Tears Falling Down on Me
Echoes of Sorrow: Carole King's Powerful Reflection on Life's Injustices
Lyrics
Vera comes home on Sunday morning after hanging with the boys all night
Vera returns home on Sunday morning after spending the night with male friends.
Laughing and drinking with them, thinking she's one of them
Laughing and drinking with them, she believes she is accepted as one of the guys.
And that makes everything alright
This perception brings her a sense of contentment.
She vaguely remembers going out in the parking lot
Vera vaguely recalls being in the parking lot.
With the stone mason's son
She was with the stone mason's son.
Who had his way with her, then walked away when he was done
He took advantage of her and left after satisfying his desires.
Sometimes she thinks about leaving--she tells herself, someday
Sometimes she contemplates leaving, convincing herself that someday she will.
You know, her daddy said she'd never amount to much
Her father predicted she wouldn't achieve much in life.
Of anything anyway
This judgment applies to anything she pursues.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Expresses the emotional pain with tears falling.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Repetition of the emotional turmoil depicted by tears.
No, that ain't the way it's supposed to be
Contrasts the reality with the expectation of how things should be.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Continuation of the emotional distress symbolized by tears.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Reiteration of the emotional struggle.
I've cried so many tears over man's unkindness to man
Reflects on the tears shed due to humanity's cruelty to each other.
People say that's the way it is, but we gotta do what we can
People acknowledge the harsh reality but emphasize the need for action.
Why does it have to be that way, I just don't understand
Questions the necessity of such cruelty, expressing a lack of understanding.
Rain falling from my eyes, rain falling from the sky
Uses rain as a metaphor for tears falling both from the eyes and the sky.
And I don't know why
The singer is puzzled about the reasons behind the emotional pain.
A pack of jokers get their jollies beating up on a black king
Describes a group attacking a black king, highlighting racial injustice.
There's outrage in the city for a while
There's temporary public outrage, but the impact is questioned.
But do you think it'll really change anything
Doubts whether the incident will lead to real change.
Get rid of the gates, free the people
Suggests dismantling barriers and freeing people as a solution.
And let the games commence
Once freed, the singer urges for positive and meaningful actions.
We gotta take our power back
Empowerment is needed to make a difference.
And use it in ways that make sense
Encourages using regained power sensibly.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Repeats the theme of tears falling, emphasizing the emotional struggle.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Continues to depict the emotional pain through tears.
If I could, I would change the course of history
Expresses a desire to alter the course of history to prevent tears.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Reiterates the emotional distress symbolized by falling tears.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Continues to emphasize the emotional turmoil.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Repetition of the theme of tears falling, underscoring the pain.
Oh, rain washing over me
Introduces rain as a cleansing agent, washing over the singer.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Reiterates the emotional struggle with tears falling.
Oh, pain washing over me
Introduces pain, symbolizing the emotional hardship.
Rain, wash it away, rain, wash it away
Repetition of the plea for rain to wash away pain and tears.
Wash the pain away, rain, wash it away
Repeats the idea of rain as a cleansing force, removing pain.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Reiterates the emotional pain with tears falling.
Oh, tears falling down on me
Repetition of the emotional turmoil depicted by tears.
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