Carolina
Toby Johnson Lyrics
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The ember is still red in the forge
It's been lit for a week and the snow came in hard
The bees flew the north and sea
Carolina, my back has been aching for weeks
I′ve carried your love through it all
My sins start to flood from my mouth, I'm a curse
Carolina, do you love me?
You′re the black in my blood, the infectious disease
Can you cure me? If so, leave me be
I′ve been wasting my time waiting for your defeat
Carolina, your heart rose the depth of a cape
Come from the mountainside
The ways they have worked since the first morning rise
But sudden the moon alike
Carolina, do you love me?
You're the black in my blood, the infectious disease
Can you cure me? If so, leave me be
I′ve been wasting my time waiting for your defeat
And I hate to see you cry, but darling, we need to leave
The beast is here, the birds to flee and from the trees
Now the clouds are casting shadows over me
Carolina, my love, could you answer, please
Carolina, come quick, it's a mistery to me
The ember is still red in the forge
It′s been lit for a week and the snow came in hard
The bees flew the north and sea
Carolina, do you love me?
You're the black in my blood, the infectious disease
Can you cure me? If so, leave me be
I′ve been wasting my time waiting for your defeat
Can you cure me?
If so, leave me be
Can you cure me?
If so, leave me be
In Toby Johnson's song "Carolina," the singer is speaking to a woman named Carolina, asking her if she loves him while he struggles with physical and emotional pain. The first stanza sets the scene in a somewhat metaphorical way, as the singer describes an ember burning in a forge while snow falls outside, and bees fly away. The imagery suggests a sense of urgency and perhaps impending danger. The next stanza reveals that the singer has been carrying Carolina's love with him even through his pain, but also that his "sins" are starting to come to the surface. He describes himself as a curse and hints at a secret that is weighing him down.
The chorus repeats the question of whether Carolina loves him, and describes her as an "infectious disease" that he wants to be cured of. It's not entirely clear whether this is meant to be a positive or negative comparison. The third verse describes Carolina as coming from the mountainside and hints at a connection to nature, with "the ways they have worked since the first morning rise." But then suddenly everything changes, with the moon looking different, and the singer once again asking if Carolina loves him. In the final verse, the sense of danger increases as the singer says the "beast is here" and they need to leave. The final repetition of the chorus suggests that the singer still doesn't know whether Carolina loves him or not, and is hoping for an answer before they have to face whatever is outside.
Overall, the lyrics of "Carolina" paint a somewhat disjointed picture of a relationship that is both passionate and troubled. The imagery of fire, snow, and bees creates a sense of unpredictability and urgency, while the repeated question of whether Carolina loves the singer hints at an underlying uncertainty that may or may not be resolved.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina, come quick, it's a mystery to me
I don't understand what's going on, please come help me
The ember is still red in the forge
My passion is still alive and burning
It's been lit for a week and the snow came in hard
Despite time and obstacles, my passion for you is still strong
The bees flew the north and sea
Even the bees have flown away, leaving us in solitude
Carolina, my back has been aching for weeks
I've been carrying the weight of our love for too long
I've carried your love through it all
I've remained committed and devoted to you throughout our hardship
My sins start to flood from my mouth, I'm a curse
I feel guilty and unworthy of your love
Your secret's too much for me
I can't handle the weight of your burdens and secrets
Carolina, do you love me?
I need assurance of your love and commitment
You're the black in my blood, the infectious disease
My love for you is all-consuming and hard to resist
Can you cure me? If so, leave me be
Can you be the cure to my love, or should I move on?
I've been wasting my time waiting for your defeat
I've been hoping for a way out of this love, but I can't find one
Carolina, your heart rose the depth of a cape
You have a deep and passionate heart, like the depth of a cape
Come from the mountainside
You come from a place of strength and resilience
The ways they have worked since the first morning rise
Your ways and methods have been successful since the beginning
But sudden the moon alike
But suddenly, everything has changed and become uncertain
And I hate to see you cry, but darling, we need to leave
I don't want to hurt you, but it's time for us to move on
The beast is here, the birds to flee and from the trees
Danger is approaching, and we need to take action
Now the clouds are casting shadows over me
I feel overwhelmed and defeated by the challenges we face
Carolina, my love, could you answer, please
I need you to give me a clear answer about your love for me
Can you cure me?
Can you heal my heart and love?
If so, leave me be
If not, it's time for me to move on
Can you cure me?
Can you make me whole again?
If so, leave me be
If not, I need to find a solution on my own
Writer(s): Toby Johnson
Contributed by Emma S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.