Lyrics for Carolina In My Mind as interpreted by oofus

Carolina In My Mind Lyrics
In my mind I'm gone to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind?
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

Karin, she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shine
And watch her watch the morning come
A silver tear appearing now
I'm cryin', ain't I?
Gone to Carolina in my mind

There ain't no doubt in no ones mind
That love's the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe, the sky's on fire
I'm dying, ain't I?
Gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm gone to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
And, ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind?
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

Dark and silent, late last night,
I think I might have heard the highway call
And geese in flight and dogs that bite
The signs that might be omens say
I'm goin', I'm goin'
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

With a holy host of others standin' around me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me, if I'm up and gone to
Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
Ain't is just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
And I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind
Goin' to Carolina in my mind
Gone, I'm gone, I'm gone
Say nice things about me 'cause I'm gone south now
Got to carry on without me, I'm gone
---
"Carolina in My Mind [1976 Version]" as written by James Taylor
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
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DustinGC
03-05-2002

 Rated  0 
I think it's "Ain't it just like a friend of mine..." in the chorus, not "Maybe..." It makes more sense.

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glytter_girl
04-20-2002

 Rated  0 
The best part of this song for me :
~With a holy host of others standing 'round me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon~
At times I can feel so alone even in a room of friends.


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anna118k
08-21-2002

 Rated  0 
This is just such a cool song. Wow.

Cant believe I havent commented on it 'til now. :\

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asutbone
09-16-2002

 Rated  0 
This song is about longing for home. For those of us a long way from home, and especially those of us who call (North) Carolina home, this is a beautifully touching song. There's so much love and emotion packed into the lyrics...a silver tear appearing now, I'm cryin', ain't I...going' to Carolina in my mind.

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Compuwiz19
03-11-2003

 Rated  0 
Carolina On My Mind isn't only about longing for home in general, but also gets into detail about how beautiful and romantic it is. Sitting on a hill with your girl, watching the sun rise and holding her close... "And hey, baby, the sky's on fire I'm dying, ain't I?" The sunset's so beautiful, the sky almost looks like it's on fire. Such a wonderful song.

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pinkcookie
06-13-2003

 Rated  0 
this is such a simple song. i love james taylor.

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sawax33
10-04-2004

 Rated  0 
reminds me of summer in NC.... gotta love james taylor man...

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iamchipdouglas
10-21-2004

 Rated  0 
James Taylor grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which almost certainly explains in full the meaning of this song. Reminiscing about being home and such...

Great song; my favorite of Taylor's.

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jtfan
01-04-2005

 Rated  0 
I live in North Carolina, so maybe I like this song more than others, but this is the most beautiful song I have ever heard. Beautifully written and played. The original version on Taylor's Apple album wasn't great, but his Greatest Hits version is awesome. A James Taylor fan like myself enjoys both versions though.

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MyWords
03-15-2005

 Rated  +1 
James has said that this is probably his favorite song he's written. In the newly-released "James Taylor Encyclopedia" by Joel Risberg (you can order it at http://www.james-taylor.com), James is quoted as explaining the song's origins like this: "I was recording that Apple album [his self-titled debut album] and I took a break and went to an island off the coast of Spain called Formentera. And I met a girl there named Karin, and she and I took a boat to the next island, which was Abeetha - a larger island. We were just walking around there and missed the last boat back and didn't have any money for a room and we stayed in the street that night and waited for next morning when the boat would run again... She was asleep... and I was up and... I was thinking about my home in North Carolina and what it meant and stuff and that just sort of came down out of the air."

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MyWords
03-15-2005

 Rated  0 
Oh yeah, and it is "Ain't it just like a friend of mine."

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HungryHipp
05-01-2005

 Rated  0 
I think There is no way that this song could ever be topped. Thanks for the book explanation by the way, it is nice to know the true origins. But, me and James are good friends and I don't think he would mind if I kept some of my own interpretations.
I tend to spend all my time on school because I have ADD and it takes me forever to get anything done. This song has always been my break song, when I need to allow my mind wander to a different place. Plus my family is from Carolina, and after many a late night I always associate myself with the moon. My favorite part is also:
"With a holy host of others standing 'round me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon"
Lately I have been making friends with this group of hardcore christians and the sad part is that they have no idea I don't believe in the same things as them (nor would they ever consider asking if I do).

Quick Tip: For any fans of this song that don't have time to search through the endless J.T. tracks and only listen to the Greatest Hits Album, you will like the songs "Another Grey Morning" and "You Can Close Your Eyes". You'll thank me when you find them.

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astrosecret
07-08-2005

 Rated  0 
i thought this song was about his addiction to heroin. things he would see when he was high, things he would feel. "dark side of the moon" looses communication with everyone else... carolina could be something like carlie. "carolina in my mind," he's tripping. "with a whole host of other gathered around me" he could be surrounded by people who want him to stop, but he has lost connection with them (dsotm)
"And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm dyin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind" i don't know but he says says stuff that have heroin innuendos. "say nice things about me cause im goin' south" pretty much dying. as it could be about love, it sure as hell sounds like a "trip" to me.

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hmofo813
04-04-2007

 Rated  0 
The artist himself has said in a fairly recent interview that he’s still surprised at himself, and proud, for having written such a strong song so young. He’s also mentioned that the “holy host of others” is the Beatles, which, … well, yeah, if I’d been a struggling young artist discovered by the Beatles, and been the first solo artist they ever signed to their own label, yeah, that would be important enough to me that I’d find a way to mention it in a song. I hope the Beatles were glad they met him; two of them borrowed ideas from those recording sessions, both from the same song. Listen to the opening guitar stuff on “I Got A Feeling.” It’s clearer on rehearsal outtakes than it is on the final recording, but Paul was almost certainly inspired by the opening of “Something in the Way She Moves.” George, of course, was inspired by the title, and to some degree the sentiment. If I were James Taylor, I’d be very proud. Heck, under the circumstances, just having Paul play bass on your first album (one track; yes, it’s “Carolina In My Mind”), would have given fatally ecstatic orgasms to anyone who wasn’t chronically depressed.

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Indie Me
05-21-2007

 Rated  0 
"i thought this song was about his addiction to heroin..."

I'd say it's best to go with the credible source that quotes James Taylor as saying that it was about feeling homesick in Spain, not heroin.

But, after all, this is the Internet. Logical reasoning isn't useful here, right?

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XxjupiterxX
12-17-2007

 Rated  0 
This song is an amazing song. James Taylor, so talented.
I love this.

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dbldown11
02-17-2008

 Rated  0 
it's Karen not Karin

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Lilacsweetie
09-01-2008

 Rated  0 
wow, i love this song, its so beautiful. except when i listen to it i always think about new jersey instead because thats where im from, and ive never been to north carolina, so obviously i cant long for it. but it just reminds me so much of home, and the song is so pretty. i love it!

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csuzanne
10-02-2008

 Rated  0 
So gorgeous...very simple and sweet, but with a haunting sort of undertone. I always liked the "geese in flight and dogs that bite" part....great imagery. The song is comforting and a little sad at the same time.

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bang x baby
11-30-2009

 Rated  0 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEkewW3tgxY&feature=fvw

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Song Meaning
motoguzzi13
01-18-2010

 Rated  0 
I think the song is about some one hit by a car drunk and they are dying and their last vision is going home to carolina. look at the words can't you just feel the moonshine (drinking) ainit it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind(an accident) karin hes remembering her and a tear hits his eye hes crying because he won't see her again dark and silent late last night i might have heard the highway calling another reference to driving the biggest clue is the skys on fire im dying aint i? flames from the wreck and he realizes hes dying and in that last moment of life he goes in his mind to the most happiest place he knows

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My Interpretation
KingOHearts
03-20-2010

 Rated  0 
This song has a special meaning to me cause I was born and raised in North Carolina and I am such a homebody.To me North Carolina is perfect.Beautiful land scapes,mild weather,and where I live some of the freshest air u will ever breathe. We have everything from beaches to mountains.I cant imagine living anywhere else.

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My Opinion
vnslykrx
05-15-2010

 Rated  0 
This song has a different meaning to me, since I am not from North or South Carolina. To me this song is juast a nostalgic look at the past. It takes me back to this past year and look at all the friends I got to meet, all the mistakes I made, all the friends that turned out to be assholes. And I would LOVE for this to be my senior song. Wouldn't that be the most kickass senior song ever? I might be crazy, but this is the way I think of this song.

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My Interpretation
sugerbear11
10-16-2010

 Rated  0 
you guys are clueless and must have not been through hard enough times. Notice James while performing looks behind him when he say aint it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind, I've been there he's being literal , It feels like a ghost or spirit punching you in the back and that is why he dosent elaborate when he talks about his recovery.

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General Comment
rockinaz
05-12-2011

 Rated  0 
This is one of my faves by James Taylor.
I call Arizona home, but I lived in North Carolina for several years. During my time there, I had some personal experiences which changed my life forever & helped to shape my character. I have a lot of fond memories about it. I still have many relatives & friends there. I've actually made a couple of trips back to NC over the years. Whenever I hear this song, it makes me want to hop on a plane & fly back there again. (I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind.)

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My Interpretation




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