Carole King: Been to Canaan Meaning
Song Released: 1972
Been to Canaan Lyrics
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I was raised in N Canaan, CT. Very small town. Rolling hills and winters for sure. Always loved her and James Taylor's music.
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I have a different story about Canaan.Im sure it's not where or what the song is about but I lived in a place called WAYMART PENNSYLVANIA where there is truly rolling hills,mountains and bad snowstorms in the winter. It's located in Canaan Township.I lived in this place about 5 years.A radio station I can't remember the name of (sorry) but they played a LOT of Carol's songs I LOVE.Jazzman,So far away, It's to late baby and,I want to go back to Canaan of course along with many others like I will follow from the Gilmore girls show which I watched Every Episode while living there. Yes it really does take me back to Canaan township Pa when I hear these AWESOME SONGS and yes l do plan on going back for a visit only this time. Like Carole says in the song I won't rest until I go back again for old memories. Thanks for listening to my thoughts and THANK YOU CAROL KING FOR the FABULOUS music.Truely a GREAT.
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Lebanon, part of ancient Canaan, indeed has green fields and rolling hills, as well as cold, stormy winters. The line "with our day to day demands, we all need a promised land" is inarguably a reference to the biblical land; however, Carole King is an intelligent person, songwriter, poet and artist. Conflation is not outside her realm of artistic tools, and it is entirely possible she was referencing both her existing home in Connecticut and her spritual home in the same piece. No need for it to have to be one or the other when they both offer the comfort level she is addressing.
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There is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut called Canaan. James Taylor lived and still has a home in Litchfield County, Connecticut so this may be a coincidence that shouldn't be overlooked. They would often meet at each other's homes and collaborate so I guess you can just take that into consideration. God I love Carole King. So many hit songs songs that no one even knows she wrote. Such a talent.
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Sorry to rain on the parade of all of those insisting that it cannot be Biblical Canaan because that’s an arid desert devoid of rolling hills and green fields. My country, Lebanon, was an integral part of biblical Canaan, having been included in the land of Jacob’s son Dan, one of 12. That country, where I now live, is exactly as described in the song, including snowy storms in the winter, often with as much as 6-8 inches in one go! Then there’s the unmistakable, and quite literal, reference “we all need a promised land.” Why people choose to ignore the obvious confounds me!
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She lived in Canaan Connecticut for some time with JamesTaylor. It's a real place in the Berkshire's, absolutely Gorgeous town.James still lives in the area.
Canaan to be confused with New Canaan -
I don't really think it's important as far as whether its in the bible. I think carole enjoyed
some place and would like to go back and enjoy it
again. It'sOk with me if it's referring to the
bible and it's Ok if it' refers to a town.Eithe
way I enjoy the song but you are welcome to your opinion. It's totally OK.
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I have always liked this song since I first heard it about 50 yrs ago. Thought it was a real catchy song. But,I always figured it was about the Canaan in the Bible. So, I mentioned this to my partner and she thought so too. But, I also remembered there is a town on the east coast named Canaan so I wondered if that was it.Now,after reading these comments I am convinced it is the latter. I shall wonder no more!
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The Bible reference is still apppropriate, because of the promised-land quality implied in the name of the town she lived in, and it's implied emotional beauty and impact on the writer of the song. There can be many layers of meaning and several symbolic references to a song. No one is an idiot.
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Reading people’s song lyric interpretations on the internet is an easy to remind yourself that most people aren’t artist— and have no idea how the creative mind works.
If Canaan, Connecticut, was her home, yes, a literal interpretation has plenty the recommended it. But that doesn’t mean it can’t ALSO be about something else, figuratively speaking. Canaan is, indeed, in the Bible— and no doubt that’s where the town got its name.
Writers— and particularly poets— have their antennae tuned to language, history, metaphor and symbol. She may well have just liked the sound of her hometown’s name; she may also have been intrigued by the Biblical allusion and thought, “Gee, that’ll roll around in the listener’s mind, I like it...”
Bottom line: songs and poems can and usually do “mean” more than one thing at the same time. And sometimes they mean practically nothing but simply sound good.
Now stop your bickering, you simpleminded twits. -
Having lived my childhood in Falls Village, (it's real name is Canaan though the town just north of it is usually referred to as such, it's real name being North Canaan) I can assure you the song is in reference to Canaan, CT. She in fact bought the home of my childhood friend's parents. Ironically the house is toward the top of "Music Mountain" on Music Mountain Road in Canaan CT. All very well known facts to the locals. People just love to make stuff up. Remember that the internet has few secrets. Silly notions that are nothing more than opinion are easily outed. I'm pretty sure you're gonna have a hard time finding rolling green hills and snow in the winter, curled up by a fire in biblical Canaan. It's being an arid desert and all.
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NOT because...
“Jun 19th, 2018 6:46PM
Canaan is the promised land as promised by God to Abraham. It was a large and prosperous ancient country (at times independent, at others a tributary to Egypt) located in present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel and was also known as Phoenicia.
Carole King is Jewish and was speaking of the Jewish promised land and paradise.”
YES because...
“Oct 19th, 2018 10:49pm
My understanding is that she had a house in Canaan, CT back in the early 1970’s when she wrote this song.”
Do you need a fireplace to stay warm in winter in biblical Canaan?
“Oh I want to be there in the wintertime
With a fireplace burning to warm me
And you to hold me when it's stormy” -
It’s not of the Bible Canaan. It’s her home in Canaan Connecticut. Green Rolling Hills refers the the country side of Canaan Connecticut.-Canaan In Bible is a desert.
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The person who referenced the biblical interpretation above is an idiot.
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Indeed, she once lived in the beautiful northwest Connecticut town of Canaan.
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