Karla Bonoff - Someone To Lay Down Beside Me Lyrics






There's somebody waiting alone in the street
For someone to walk up and greet
Here you are all alone in the city
Where's the one that you took to your side
Lonely faces will stare through your eyes in the night

And they'll say
Woman, sweet woman, please come home with me
You're shining and willing and free
But your love, it's a common occurrence
Not like love that I feel in my heart
Still, you know that may be what I need

Is someone to lay down beside me
And even though it's not real
Just someone to lay down beside me
You're the story of my life

Just someone to lay down beside me
And even though it's not real
Just someone to lay down beside me
You're the story of my life

Well morning is breaking, the street lights are off
The sun will soon share all the cost
Of a world that can be sort of heartless
Not like love that you feel in your heart
Still, you know that may be all you get

Is someone to lay down beside you
And even though it's not real
Just someone to lay down beside you
You just can't ask for more





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Karla Bonoff Someone To Lay Down Beside Me Comments
  1. l.... s....

    Such a great storyteller

  2. K.... O....

    Karla wrote it and Linda covered it

  3. D.... G....

    Much better now. Karla, you give this song it's deserved justice.

  4. G.... C....

    Thank you Karla for reaching for my heart and touching it. One of the best singers and writers of our time, and making others famous from your pen. You were kind enough to come to Carson City,nv in 2008,and didn't disappoint.

  5. i.... k....

    Me again... she sings it so beautifully, and in some part of tge songs cames Paul Rodgers... a perfect match

  6. S.... P....

    Karla is such a talent--great singer, song writer and entertainer. I saw her 2X live with her full band--great show..Listened this song MANY MANY times--Thanks, Karla!!!

  7. i.... k....

    My 15 yrs old son linked me this song, he said it is beautiful. And beautiful and amazing it really is

  8. S.... S....

    I'm 15 and proud of what kind of songs I enjoy to listen,a lot of my friends listen to absolute newer age trash,and many of them will not realize of what great times for music these were.

  9. R.... M....

    Styles P Alone in the street brought me here. beautiful song

  10. P.... S....

    Does anyone know if she's still alive and so. What's she's doing now? This was for sure one of my all time favorite songs ever.

  11. S.... P....

    A haunting melody I played many times when it came out. I discovered her by accident and rushed out to buy the album. This version much better than Linda Rondsat’s. a pretty woman from certain angles and what a voice! There she is in the photo with Linda Ronstadt, a competitor.

  12. S.... M....

    A beautiful lady with a beautiful voice and a talent for writing beautiful music. That is the very essence of Karla Bonoff.

    1:20 and what a beautiful child she was too!

  13. J.... ....

    Great song from a very attractive woman

  14. b.... ....

    Memories...

  15. S.... D....

    Having been a songwriter in LA, eventually writing for Chappell (now Warner-Chappell) in the 70's, and a huge James Taylor/Eagles fan, my sister turned me on to Karla, and what one might call a critical time of my writing. Piano being my core writing instrument, one can't possibly ignore how tightly close the piano intro is to these, just profoundly, insightful lyrics. For freaking decades now, I (bad-ass, biker, raised by Marines, and clearly a little whimp), cries, almost every time I hear this beautiful song. It's okay to cry, but it's better to write what's in your soul. So, for you newbies, write those feelings down, master your craft, and please, please, please, make your next song as great as this one!!! Not everyone can do it, but if you really, really try, anything is possible! No matter what your parents, or drunk uncle tell you. Never give up!!! ♥

  16. P.... H....

    I love all these musicians: Bonnie, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, but Karla Bonoff sends me over the moon.

  17. A.... N....

    This song goes out to my BFF, Marcia Rabinowitz, who I always think of when I hear Karla's songs. RIP, girlfriend.

    A.... N....

    Anita, you've been peeking at my playlist? We love a lot of the same music. Sorry about your BFF.

  18. O.... T....

    1978 - my very first concert - opening for, of all people, Jackson Browne - - Karla was PERFECT. Every minute was magic, her smooth delivery and haunting lyrics . . . exactly what we wanted. Filled the arena with exactly what was needed as an intro for Jackson Browne, David Lindley, and the awesome Running on Empty tour. Unforgettable. Thank you.

  19. m.... ....

    I think that this song comes from personal experience.

  20. L.... P....

    Nothin like a hot Jewish girl. The best of woman is someone who's sexy without being slutty

  21. t.... ....

    If she was/had been a great singer, she would have continued recording. This album didn't do well.

    t.... ....

    She is a great singer!I've seen her in concert several times and her voice is amazing.. whether or not a person is a great singer or not, many times, has nothing to do with how well the album does.. FYI

    t.... ....

    I have heard other songs and sometimes she has a good voice sometimes not. here, this is/was not just right song for her; here iher voice is weak, no emotion that goes with those powerful haunting lyrics. It takes more than a good voice-she just couldn't make it big.  Some of her other song lyrics are, well, trite

  22. f.... l....

    So loving songwriters so envious that you can write a song like this...

  23. t.... b....

    Marisa i did the hair and make up for that one

  24. L.... K....

    Also try the Bronx genius Laura Nyro sing about men in 'Coffee Morning' (1967 demo) and  'Crazy Love' (1978). See Nyro inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2012 by a weeping Bette Midler. Many consider Nyro America's greatest songwriter. Joni Mitchell described her as 'holy wine in the bloodstream'. Nyro is the most influential female musician of the last 50 years.

    L.... K....

    Linda Ronstadt also did a cover of Laura Nyro's 'Stoney End'  (1967).

  25. t.... ....

    she should be more famous! Great song writer, singer etc.

  26. Z.... Z....

    . . that guitar solo can play on forever over her singing .. . sweet

  27. R.... ....

    In my opinion, a better singer, and certainly better interpreter of her own songs than Ms. Ronstadt.

  28. D.... S....

    While Ronstadt is probably my favorite singer of my generation, I like this version and arrangement best. So provocative and haunting.

  29. B.... S....

    I never knew how much Linda's cover was so close to the original!

    B.... S....

    Except Ronstadt's was released a year prior, so that's the original.

  30. k.... ....

    that was my shower song

  31. k.... ....

    she wrote it and can preform it the best

    k.... ....

    kramsevarg better than Linda Rondstat.

    k.... ....

    @Stephen Powdexter Linda has a more polished voice but Karla adds more emotion to this song than Linda does, which more than makes up for it.

  32. L.... A....

    beautiful song, just discovered.. I also do like the arrangements

  33. c.... 8....

    Brings a tear to my eye....such a poignant song....

  34. J.... P....

    Awesome! i only remembered Linda Ronstadt singing this and i found out Karla wrote this. Incredibly beautifully...

  35. d.... ....

    Lovely. I have been lucky enough to hear her 2x in person... thirty years apart. Can't help but fall for her sounds.

  36. D.... W....

    fricken awesome!

  37. L.... ....

    Yes the whole album is beautiful. I still have it.

    L.... ....

    I only had some cassettes and t
    he sound wasn't the best. Later, CD's, which got better. Incredible talent.

  38. D.... P....

    She was/is the best.

  39. b.... ....

    I always heard the song by Linda Ronstadt in growing up, but never knew that Karla Bonoff wrote the song until today (Feb 2016)

  40. j.... B....

    Saw her live a year ago. I was blown away, and I'm a dude.

    j.... B....

    john Barry, don't ever be ashamed of pure beauty, this woman is fabulous

    j.... B....

    Anthony: That first statement is practically a battle cry. One of the great descriptions of the effect of a gorgeous Lady! Thank You Sir.B.W.

  41. G.... T....

    one of the most haunting, devastating songs i have ever heard. as a songwriter, myself, songs with this much power are one in a thousand. congrats to Karla, wherever you are.

    G.... T....

    +Gerard Troisi Haunting is IT. Lonely hearts searching in a barren world.

    G.... T....

    Haunting is Mazzy Starr's "Fade into You," but don't get me wrong. This is way up there!

    G.... T....

    wo the hell is Mazzy Starr??? no comparison to an unknown

    G.... T....

    Karla wrote this song for Linda Ronstadt and it was one of her most memorable. Linda Ronstadt owes, in good measure, her success to Karla Bonoff's song writing because she wrote some of Linda's biggest hits, including this one.

    G.... T....

    tongolele Fade into You is also very haunting. This was a 1970s hit. Jazzy Star is is more 90s, 2000s. Different eras.

  42. c.... ....

    This album was a daily listen for me in the late 70's. Absolutely love her.

    c.... ....

    me too, chef, me too. Remember it like yesterday and just how it felt.

  43. j.... ....

    Karla is a brilliant song writer. It is no wonder why Linda recorded many of her songs.

  44. d.... ....

    ...the best...

  45. A.... B....

    I prefer the original by Ronstadt.

    A.... B....

    +Artur Belo , Ms. Bonoff's version is still good, IMO. She has the misfortune of following the one of the great voices and artists that is Ms. Ronstadt.

    A.... B....

    +MercuryAquarius , I don't think that diminishes Ms. Ronstadt. The composer births a song. The performer, especially an exceptional performer like Ms. Ronstadt, gives the song a full life.

    A.... B....

    @David Johnson Absolutely.  Just saying they lose on a pile of money - but that's the financial side of the biz.   Jimmy Webb wrote great music but Glen Campbell brought it to life.  A fine marriage.  This happens all the time. 

    A.... B....

    linda is not the oringal

    A.... B....

    Karla wrote the song. This is the original. Linda covered it.

  46. t.... ....

    I almost bought Linda Ronstadt's album when I first heard this song on the radio, but then somehow I heard Karla's and at 16 years old bought someone I didn't know about just because I thought her version of the song sounded better - god this song still makes my heart hurt.

    t.... ....

    LR is a much better version; KB is better at writing. She has weak vocals and little emotion. L R is a strong full of real feeling and emotion that tugs at the heart.  She's just not a very good singer -- proof is n the doing!!!

    t.... ....

    tongolele you're an idiot. Karlas is the best, purest version of this. . Karla is still touring and singing this. This will always be Karlas sing.

  47. A.... P....

    Dear Sarah, I have always liked this song, from back in 1979 when it came out. it is a powerful girl song, At the time, girls were second to men. well, maybe still, yet I loved her courage in this song.

    A.... P....

    @Anne P:
    FYI, this song was first recorded and released in 1976 by Linda Ronstadt. It then was recorded by its writer, Karla Bonoff in 1977. Not 1979. Great song!

    A.... P....

    +Anne P This song expresses the feminine side of the 1960's -- the dark side of trying to be a sexual adventurer. Read "Girls Like Us" by Sheila Weller and "A Freewheelin' Time" by Suze Rotolo. A forgotten book, ahead of its time, is "Loose Change: Three Women Of The Sixties" by Sara Davidson, a precursor to these more recent books about how women experienced that era. The power of this song is staggering and timeless. I also think of this line, in terms of the AIDS epidemic, about 5 years away from this song's release: "Morning has broken; the streetlights are off; the sun will soon share all the cost." Chilling in its prophecy.

  48. W.... S....

    Like Sam Smith, same heartache, 4 decades difference.

    W.... S....

    William Scott Sam smith sucks compared to this....

  49. D.... C....

    great songwriter!!  awesome, K

  50. D.... F....

    As a husband and a father ... Thanks

  51. M.... W....

    So much pain when the heart grieves for the one that laid down beside me and shared the story of my life.

  52. T.... ....

    Blockhead!

    T.... ....

    +TheJoaopedrov hmm, I see your point.

  53. L.... H....

    I'm the original creator/uploader of this video. I've long since forgotten the details to the crosssxeyed user name....that's how often I upload videos to YouTube. Anyone who knows me personally will know this to be true, because the "For Gillette" at the end refers to my bride of 32+ years, Cindy, whom I call "Gillette" as a nickname because she is "The Best a Man Can Get." I came to say thanks for all the positive comments and to provide an update. I can't believe it's been almost 7 years since I uploaded this. I say that because that tells me how long I was planning the events that FINALLY took place this weekend. Cindy has always loved Karla, and she turned me on to her music almost immediately after we met. We were living in San Diego at the time and Karla played a concert at the SDSU amphitheater. As newlyweds we couldn't afford tickets, although I'm sure they were relatively cheap. So we sat outside on the lawn and listened and could faintly hear Karla in the background. Fast forward a couple of decades and we're in Texas, the internet is invented, and we have home computers capable of creating the video above. I began to wonder if Karla still toured and started poking around. She was touring, but not in our area, so, as a sort of "band aid" I created and uploaded this video. But, then a quest began. A quest to find Karla on tour in our area. Over the years I would occasionally check and usually would find she was in West Virginia, or SoCal, or Wyoming, or, when she was in Texas, I would find out two weeks after the fact, or there was just no way financially we could travel to see her. Then, this past July, everything aligned!!! I found out Karla was going to be at the Dosey Doe in The Woodlands (just outside Houston), a mere 4 hour drive. And, it was a 5 week pay month for us, which meant we had an "extra" paycheck. And, we had no other plans for that weekend! I bought tickets, booked a hotel, and told Cindy to make arrangements to have the day off and not to make any other plans, but wouldn't tell her what we were doing. Friday came, we drove down and I made her close her eyes so she wouldn't see the marquee. I walked her to the front of the building and had her face away. I explained that it was a scrolling marquee and she should turn around and when she saw what we were there for, that there would be doubt in her mind. She turned around and, as I videotaped on my phone, began reciting (questioningly) different names she thought we might be there for. (The marquee scrolled names across of upcoming artists such as Firefall, etc). Suddenly her eyes grew wide and she said, "Karla Bonoff?" I nodded. She said, "Really?" almost in disbelief. I said, "Yes." Her eyes watered and she repeated, shakily, "REALLY?" and began rubbing her arms, which is what she does when she's trying to not cry. I said, again, "Yes." And the tears began as she told me to stop recording, which I did. She was totally and completely surprised and overwhelmed. Karla was absolutely amazing. After a rough start, she got in a groove and her voice, at age 62, is just as pure and clear as what you hear in this video. Her guitarist, Nina Gerber, is amazingly talented, and got applause after every solo. Karla interacted with the (rather small...maybe 60?) audience and seemed to really enjoy herself. Afterward, she made herself available to sign autographs and take pictures with her fans. It was a wonderful event and we hope Karla comes back to Texas very soon! Interestingly, just days after I bought the tickets, Karla added a date to perform in Dallas tonight, which is only a 20 minute drive. But I'm glad we went to Houston. That venue is so much more intimate and the Special Weekend will forever be a hallmark in our memories. It's sad, though, that so few of our friends asked, "Who is Karla Bonoff?" when we posted on Facebook what we were doing. This lovely, talented, warm hearted lady deserves so much more recognition than she's ever gotten. I'm happy that her songs have gotten notice, but people tend to associate Linda Ronstadt or Wynonna or other artists with the songs rather than the person who wrote them. It's nice to come here and see others who have an appreciation for the creativity and artistry of Karla Bonoff. Thanks, all!

    L.... H....

    +Larry Holmes Hi Larry, Loved you story..made me shed a tear too. I'm happy to tell you I am bringing Karla to the Taos Center for the Arts, an intimate 275 seat theater Oct 14th 2016. Bring your wife !

    L.... H....

    thank you larry

    L.... H....

    we aint dead yet

  54. l.... ....

    Am I hearing Andrew Gold's guitar work? Brilliant song, songwriter and singer, musician, along with Andrew and the rest of the band.

    l.... ....

    @lekkki1 It's Waddy Wachtel.

    l.... ....

    Also heard with Warren Zevon....

    l.... ....

    I believe on this version it's Stevie's guitar player Waddy Wachtel.....I know he played on Linda's live touring version in the mid-late 70s. He's the guy who's famous for Edge of.......

  55. A.... L....

    I like Linda, but Karla should have released this first. 

    A.... L....

    Andrew, hindsight is 20-20, but had Karla released it as an unknown, it might never have gotten the radio play that it did as a Ronstadt cover.  

    Back when it came out, people could read the LP liner notes and learn who actually wrote the song.

    That's in fact how I learned of Karla and became one of her biggest fans, so thank you, Linda for that!

    A.... L....

    +Fred Goodwin  Very true!  People don't realize it takes a well known star to make a good song big.  An excellent example is Cory Wells from Three Dog Night.  He fell in love with an unknown tune by Randy Newman called Mama Told Me Not To Come.  He found the record in a bin of a Dime store.  Anyway.  Linda adds a needed punch to this tune, there's no doubt about that.  Same for Cory Wells.

    A.... L....

    Linda's is NOT a cover she recorded the original because she is a singer. Karla has such a weak voice and no emotion should have (and did) stick to songwriting)

    A.... L....

    goof thing she did not --LR is a much better version; KB is better at writing. She has weak vocals and little emotion. L R is a strong full of real feeling and emotion that tugs at the heart.  She's just not a very good singer -- proof is n the doing!!!Read more Show less Reply     1

    A.... L....

    It was a hit because LR is a great s inger NOT because she she was not an "unknown"

  56. L.... H....

    memory lane...nice!! Thanks for posting!!  :)

  57. p.... ....

    I bought this album when it came out. This was my fav song on it. The whole album is great tho. Karla is a great talent.

  58. M.... D....

    My fourth album cover project for hair and make-up 

    M.... D....

    @Marisa Dower Morgan Oh, yes, I did understand that, but you are STILL an artist, a make-up artist; you make the artists look good on their album covers and videos; your work is art--period!
    With agape,
    Mondo

    M.... D....

    @Marisa Dower Morgan

    Te adoro no problemas

    Eres una linda amiga

    Aloha
    Y respecto tus palabras
    Cielo :))

    M.... D....

    for Karla or Linda? Either way both album covers were outstanding. Feels funny talking about albums these days. Lost all mine in storage, had hundreds including all the beatles. I would have rather have lost my heart

    M.... D....

    I was moving to Saipan and sold all my albums last year. I almost cried on the way to the record store. The store owners examined each one individually for quality and as he looked, I thought about where I was in that place and time when I purchased the particular album he was looking at. A record collection is more than just songs, it is a snapshot of our lives.

    M.... D....

    mojorising0071950 i wish u would have

  59. K.... P....

    Hey right now my dad is kind of pirating my comment. This woman wrote this beautiful song? Linda does it justice big time. But this woman is just as good and she wrote it. I love them both.

  60. r.... ....

    One of the Top 10 songs of all time!
    She's hardly known on the east coast and even this song is known by Linda's version.
    Whatg an incredible talent and beauty!!

  61. t.... ....

    When I listen to this song I feel like a cobra being charmed its just so amazing!

  62. T.... P....

    Beautifull song. And I remember when it was new. Lol :)

  63. R.... R....

    Breathtaking...

  64. J.... W....

    am i the only teeneager in the comments.... i see comments about seeing her in concert and about what age they were and none of them seem like a teenager whos parents listen to this. am i alone?

  65. S.... F....

    Saw Karla in 77' at the Jackson Browne concert. She has nice pipes!

  66. L.... T....

    Been hearing this song in my head for days

  67. D.... K....

    Awesome!!

  68. D.... K....

    Love yer Voice!!!!!

  69. S.... S....

    This lady has more talent than most artists combined. When I saw her in concert she sang, played several different instruments and did it all effortlessly. Her song writing is amazing. Thank you Karla for all the beautiful music you have created through the years!!!!!!

  70. r.... ....

    Epic Song

  71. B.... P....

    I absolutely love Karla Bonoff!

  72. b.... ....

    I'll amen that! Perhaps the best possibility for this would have been on The Innocent Age album, when Dan was huge, and he had many musical guests perform on that album! Sincerely, BobbyK Happy Holidays to all!!! :+)

  73. F.... N....

    Waddy Wachtel? Is there anybody he didn't play for? Great guitarist with long curly hair and granny glasses. From the Golden Age of singer/songwriter artists. Thanks for the info.

    F.... N....

    Flip Nsac well, he's been playing for Stevie for nearly 40years now.......

  74. n.... ....

    I always wanted to hear or see her and Dan Fogelberg do something together especially during the 1970's.

  75. F.... N....

    Love the lead guitar work on this. Anyone know who it is? Love this song too. Great work Karla!

  76. c.... ....

    eh fuck you. blocks sick, and they use it differently

  77. c.... ....

    Pretty lights uses this in High School Art Class too

  78. d.... ....

    4:03 of Brunette Beauty

  79. l.... ....

    Oh, crap! LOL I'm crying again! Damn! : )

  80. A.... ....

    I had this album and several others by Bonoff. I saw her at some night club a few years after I got into her music and she was GREAT!!!

  81. 1.... ....

    1976...or '77....I can't say for certain, but I bought the Linda Ronstadt album....and fell in love with this song. Eventually must've worn out, or lost the old cassette tape....and never heard it again until YouTube a few years ago. Saw Karla back in the 80s when she opened for James Taylor at the Greek amphitheater in northern CA. Great tune....

  82. B.... ....

    Just bloody great song nuff said.

  83. W.... s....

    I agree! Not too many people write their own songs, but get all the credit for the songs they sing! It's a shame when someone who has the talent of writing songs AND can sing was not promoted by her manager!

  84. W.... s....

    Don't get me wrong...Linda has a great voice, but I don't understand how you were not doing your own songs! You have a gorgeous voice!

  85. j.... ....

    I have always loved your music from the very first time I heard " Goodbye & Home " which lead me to listen to Lay Down Beside You " {my favorite} I sing this with our band and everyone allways asks when did I write the new song ? I say oh no no no that song is a Karla Bonoff origianal, you should hear the rest of her material its awsome ! I want to say thank you 4 the inspirations. I have written 11 songs on my first full album collection & am on the start of the next b cause of artists like you

  86. P.... E....

    I don't believe I ever heard this by her before. I learned it listening to the Linda Ronstadt version. I used to sing this song a very long time ago. Wow. I got here from Waddy Wachtel's facebook page. He played guitar on this and just about everything back then.

  87. k.... ....

    A huge part of the soundtrack of my life. I love you Karla. Thank you.

  88. i.... ....

    I'm loving finding all this stuff from my younger days. It still sounds incredible.

  89. K.... ....

    @OPSUTailgaters She doesn't put Ronstadt to shame, but she is a professional in all ways.

  90. t.... ....

    Talented song writer...Linda had great instincts using her songs...Karla had a good voice as well. I enjoyed her talents. Thanks You Tube for posting this!

  91. O.... C....

    i don't understand why radio stations don't play her music anymore

  92. c.... ....

    My friend once said she sounds like a cross between Carol King and Linda Ronstadt.

  93. p.... ....

    I bought this album in '77 (I think it was). Loved playing it every day all that summer.

  94. 7.... ....

    This is one of the most evocative songs ever written. Even Linda Ronstadt didn't do it quite as well as the writer, in my opinion. What memories this song extracts from my mind, of loves lost and not quite forgotten. They don't write or perform music like this anymore. Whether it be Karla Bonoff or Linda Ronstadt; both are class musicians.

  95. C.... A....

    5 people are clearly morons with no taste

  96. g.... ....

    Thumbs up if you got here from Blockheads "Insomniac Olympics".

  97. C.... M....

    Linda Ronstadt sings this with so much more passion...