These 8 Classic Carole King Songs Will Make You ‘Feel the Earth Move’

If there is one thing that Carole King can do, it’s write some of the most iconic and well-remembered songs to impact the soundtrack of our lives — and oftentimes without us even realizing she was the creative talent behind them.

The singer-songwriter has been at it for decades, these Carole King songs having audiences dancing to the beat ever since they were released, and even having been showcased in Broadway's recent Beautiful: The Carole King Musical .

Beginning her love for songwriting at the age of 14, Carole King knew it was what she was meant to do. But writing at such a young age also came with the possibility that nobody would want to listen to her music, yet advice from an idol, Alan Freed, pushed her to get the songs she’d been writing out into the world.

“He said, ‘ Well, if you want to get your songs heard , just go pick up the phone book and look up record companies and start calling and see if you can get in to see some of the people.’ And that's what I did.”

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Carole King albums

The Grammy-winning artist released her first album, Writer , in 1970, which featured hits like “Child of Mine” and “No Easy Way Down.” However, it wasn’t until her follow up in 1971, Tapestry , that King’s music truly blew up, the album skyrocketing to number one on the Billboard 200, where it remained for 15 weeks.

King went on to win a total of four Grammy Awards for her 1971 album, including Record of the Year "It's Too Late"), Song of the Year ("You've Got a Friend"), Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance. “ I had no idea how big Tapestry would be ,” King shared. “One word sums up how I feel about that: gratitude.”

King is also twice-inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, once in 1990 with her longtime partner Gerry Goffin , and again for her solo work in 2021.

Take a listen to eight of our favorite Carole King songs and see which of your favorites made the list!

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“Tapestry” came off King’s 1971 album of the same name. The tapestry in the song is meant to represent her life, with lyrics like, “My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue.” While this is one of the lesser-known songs from the album, it is and always has been a Carole King classic.

7. “Child of Mine” (1970)

This song was one of King’s earlier hits, from her debut album, Writer . The lyrics, which are beautifully written, were penned from a mother to her daughter. With lyrics like, “Oh yes, sweet darling, So glad you are a child of mine,” the song can be considered a lullaby to a child, but it is also a love song to them.

6. “So Far Away” (1971): Carole King songs

“So Far Away” is the second track from Tapestry . In this song, King sings about a love, presumably, that is “so far away,” and how difficult it is that nobody is ever in one place anymore. This hit landed at number 14 on the Hot 100 and spent 10 weeks on the chart overall.

5. “Beautiful” (1971)

King sings about seeing the beauty in everything in “Beautiful.” The song is full of positivity and making the best out of a situation. It's also the inspiration behind the name for the aforementioned Beautiful: The Carole King Musical , which debuted on Broadway in 2013.

4. “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman” (1971): Carole King songs

It’s hard to sing along to this hit and not hear Carole King singing it in your head. “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman” is one of King’s most recognized songs. However, the song was initially written by King specifically with Aretha Franklin in mind. Franklin’s version of the song rose to number eight on the charts, but in 1971 King decided to record it herself as a part of her Tapestry album.

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3. “It’s Too Late” (1971)

This song from Tapestry was proven to be a major hit after it won record of the year at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards. “It’s Too Late” topped the charts upon its release, where it remained for five weeks. The song spent 17 weeks on the charts overall. It was written about two people in a relationship who have grown apart, something that happened with her own husband and partner, Gerry Goffin.

2. “Where You Lead” (1971): Carole King songs

If you think you recognize this song from somewhere other than Tapestry , you are probably thinking of the hit series, Gilmore Girls : “Where You Lead” was chosen to be the theme song for the drama and it become an instant hit with fans. While the song was originally written about a woman following a man, King and her daughter, Louise Goffin , re-recorded the song and revamped it to be about a mother and a daughter, which is exactly what Gilmore Girls is all about.

Although King was reluctant to sing this “stand by your man” type of song, she loved the idea of re-recording it with Louise and having it mean something entirely different. The ballad soon began to represent mothers, daughters, grandmothers and all other female relationships.

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1. “I Feel the Earth Move” (1971)

Another of King’s greatest hits is none other than “I Feel the Earth Move.” It’s hard to hear this hit and not start belting out the lyrics. It was one of the few upbeat tracks on Tapestry and it was certainly a success. The song landed at number one, along with “It’s Too Late,” where it stayed for five weeks.

If you’re looking for a classic Carole King song that you can dance to, definitely give “I Feel the Earth Move” a listen. Its infectious beat and lyrics will have you singing and dancing through the night.