Valerie Carter (Valerie Gail Zakian Carter, February 5, 1953 – March 3, 201… Read Full Bio ↴Valerie Carter (Valerie Gail Zakian Carter, February 5, 1953 – March 3, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter.

Carter is perhaps best known as a back-up vocalist who has recorded and performed with a number of singers including Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, Christopher Cross and, most notably, James Taylor.

While she may be known for her cover version of The Five Stairsteps' "Ooh Child" featured at the end of the 1979 film Over the Edge, Carter is also a respected songwriter, having written songs for Judy Collins ("Cook with Honey" from Collins' 1973 album True Stories, and Other Dreams), Jackson Browne ("Love Needs a Heart" from his 1977 album Running on Empty) and ("Turn It into Something Good" (from Earth, Wind & Fire's 1980 album Faces) to name but three.

Discography

Solo albums

* Just a Stone's Throw Away — 1977
* Wild Child — 1978
* The Way It Is — 1996
* Find a River — 2000
* Vanilla Grits — 2001
* Midnight Over Honey River — 2004

Selected credits

* Aaron Neville — Warm Your Heart — 1991
* Al Kooper — Championship Wrestling — 1982
* Anna Vissi — Everything I Am — 2001
* Anne Murray — Anne Murray — 1996
* Arnold McCuller — Circa 1990 — 2003
* Aselin Debison — Sweet Is the Melody — 2002
* Christopher Cross — Christopher Cross — 1980
* Diana Ross — Force Behind the Power — 1991
* Don Grusin — 10k-La — 1980
* Don Henley:
o The End of the Innocence — 1989
o Inside Job — 2000
* Eddie Money — Playing for Keeps — 1980
* Eric Carmen — Change of Heart — 1978
* Freebo — End of the Beginning — 1999
* Glenn Frey — Strange Weather — 1992
* Hoyt Axton — Southbound — 1975
* Jackson Browne:
o I'm Alive — 1993
o Looking East — 1996
* James Taylor:
o Gorilla — 1975
o In the Pocket — 1976
o New Moon Shine — 1991
o (LIVE) — 1993
o (Best LIVE) — 1994
o Hourglass — 1997
o Greatest Hits Volume 2 — 2000
* Jimmy Webb:
o Angel Heart — 1982
o Suspending Disbelief — 1993
* Jorge Calderón — City Music — 1975
* Julia Fordham — Swept — 1991
* Julie Miller:
o Orphans & Angels — 1993
o Invisible Girl — 1996
* Keiko Matsui — Sapphire — 1995
* Linda Ronstadt:
o Winter Light — 1994
o Feels Like Home — 1995
o Dedicated To The One I Love — 1996
* Little Feat — The Last Record Album — 1975
* Lyle Lovett — Road to Ensenada — 1996
* Maureen McCormick — When You Get a Little Lonely — 1995
* Neil Diamond:
o Lovescape — 1991
o Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building — 1993
o Christmas Album, Vol. 2 — 1994
o In My Lifetime — 1996
* Nicolette Larson:
o Nicolette — 1978
o All Dressed Up & No Place To Go — 1982
* Randy Newman — Born Again — 1979
* Rick Derringer — Free Ride — 2002
* Ringo Starr — Time Takes Time — 1992
* Shawn Colvin — Fat City — 1992
* Tom Jans — Eyes of an Only Child — 1975
* Vonda Shepard — Songs from Ally McBeal — 1998
* Willie Nelson — Healing Hands of Time — 1994

Carter's official web site: www.valerie-carter.com.

Ooh Child
Valerie Carter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter

Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day

When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things'll be brighter

Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
When your head is much lighter

Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun

Some day
When the world is much brighter

Overall Meaning

Valerie Carter's song "Ooh Child" is a celebration of hope and optimism. The lyrics are simple and direct, but they carry a powerful message of encouragement to anyone going through a tough time. The chorus repeats the phrase "Ooh child, things are gonna get easier, ooh child, things'll get brighter," offering a soothing balm to those feeling overwhelmed by the difficulties of life.

The verses of the song elaborate on this message, painting a picture of a future where things will be better. The lyrics speak of a day when we will "get it together and we'll get it all done," and when our "head is much lighter." This is a vision of a time when we will be able to overcome the challenges that currently weigh us down. The song also imagines a brighter future for the world as a whole, when we will "walk in the rays of a beautiful sun" and the world will be "much brighter."

Overall, "Ooh Child" is a song about the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit. It reminds us that even in the midst of difficult times, there is always the possibility of a better future, and that with patience and perseverance, we can overcome any obstacle.

Line by Line Meaning

Ooh child
Take heart, young one

Things are gonna get easier
Don't worry, the tough times will pass.

Ooh child
Have hope, little one

Things'll get brighter
The future holds promise

Some day, yeah
One day, we will

We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Find a way to overcome our struggles and accomplish our goals

Some day
It will happen

When your head is much lighter
Once you've let go of your worries and stress

Some day, yeah
A time will come

We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
We'll revel in the good things in life

Some day
It's going to happen