James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001) came to prominence as a Soul s… Read Full Bio ↴James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001) came to prominence as a Soul singer during the mid-1960s. He has often been recognized as one of that era's greatest vocalists, placing him alongside an elite list that includes Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Born in Coahoma County, Mississippi in 1942, Carr's family had moved to Memphis when he was still a young child. It was here that he discovered music through the sound of Gospel, listening to artists such as Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers. In 1963, he signed with the Memphis label Goldwax, and while on their roster, released a string of hit singles, including You've Got My Mind Messed Up and his signature tune, The Dark End Of The Street, penned by Dan Penn.

His life took a turn, though, as he became a victim of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as stints with manic depression that found him hospitalized in a mental health facility. He had almost disappeared entirely when he started performing again on rare occasions in the early 1990s, often working with Tyrone Davis or Otis Clay.

Carr had suffered from lung cancer for many years, spending the end of his life in a nursing home in Memphis. At the age of 58, James Carr died there from his battle with the disease on January 7, 2001. It is said that he had been analphabetic.

That's The Way Love Turned Out For Me
James Carr Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Brand new day, brave new man
It's a miracle what love can do
All the joys romance can bring
Come smiling down on a heart that's true
When love is real, you can't turn it around
It's like a river running down to the sea
This old world turns around for lovers like you
It's not The Way Love Turned Out For Me.

People in love build a house they can share
Takes a long time to get it just right
But a fire can start in the kitchen somewhere
And burn that little house down overnight
That flame burning bright in your heart
I believed that you turned it on just for me
Another man held that fire
Burned our house to the ground
That's The Way Love Turned Out For Me.

People turn out for the big show
Pretty flowers turn out in the spring
And the light turns out in the kitchen
When somebody pulls on the string
But there's no light burning in my kitchen
And no doors open up with my key

And I ain't got no one to turn to
That's The Way Love Turned Out For Me.

Overall Meaning

In the song That's The Way Love Turned Out For Me by James Carr, the lyrics describe the ups and downs of love. It begins by portraying love as a beautiful thing that can transform a man and bring joy and happiness into his life. However, it also states that once love is real, it cannot be turned around or undone, much like a river running down to the sea. This is interesting because while love can bring immense joy, it can also bring immense pain and loss.

The song goes on to describe the fragility of love and how easily it can be destroyed. Just like a house built by a couple in love, everything can be perfect until something unexpected happens and the house is burned down overnight. The fire burning bright in your heart that was believed to be turned on just for the singer was actually shared with another man who burned their little house to the ground. This shows how deceit and betrayal can ruin a beautiful love story.

The final verses of the song compare love to a big show and pretty flowers in the spring, all of which turn out beautifully. However, for the singer, there is no light burning in the kitchen and no doors open up for him, symbolizing the loneliness and despair that comes with losing love. The song concludes with the devastating realization that the singer has no one to turn to and that this is just how love turned out for him.

Line by Line Meaning

Brand new day, brave new man
Starting anew with a bold and fearless attitude

It's a miracle what love can do
Love has the power to work wonders

All the joys romance can bring
The happiness and pleasure that love can bring

Come smiling down on a heart that's true
True love brings blessings and happiness

When love is real, you can't turn it around
Genuine love is not something that can be reversed

It's like a river running down to the sea
Love flows naturally and cannot be stopped

This old world turns around for lovers like you
The world seems to revolve around happy and content lovers

It's not The Way Love Turned Out For Me.
My experience with love has been disappointing and disheartening

People in love build a house they can share
Couples create a home where they can live together

Takes a long time to get it just right
It takes a lot of effort and time to build a perfect home

But a fire can start in the kitchen somewhere
Even the most stable relationship can be unexpectedly destroyed

And burn that little house down overnight
The damage done to a relationship can happen suddenly and quickly

That flame burning bright in your heart
The passion that one feels for their significant other

I believed that you turned it on just for me
I thought that my partner was fully devoted to me

Another man held that fire
My partner was involved with someone else

Burned our house to the ground
My relationship was destroyed because of infidelity

People turn out for the big show
People are drawn to big events and celebrations

Pretty flowers turn out in the spring
Spring brings beauty and new life with blooming flowers

And the light turns out in the kitchen
The warmth and coziness of a home

When somebody pulls on the string
When someone turns on the light or opens a door

But there's no light burning in my kitchen
I am left with emptiness and loneliness

And no doors open up with my key
I am locked out of the happiness that others experience

And I ain't got no one to turn to
I have no one to rely on or seek help from

That's The Way Love Turned Out For Me.
My experience with love has been lonely and dark

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE M L HALL, QUINTON CLAUNCH, RY COODER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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