awakening
You are starting to reconnect with your own emotions.
Though she fills her life between with new adventure
She tries to distract herself from her problems by seeking novelty.
There's confusion in her eyes each time you meet
She is not sure what she wants or needs, causing her to behave erratically.
You don't think she's gonna last another winter
You doubt her ability to overcome her problems or make meaningful changes.
With all the snow she's rakin' in
She is accumulating emotional baggage, like snow piling up on the ground.
You can't believe you still want her
Despite knowing her flaws, you still feel a strong attraction to her.
After all these years of knowing her so well
You have a deep familiarity with her, yet still find her captivating.
All the same you'd willingly consign yourself
You are willing to accept a difficult life with her, even though you know it won't be easy.
To a life of hell
You anticipate that being with her will be challenging, as if in a state of eternal torment.
You would think by now you'd see it in perspective
You should have learned from past experiences, yet still struggle to see clearly.
She's too insecure to ever really change
Her deep-seated insecurities make it difficult for her to make significant progress.
You've convinced yourself this time you'll be objective
You believe that you can approach the situation rationally, despite your emotions.
You won't need any breakin' in
You think you can handle her difficult personality without it causing you undue stress.
There's no reason to believe it will be different
Her behavior has been consistent in the past, suggesting it is unlikely to change.
She's still playing games and running from herself
She is avoiding confronting her own issues by behaving in a manipulative manner.
But you've always thought your love for her could save her
You believe that your feelings for her could be the catalyst for her to change.
And that's how you get taken in
Your idealistic view of her and your desire to help her blinds you to the reality of the situation, making you vulnerable to being hurt.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind