M. Ward – Carolina

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Oh where you going for the two hundred and fiftieth time?
Well I'm waiting for a sign
Well it looks just like another line
And I'm walkin backwards to the place where I come from
Oh but that ain't enough no you want me to run

Used to feel like California with baby eyes so blue
Now I feel like Carolina, I split myself in two
Now I'm walkin backwards from Chicago through Washington
Oh but that ain't enough no, you want me to run
Oh that ain't enough no, you want me to run

Better watch your soul it'll leave you like a hundred bucks
My friend says stick to your guns but instead I just got stuck
And I'm walkin backwards lookin forward to gettin done
Oh but that ain't enough no, you want me to run
Oh that ain't enough no, you want me to run

Used to feel like California with baby eyes so blue
Now I feel like Carolina, I split myself in two
Used to feel like California with baby eyes so blue
Now I feel like Carolina, I split myself in two

Send "Carolina" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Jon11

Track duration: 04:19

"Carolina" as written by John C. Popper, Chan Kinchla

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Carolina song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Used to feel like California with baby, eyes so blue
    now I feel like Carolina: I split myself in two
    and I'm walking backwards to the place where I come from
    I'm walking backwards from Chicago through Washington
    And I'm walking backwards looking forward to getting done
    but that ain't enough, no you want me to run

    California, the west, once the optimistic and bright blue future of baby youth. Now reluctantly backing down, walking backwards to the past but still facing the future, back to old beginnings, eastward from Chicago through Washington to the old Carolinas and feeling split in two. Facing one direction but moving in another. But still, walking back isn't good enough; you want me to turn around, and run.



    Flag millermotoon April 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"I used to feel like California with baby’s eyes so blue
    now I feel like Carolina: I split myself in two "

    i don't know that any of the references to place are actually a place...just metaphors. it sounds like he's lost who he is and the confidence that he once had. he doesn't know where he's going in life. he's stuck.
    Flag eskamoeon January 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:possibly my favorite Ward song ever
    Flag tobaccopaton November 04, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:it means women always, always, want more ~ even immediately after giving them their previous' heart's desire.

    i really 'get' M. somehow ... ambiguous libras maybe ....
    Flag apothegmon June 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sounds to me that he's tied up in whatever he's been doing before writing this song, and he's lost himself (his soul), so he's walking backward trying to "Feel like California" again instead of "Carolina" like he does now. But theres doubt in the song that he'll ever have that feeling again.
    Flag forgetmynameon June 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:played solo really wonderfully on the piano at the Knitting Factory show I saw.
    Flag orphan_yachtson July 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the double tracked vocals on this song--"splitting in two." Clever production and a beautiful song.
    Flag Bad_teethon July 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about starting over with a former girlfriend. He's trying to take it slow, perhaps not trusting her and she doesn't understand what the problem is.
    Flag Milkman82on March 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." from Great Gatsby

    Sounds very similar o "i'm walking backwards looking forward to getting done" I think the book and the song share similar themes.

    Beautiful song.
    Flag franluanneon March 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:excellent song. who knows.
    Flag rosyquillon January 17, 2006   Link

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