Carolina
Murphey Lyrics


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She came to me, said she knew me
Said she'd known me a long time
And she spoke of being in love
With every mountain she had climbed

And she talked of trails she'd walked up
Far above the timber line
From that night on I knew I'd write a song
With Carolina in the pines

There's a new moon on the fourteenth
First quarter, the twenty first
And the full moon in the last week
Brings a fullness to this earth

There's no guesswork in the clockwork
Of the world's heart or mind
There are nights I only feel right
With Carolina in the pines

When the frost shows on the windows
And the wood stove smokes and glows
As the fire grows we can warm ourselves
Watching rainbows in the coals

And we'll talk of trails we walked up
Far above the timber line




There are nights I only feel right
With Carolina in the pines

Overall Meaning

The song "Carolina In The Pines" is a tribute to the beauty of the natural world and how it can bring a sense of peace and fulfillment to those who appreciate it. The lyrics speak of a woman who has a deep love for nature and has climbed mountains and walked trails, and how the singer is inspired by her to write a song about his own love for the outdoors. The mention of the phases of the moon and the clockwork of the world's heart and mind suggest a deep appreciation for the natural rhythms of the earth.


The second verse paints a cozy picture of a winter scene with frost on the windows and a wood stove keeping the room warm. The mention of rainbows in the coals gives the feeling of warmth and comfort, and ties in with the idea of finding beauty and joy even in mundane things. The final lines, "There are nights I only feel right with Carolina in the pines" convey a sense of longing for the outdoors and the healing power it can bring.


Overall, the song is about finding solace and inspiration in nature, and the importance of appreciating the beauty of the world around us.


Line by Line Meaning

She came to me, said she knew me
A woman approached the songwriter, claiming to have known him for a long time.


Said she'd known me a long time
The woman reiterated that she had known the songwriter for a significant amount of time.


And she spoke of being in love
The woman expressed her fondness for something.


With every mountain she had climbed
She loved the satisfaction and achievements of scaling the hills she conquered.


And she talked of trails she'd walked up
The woman described the paths she had previously trekked.


Far above the timber line
Those paths elevated to levels above the height where trees no longer grew.


From that night on I knew I'd write a song
The conversation inspired the songwriter to compose a new piece of music.


With Carolina in the pines
The song would be about, or heavily feature, the concept of North Carolina forest areas.


There's a new moon on the fourteenth
The 14th of every month has a new moon.


First quarter, the twenty first
The 21st of every month has a first quarter moon.


And the full moon in the last week
The later part of each month has a full moon.


Brings a fullness to this earth
The complete lunar cycle brings a sense of completeness to the world.


There's no guesswork in the clockwork
The world functions in a predictable, precise way.


Of the world's heart or mind
This world functions without an emotion or thought process.


There are nights I only feel right
On some evenings, the songwriter only feels comfortable or happy.


With Carolina in the pines
North Carolina forests provide the ideal location or ambiance for the songwriter's peace and joy.


When the frost shows on the windows
During nights where frost appears on the window panes.


And the wood stove smokes and glows
While a fire is burning in a wooden stove, producing smoke and light.


As the fire grows we can warm ourselves
As the fire intensifies, those present can bask in its warmth.


Watching rainbows in the coals
As the fire rages on, the colors appearing in the coals of the flames resemble rainbows.


And we'll talk of trails we walked up
During these evenings, the people present will chat about the hiking trips they have embarked on.


Far above the timber line
These hikes occurred at elevations where vegetation can't grow.


There are nights I only feel right
Again, the songwriter describes how there are certain evenings they only feel content.


With Carolina in the pines
He reiterates that North Carolina forests are synonymous with those joyful evenings.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: M. MURPHEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@thebordernow

I'm not a country western fan so I couldn't name anybody in that "whole room full of legends" as someone below no doubt aptly described it (well maybe Wynonna[?] at 1:58 and Charley Pride[?] at 2:31).

I did think it was very interesting that other than the man at the extreme left of the frame at 0:18, at the left end of the top row, no one seemed to recognize the song as MMM started it. You can see the man being the only one clapping, and then a few others join in in "polite applause." (I especially like how that gentleman started to sing along to this infectiously happy and energetically romantic song at 2:48!)

That may be because the song was a pretty big mainstream hit in 1975 (following "Wildfire") but didn't seem to catch on in country western circles until it was re-released with a different banjo player ten years later in 1985 in a "Best-of" compilation, and got up to #9 on the Billboard Country Hot Singles. Maybe it was about this time when MMM made this appearance on Country Road TV because he certainly looks more mature than his mid-1970's self.

However, MMM was in fine voice from the very opening notes here. It never ceases to amaze me how well he sounds (and plays) with little to no diminishment even after 45 years!! (Check out how 1:49-1:52.) What a talent, and a legend, true to his music.


(Say, BTW, who is that lady right near MMM's left shoulder at 0:42? I could have sworn that was Kellyanne Conway's mother!)



All comments from YouTube:

@geneaustin5151

Timeless, what a vocal range! Love this song. Artists like John Denver and Michael Martin Murphey are just legendary American artists that sing their own genre. Classic.

@mariececilelassere

The time no make nothing to you ❤❤❤ thoughts sincerely admirative for your talent incredible ...MMM thanks for this delicious moment 👍💖😉so long my dear (2023/05/29) 😊❤❤❤

@Yeah_Right..

A whole room full of legends, and the best one just showed how it was done. MMM, you the man.

@mikerobertson4041

Michael had several hits on the pop charts back in the 70s including this song, What's Forever For, and his biggest hit, Wildfire. He basically left country and pop music behind to focus on authentic cowboy music which is a genre all unto itself. Great singer and musician! He brings back so many good memories of my youth.

@janeholland8460

My favorite singer ever! Love this man❤️ and his music❤️

@bonniekaye

What an amazing singer!!

@rightfromleft6071

I just love this man's songs.

@inigoatxa_

one of my favourite country songs !!! Amazing !!!

@benperea8483

Such an amazing musician! Great singer-songwriter, guitarist, banjo picker and all around great guy! In fact his original banjo solo is still one of my favorites. I kinda wish he'd been able to play it here...but this banjo picker was great also. Great video!!!!

@chriscaldwellvoiceovers

I'm in awe. Such a great performance.

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