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)
Young Love
Kim Carnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he doesn't care
Now that he loves another
I know that he's been getting his share
Sometimes want to tell her
But I wouldn't dare
And tonight when she calls
She won't know that I'm there
The thing that we said
And when we climbed in the back
Love was driving me out of my head
And I want to tell you
May lightning strike me dead
If he wasn't the best love I ever had
It was young love running wild
It was young love, only young love
Like a child, it was young love
Young love, only young love
Running wild, and running free
Waiting for the night
It falls in the street
She's just a young girl, learning
Moving in, shaking at the knees
Now, don't say forever, just say what you need
Love was never a stranger
When he called on me
It was young love running wild
It was young love, only young love
Like a child, it was young love
Young love, only young love
Running wild, and running free
Jenny loves John
But he doesn't care
Now that he loves another
I know he's been getting his share
Sometimes want to tell her
But I wouldn't dare
And tonight when she calls
She won't know that I'm there
It was young love running wild
It was young love, only young love
Like a child, it was young love
Young love, only young love
Running wild, and running free
The story told in Kim Carnes's song "Young Love" is that of unrequited love, a situation where one person is in love with another who is not interested in them. In this case, Jenny loves John, but John is in love with another girl. The singer of the song is aware of John's feelings for the other girl but doesn't have the courage to tell Jenny. The singer reminisces about a past love, "the best love I ever had," and acknowledges the excitement and passion of young love, which is "running wild and running free." The song's lyrics convey a sense of longing, regret, and the bittersweet memories of young love.
The lyrics paint a picture of the complexities of love and the challenges that come with it. The singer is torn between telling Jenny the truth about John's feelings and keeping quiet to avoid hurting her. The reference to "the best love I ever had" suggests that the singer has moved on from their past love, but the memories of it remain vivid. The lyrics also touch on the idea of seizing the moment and being true to oneself, with the line "don't say forever, just say what you need" emphasizing the importance of living in the present and being honest about one's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny loves John
Jenny is in love with John
But he doesn't care
John is not interested in Jenny
Now that he loves another
John is currently with someone else
I know that he's been getting his share
John has been having romantic relations with other people
Sometimes want to tell her
The artist feels they should tell Jenny the truth about John, but is conflicted
But I wouldn't dare
The singer is too afraid to tell Jenny how John really feels about her
And tonight when she calls
Jenny will call the singer soon
She won't know that I'm there
The artist will be with John when Jenny calls, but will not make their presence known to her
Remember the nights
Remember a past time
The thing that we said
Romantic or meaningful statements previously made
And when we climbed in the back
Imagery of a car or truck's backseat
Love was driving me out of my head
The experience was so intense, it made the artist feel a bit crazy
And I want to tell you
The singer wants to confess how they feel
May lightning strike me dead
A dramatic way of emphasizing how important the statement is
If he wasn't the best love I ever had
John was the best romantic partner the singer has ever had
It was young love running wild
A description of a passionate, youthful love
It was young love, only young love
The love was immature and inexperienced
Like a child, it was young love
Imagery of youthful innocence
Young love, only young love
Repeating the same point of the love being inexperienced
Running wild, and running free
The love was intense, passionate, and not bound by anything
Waiting for the night
Anticipating a special moment or time
It falls in the street
The moment happens anywhere and everywhere
She's just a young girl, learning
Jenny is still growing up and gaining experience
Moving in, shaking at the knees
Jenny is nervous and excited about a new love interest
Now, don't say forever, just say what you need
A plea to focus on the present and not get caught up in long-term plans
Love was never a stranger
The singer has had many experiences with love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ldolphin34
I play this song a lot when using the computer out of your account. One of the best, underrated albums of the 1980's, and of 1983.
@BarkleyConners
well produced, arranged, and performed. i'd say she would be considered "L.A. new wave" as a genre with this album. Her albums were always progressive and interesting although not huge sellers, except for Mistaken Identity.
@maviael3594
Amo essa música
@dalvajady
uma das mais belas vozes do cenário mundial...onde anda vc ? voz gostosa....
@lovegijoe
I love this song. I think it was her best she ever did. Brings back some good memories.
@64214Jose
Listen to the Voyeur album. That’s her best.
@aelagenly
I agree with you that Voyeur did better sales than Café Racers however the last one is much more going to the 80’s taste for those who believe in 80’s era
@BarkleyConners
This one is better than Voyeur
@billjoe39
One of her best songs I think , thanks for posting. I forgot she did "crazy in the night " the next year.
@BarkleyConners
Z-100 had posters around the city promoting Crazy in the Night but it never took off, not the best song from "Barking at Airplanes" either!