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)
I'll Be There Where The Heart Is
Kim Carnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you know I haven't seen you for a while
I lie awake at night and wonder how you are
And I wish that I could see you again
Is it fate, or is it luck that brings us back
Or is it just a common point of view
Time has put a spell on you, you never seem to change
[Chorus:]
I'll be here where the heart is
When the dreams that we've been after all come true
You will find me here where the heart is
I'll wait for you, I'll wait for you
It's the light that just keeps shining day after day
And other loves have come and gone
And I'll be here with open arms to take you in
I wish that I could see you again
[chorus]
And in between, and when I need to see you again
All I have to do is close my eyes
Are the pictures comin' in my friend
I'll hold you again, but until then
[chorus repeats out]
Kim Carnes's "I'll Be There Where The Heart Is" is a song reflecting on lost love and the longing to reunite with one's former flame. The song's opening lines express the singer's confusion over the absence of her former lover, whom she hasn't seen in a while, and how she wishes to have him back in her life. The singer wonders whether it is fate or pure coincidence that brings them back together or if they share a common point of view. Meanwhile, time seems to have frozen the man's character that he never seems to change even after their breakup. The singer still holds a torch for him and desires to see him again, but he is absent.
In the chorus, the singer claims that she will be waiting for her lover where the heart is, and when their dreams come true, he will find her waiting for him. The song's second verse describes the pain of having other loves come and go, while she is still waiting for her former lover with open arms. The final verse describes how the singer remembers her former lover when she is lonely and wishes to be with him again. However, all she can do is close her eyes and cherish the memories until they reunite again.
Overall, "I'll Be There Where The Heart Is" is a profound and heart-moving song, expressing the feeling of lost love and the desire to reunite with one's former love. The song's lyrics illustrate the pain of separation from a loved one and the anticipation of a happy reunion.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the song that just keeps playing on the radio
The song is constantly playing on the radio, reminding me of you.
And you know I haven't seen you for a while
It's been a long time since I saw you, and I miss you.
I lie awake at night and wonder how you are
Your absence keeps me up at night, and I worry about your well-being.
And I wish that I could see you again
I desire to see you, and reminisce about our times together.
Is it fate, or is it luck that brings us back
I ponder whether our meeting again will be due to destiny, or coincidence.
Or is it just a common point of view
Maybe we both share the same perspective, which may reunite us.
Time has put a spell on you, you never seem to change
The years seem to have a hold on you, and I can't discern any development in your temperament.
I wish that I could see you again
I long to see you and recall our time together, despite not knowing whether that will happen.
I'll be here where the heart is
My heart remains in the same place, open to you if you return.
When the dreams that we've been after all come true
If those aspirations we have been chasing become fulfilled, you'll find me in the same place.
You will find me here where the heart is
I will be waiting for your return, you can count on that.
I'll wait for you, I'll wait for you
My fidelity to you will remain unbroken, as I am eagerly anticipating the day our paths cross once more.
It's the light that just keeps shining day after day
My unwavering optimism keeps me going, even in the face of adversity, and when thoughts of you get me down.
And other loves have come and gone
Although I've tried to move on, I cannot forget the strong feelings I possess for you.
And I'll be here with open arms to take you in
I'll be ready to welcome you back, no matter what happened in the past.
I wish that I could see you again
Regardless of the outcome, I wish to see you one more time and relive those special moments we shared.
And in between, and when I need to see you again
During the times when you are absent, I am comforted by the thought that I can still connect with you in my memories.
All I have to do is close my eyes
When I miss you, all I have to do is imagine us together again, and my heart is filled with warmth.
Are the pictures comin' in my friend
These memories still live on, and continue to make me feel blessed to have met you in my life.
I'll hold you again, but until then
I hope to be reunited with you soon, but until that day arrives, I will cherish our time together in my memories.
I'll be here where the heart is
No matter how much time goes by, my love for you remains strong, and my heart will always lead me back to you.
Lyrics © KIM CARNES D/B/A MOONWINDOW MUSIC, PHOSPHENE MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
France Rivard
on Bette Davis Eyes
tres tres bon..souvenirs des années 80 et plusieurs autres..on en a pour tous les gouts..Yesss