About the song
“I Feel the Earth Move” is an iconic song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Carole King, featured on her second studio album, “Tapestry,” released in 1971. This song, paired with “It’s Too Late” as a double A-sided single, became one of the biggest mainstream pop hits of that year.
The song showcases Carole King’s ability to blend rock and pop elements with her distinctive voice and piano skills. Jon Landau, in his Rolling Stone review of “Tapestry,” praised King’s vocal performance, noting her seamless transition between various emotional tones—from “raunchy” and “bluesy” to “harsh” and “soothing.” He highlighted the melodic development of the song, especially in its chorus, describing it as a “pretty pop line.” Decades later, Rolling Stone continued to commend King’s “warm, earnest singing,” which brought an “earthy joy” to the track.
“I Feel the Earth Move” opens the “Tapestry” album with an unexpected energy. Music journalist Harvey Kubernik referred to it as “probably the most sexually aggressive song on the Tapestry album” and a “brave” choice to start an album that is predominantly characterized by “mellow confessionality.” AllMusic critic Stewart Mason described the song as “the ultimate in hippie-chick eroticism,” emphasizing how it embodies the liberation of an entire generation of soft-spoken college girls. Cash Box labeled it as a “forceful ‘earthquake song’,” and Record World acknowledged it as “quality contemporary pop.”
The song’s lyrics and music work in perfect harmony, a testament to King’s songwriting prowess. Author James Perone praised this synergy, particularly noting how the syncopated rhythm on lines like “tumbling down” mirrors the literal act of tumbling. The fast tempo of the song conveys the singer’s excitement about being near her lover, with an underlying current of implicit sexual tension. Perone also credited the song’s success to producer Lou Adler’s decision to emphasize King’s piano playing, which gave it a distinctive feel compared to the guitar-driven singer-songwriter approach of her previous album. Mason also pointed to the “piano-led groove” and King’s passionate vocal delivery as key elements of the song’s appeal.
“I Feel the Earth Move” achieved commercial success, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on June 19, 1971, and holding that position for five consecutive weeks. It also reached number 6 on the UK charts, further cementing its status as a global hit. The song’s dynamic energy, combined with King’s heartfelt performance and masterful composition, continues to resonate with audiences, making it a timeless classic in her remarkable catalog.
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Lyrics
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumblin’ down
I feel my heart start to tremblin’
Whenever you’re around
Ooh baby, when I see your face
Mellow as the month of May
Oh darlin’, I can’t stand it
When you look at me that way, hey
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumblin’ down
I feel my heart start to tremblin’
Whenever you’re around
Oh darlin’, when you’re near me
And you tenderly call my name
I know that my emotions
Are somethin’ I just can’t tame
I just got to have ya, baby
Baby, baby, yeah
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumblin’ down, a-tumblin’ down
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumblin’ down, a-tumblin’ down
I just a-lose control
Down to my very soul
I get hot and cold
All over, all over, all over, all over
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumblin’ down, a-tumblin’ down
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumblin’ down, tumblin’ down
Tumblin’ down, tumblin’ down
Tumblin’ down
Tumblin’ down