Carole King- Goin' Back

Written by Carole but originally performed by Dusty Springfield and then The Byrds. Not a knockout singer but she's probably my favorite because her voice has a certain vunerablility and beauty to it. From her first solo album, Writer.

I think I'm goin' back
To the things I learned so well in my youth
I think I'm returning to those days
When I was young enough to know the truth
Now there are no games to only pass the time
No more electric trains, no more trees to climb
Thinking young and growing older is no sin
And I can play the game of life to win

I can recall a time
When I wasn't ashamed to reach out to a friend
Now I think
I've got a lot more than just my toys to lend
Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
And every day can be
My magic carpet ride

A little bit of courage is all we lack
So catch me if you can, I'm goin' back

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Byrds
• Carole
• King
• Writer
• classic rock
• pop music
• folk rock
• vocal

[lightlyone]

I've been listening to every version of this i could find tonight. I love her delivery. Kind of stays with the Byrds' interpretation but adds some interesting instrumental breaks, which kind of lets the listener relax and dry their tears a little before jumping back into the beautiful sentimentality.

[Cream234]

@lightlyone You hit the nail right on the head for me.

[ronnie47]

And she wrote the song

[Cream234]

@ronnie47 Yeah, that's right. She wrote a couple of songs which they covered but I wasnt sure if this was one.. Nevertheless, I like her version the best anyway.

[GaryFTaylor]

King does this in a more folksy style--the Byrds do the same--the version by Queen is one of their rare misfires. Dusty Springfield's version has a much more liquid quality to it, and even King said it was the best recorded version of the song. I'd have to agree.

[tysona23]

Didnt knoe carole king wrote this. I love the more recnt Diana Ross version as well as dustys too x

[stevemichaels2020]

Carole does an updated version of Goin' Back on her 1980 Capitol Records album: PEARLS: THE SONGS OF GOFFIN AND KING. Superb version!

[jimmydeboy]

what a classy artist, this version may not be associated with Carol , it is my favourite - thanks for posting

[tasinallb]

I love this. . love it love it. . the only version I heard until this morning by Nils Lofgren. Made me want to find "my original" and I love it! .. timeless. .

[northernmuse9]

@chrisdeburghstories Everybody, for the record: Carole's husband and first writing partner, Gerry Goffin, wrote the lyrics. Carole wrote the music. Give credit where credit it due, please.

[MrEveryman9]

Can't agree with the glowing comments on Dusty's performance of this song. It's very fine but I don't much care for the overblown orchestration. It works much better for me as a folky song

[123yfm]

carole is a fantastic writer but nobody could ever compare to dustys version

[kazzamac1000]

Dusty's performance of this song is the best! It is a haunting, thought provoking type of song which Dusty managed to portray, not this version, some folky version.

[chrisdeburghstories]

Carole King is on record as stating that Dusty Springfield performs Going Back the way Ms King wanted in performed. I think I'll listen to the person who composed the song, she should know