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Carole King.

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The iconic composer who wrote "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)" for Aretha Franklin and "The Locomotion" for Little Eva.

Then, she became a famous singer, finally singing some of her own songs, like "It's Too Late" and "So Far Away."

We saw a musical about her called "Beautiful," and it was really good, but something tripped me out about it.

I just found out (from the musical and from googling it afterwards) that although Carole King wrote the music for all those iconic songs, her husband was her lyricist. He wrote the words.

And then later, when they split, and she moved to California, she worked with a lyricist there too.

It just trips me out.

She did write the lyrics to "So Far Away," "I Feel the Earth Move," and (probably her most enduring song) "You've Got a Friend." James Taylor made it famous, but she wrote the music and lyrics.

But all those other songs...she wrote the music but not the lyrics.

I just never knew that.

It trips me out that her husband was the one that wrote "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)." ?!?


And that a lyricist in Laurel Canyon wrote "It's Too Late."

She's still amazing though.

And the musical was really good. Really interesting portrayal of the songwriting business back in the 60s. They had people playing the Drifters and The Righteous Brothers and many other big groups from back then.

Her best lyrics, in my opinion. Simple, but universal, and timeless:

"You've Got a Friend," by Carole King



When you're down and troubled,
And you need some love and care
And nothing, no nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow

Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes, I will...

Now, ain't it good to know
that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold?

They'll hurt you, and desert you,
And take your soul if you let them, Oh, but don't you let them.

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes, I will
You've got a friend...

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