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)
Draw Of The Cards
Kim Carnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hands of fate
Chance you take
Life's a snake
And it's all in the draw of the cards
Lightnin' strike
Red black or white
Watch 'em fall
And it's all in the draw of the cards
And it's all in the draw of the cards
Drop the cards
Watch the eyes
Down and dirty
Let 'em ride
Boulevard
Small cafe
Cavaliers
Pass the day
The joker laughs
From the street
Weaves his web
Bittersweet
Ace is high
Deuce is low
Take the first
The rest should go
And it's all in the draw of the cards
And it's all in the draw of the cards
The song Draw Of The Cards by Kim Carnes is an insightful look into the game of gambling and the role it can play in life. The lyrics use metaphors of chance and fate to describe the game of cards and how it can mirror one's own existence. The idea of "sleight of hand" and "hands of fate" suggest that one's destiny can be influenced by both one's own actions and the random luck of the draw.
The lyrics go on to describe the potential outcomes of the game, from the excitement of a lightning strike of good luck to the feeling of being suffocated like a snake by bad luck. The chorus repeats the idea that everything comes down to the draw of the cards, emphasizing that regardless of one's skill or preparation, luck ultimately plays a role in one's fate.
The second verse introduces new imagery, such as a small cafe where cavaliers pass the day and the joker weaves his web of bittersweet humor on the street. The verse continues to describe the game of cards, using the idea of high and low cards to suggest that in life, one should aim to "take the first" or the best opportunities presented to them, and hope that the rest will follow suit.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleight of hand
Deceptive dexterity for cheating at cards
Hands of fate
Outcomes predetermined by destiny
Chance you take
Risking an uncertain result
Life's a snake
A twisting creature of unpredictable nature
And it's all in the draw of the cards
The outcome depends solely on the cards drawn
Lightnin' strike
A sudden and powerful event
Breath of life
The vital force of existence
Red black or white
Colors of the suits in a deck of cards
Watch 'em fall
Witnessing the consequences of the cards drawn
Drop the cards
Discarding unwanted cards
Watch the eyes
Observing the expressions of other players for signs of bluffing
Down and dirty
Playing ruthlessly and without scruples
Let 'em ride
Continuing to play despite risks and losses
Boulevard
A street lined with shops and businesses
Small cafe
An establishment for refreshments
Cavaliers
Dashing and chivalrous gentlemen
Pass the day
Spending time leisurely
The joker laughs
A card symbolizing humor and trickery
From the street
Originating from the lower class and outside society's norms
Weaves his web
Crafting a deceptive plan
Bittersweet
Combining pleasure and pain
Ace is high
The most valuable card
Deuce is low
The least valuable card
Take the first
Choosing the initial card carefully
The rest should go
Discarding less useful cards to improve the overall hand
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAL CHRISTIAN GARAY, KIM CARNES, BILL CUOMO, DAVE ELLINGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ashraf Ibrahiem
Sleight of hand
Hands of fate
Chance you take
Life's a snake
And it's all in the draw of the cards
Lightning strikes
Breath of life
Red, black or white
Watch 'em fall
And it's all in the draw of the cards
And it's all in the draw of the cards
Drop the cards
Watch the eyes
Down and dirty
Let 'em ride
Boulevard
Small café
Cavaliers
Pass the day
The joker laughs
From the street
He weaves his web
Bittersweet
(Bittersweet, bittersweet)
(Bittersweet, bittersweet)
Ace is high
Deuce is low
Take the first
The rest should go
And it's all in the draw of the cards
And it's all in the draw of the cards
Of the cards
KI SS
Her best song. So insanely good!!!
Mark Kezar
I like this beat.
philippe croix
This song is awesome!! Very underrated! I loved it as a 10 year old. I sill love it as much now!
Altaf Ahmad
Kim Carnes in 80s was truly drawing 4aces up her sleeves with:
Bette Davis Eyes
Voyeur
Young Love
Draw of the Cards
Mistaken Identity
Super guitar play,trumpet,key boards,and to keep a trance with the unique husky vocals.
Mega Therion
I just blasted out a 16-second fart
Red Cloud
Masterpiece 🙏❤️❤️❤️
OneCharming Bastard
Have just fallen down a Kim rabbit hole these last 45 minutes and forgot how much great stuff she had.
Harold Elrod
Invisible Hands and You Make My Heart Bear Faster were also great tracks from ‘83!
DAVID VOZZY YOGA
As a kid I was obsessed with "the snake man". One of my favorites as a kid. Still one of my favorites as an adult. Go Kim!!!
Bloke_19xx
A major 'lost hit' by Kim Carnes. Didn't get enough airplay compared to BDE, but still: Great vocals and arrangements. What a very beautiful, haunting voice. Perfect for this song.