Born in Pasadena, California, Carnes pursued a songwriting career from an early age. She was a member of the New Christy Minstrels from 1966 to 1970. Kenny Rogers was also a member, and during this time Carnes met and married Dave Ellingson, with whom she would write most of her songs. For a short while in the early 1970s, she and Ellingson formed the folk duo Kim and Dave. Their track "Nobody Knows"" features on the Vanishing Point soundtrack, alongside another Carnes-Ellison track, "Sing Out for Jesus", performed by Big Mama Thornton.
Carnes began releasing solo music in the early 1970s. Her self-titled album in 1975 contained her first hit, You're a Part of Me" – later re-recorded as a duet with Gene Cotton. Carnes recorded her third album, Sailin', with producer Jerry Wexler. One track, "Love Comes From Unexpected Places", won best song at the 1977 American Song Festival and gained some additional notice after it was recorded by Barbra Streisand on her 1977 album, Superman.
In 1980, Carnes and Ellingson were invited to write a concept album for Kenny Rogers. Gideon follows the story of a fictional cowboy, with each track focusing on a moment in his life. Rogers asked Carnes to record "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" as a duet, and it became a major hit on the country and pop charts. Her cover version of the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles song "More Love" became her first solo hit single in 1980 when it reached the U.S. Top 10.
In 1981 she recorded the Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss song "Bette Davis Eyes". As the first single released from the album Mistaken Identity, it spent 9 weeks at number one on the US singles charts and became a worldwide hit. The single went on to become the #1 bestseller for the year and won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It is second only to Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" (released later in 1981 and late enough to be the number one single of 1982), which spent 10 weeks at number one, as the biggest hit of the entire decade of the 1980s. In 1986, she recorded "Room Enough For Two," theme to CBS sitcom "My Sister Sam" starring Pam Dawber and the late Rebecca Schaeffer.
It is ironic that Carnes' best known and most popular song "Bette Davis Eyes" written in 1974 was originally rejected by Carnes. It was only after a new instrumental arrangement was done by Bill Cuomo that Carnes agreed to record it and it became a huge hit. Bette Davis admitted to being a fan of the song and approached Carnes and the songwriters to thank them. Davis wrote to Carnes after the song was released and stated that she was very pleased with the song as it made her seem very up to date with her grandson. She had Carnes sing the song live for her at a tribute held just before her death.
Carnes continued to record and released several albums into the 1990s. These releases failed to reach the level of success of "Bette Davis Eyes", but by this time she was a highly respected songwriter, and collaborated with such artists as Barbra Streisand. Carnes has written three number one country songs: “The Heart Won’t Lie”, a hit duet for Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer”, a huge hit duet she performed with Kenny Rogers, and “Make No Mistake She’s Mine”, a duet performed by Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap. The latter song was originally "Make No Mistake, He's Mine," a No. 51 Pop hit in 1984 for Carnes and Streisand featured on Streisand's album Emotion. Also in 1984, Carnes sang on the No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit "What About Me?" with Rogers and James Ingram.
Co-writing with others, Carnes has had songs covered by such country stars as Deana Carter, Kevin Sharp, Sawyer Brown, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis and Tanya Tucker. She wrote "You Don't Love Me Anymore," a hit song on Tim McGraw's album A Place In The Sun.
In 2004, she re-appeared with a self-released album Chasin' Wild Trains.
In August 2005, her 1981 single “Draw Of The Cards” hit #1 on the internet radio request site FreezeFrameRadio.com.
She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Discography
* Rest on Me (1972)
* Kim Carnes (1975)
* Sailin' (1976)
* St Vincent's Court (1979)
* Romance Dance (1980) US #57
* Mistaken Identity (1981) US #1
* Voyeur (1982) US #49
* Cafe Racers (1983) US #97
* Barking at Airplanes (1985) US #48
* Light House (1986) US #116
* View from the House (1988)
* Checking Out The Ghosts (1991)
* Gypsy Honeymoon: Best of Kim Carnes (1993)
* Chasin' Wild Trains' (2004)
Bon Voyage
Kim Carnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to fit it in the sense of things
That might have been
Looking for the green flash
Hitting milliseconds just before the sun goes in
Bon Voyage
When you find the one
Like you're letting me go
Bon Voyage
After all this time you'd think
We'd know
Why are you letting me go
A magic in the moonlight
In a bar beside the ocean
Where we used to meet
Caught up in our circumstance
We spin out wheels just
Waiting for the string to break
I see your face in windows on the Seine
I'm still sitting in a cafe where
You said you'd wait
Like some romantic moment on the screen
You'd come running through that door
And then you're gone again
Bon Voyage
When you find the one
Don't let her go
Like you're letting me go
Bon Voyage
After all this time you'd think
We'd know
Why are you letting me go
The lyrics of Kim Carnes's song "Bon Voyage" tell the story of a relationship that is coming to an end. The singer of the song seems to be struggling with the idea of moving on and letting go. The opening lines paint a picture of a beautiful rainbow that can't be confined to the sense of things. This metaphor might imply that the relationship between the two characters was beautiful but too difficult to make sense of. The lines "Looking for the green flash, hitting milliseconds just before the sun goes in" express the idea that they were so close to having something perfect but missed it by just a little bit.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Bon Voyage" which is a French saying that means "have a good journey." The singer seems to be telling their partner to have a good journey with their new love, but the bitterness and sadness in their voice make it clear that they're not ready to let go. The second verse describes a scene in a bar by the ocean where the couple used to meet. The phrase "caught up in our circumstance" suggests that the relationship was complicated and perhaps prevented them from being happy. The singer is still haunted by their memories of the relationship and can't move on even though they know they have to.
Overall, "Bon Voyage" is a poignant portrayal of heartbreak and moving on. The song conveys the frustration of letting go of something beautiful that didn't work out. The singer wrestles with their emotions and memories, ultimately realizing that they need to say goodbye and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagining the rainbow
Thinking of perfect things that are impossible to achieve
Trying to fit it in the sense of things
Attempting to make sense of something that may not make sense
That might have been
Reflecting on possibilities that did not occur
Looking for the green flash
Searching for something rare and fleeting
Hitting milliseconds just before the sun goes in
Trying to catch something elusive before it disappears
Bon Voyage
Wishing someone a good journey
When you find the one
When you discover the person you are meant to be with
Don't let her go
Do not make the mistake of losing her
Like you're letting me go
As if you are careless about losing me
After all this time you'd think
Despite the length of time that has passed
We'd know
We would have learned something
Why are you letting me go
Why are you allowing me to slip away?
A magic in the moonlight
A mystical feeling that occurs under certain conditions
In a bar beside the ocean
At a place where land and sea meet
Where we used to meet
A location that was once significant
Caught up in our circumstance
Overwhelmed by our current situation
We spin out wheels just
We are stuck in a cycle of repetition
Waiting for the string to break
Waiting for a crucial moment when everything changes
I see your face in windows on the Seine
I recall memories of you in places we shared together
I'm still sitting in a cafe where
I am waiting in a place where we arranged to meet
You said you'd wait
You promised that you would remain there
Like some romantic moment on the screen
Similar to a scene from a love story
You'd come running through that door
You would enter dramatically
And then you're gone again
And then you disappear once more
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KIM CARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnny English
I only got into this song in the last couple of months. It is amazing in my opinion. Haunting and emotionally powerful. I bought Mistaken Identity and loved it but why did this song not get much airplay is beyond me.
Marilyn Shively
OMG I haven't heard these songs for 30 years! At that time I got a great job and a car to go with it- I bought this album and it played all the time I was in my car. I love each of these songs.
professora22
I added it to 4 of my playlists so much I love it! Thank you sooo much! Beautiful job!
MrBc61
Thank you!
Richard Smits
what a great song !!!!!!!
Traveling Hippies
Thank you, MrBc61. I've been coming back for years to listen to it. It touches my soul. Many tears while listening to it in the past, now just the good memories are left.
simone beumer
Such a nice song
chenper
Bon Voyage
When you find the one
Don't let her go
Like you're letting me go
Silke W.
...es ist schon soooooo alt,und trotzdem höre ich es immer noch so gerne !!! ♥
KMarabia
i cant stop crying :(