This week, we’re celebrating the power of music to uplift and inspire during times spent closer to home. Just like our imaginations, the ways we use this time are diverse and boundless, and music perfectly mirrors this. There’s a song for every feeling and moment, and while choosing just a few to share is a delightful challenge, I hope these selections bring you joy, motivation, comfort, and perhaps a little bit of musical discovery.
One song that immediately conjures feelings of peaceful retreat and urban serenity is “Up on the Roof.” Penned by the legendary songwriting duo Carole King and Gerry Goffin, this classic tune offers a timeless escape from the everyday hustle and bustle.
The Brill Building Magic: King and Goffin’s Rooftop Inspiration
Carole King, a prominent figure from the Brill Building era and the inspiration behind the Broadway hit Beautiful, recounts that the melody for “Up on the Roof” came to her while driving. She envisioned a song titled “My Secret Place” and presented it to her then-husband and lyricist, Gerry Goffin. Goffin, drawing imagery from the 1961 cinematic adaptation of West Side Story, brilliantly conceived a tenement rooftop as the song’s “secret place”—an urban sanctuary high above the city streets.
Released in 1962, “Up on the Roof” quickly ascended the charts, becoming a major hit. Its enduring appeal has solidified its place in music history, earning it recognition on Rolling Stone’s prestigious list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Numerous artists have interpreted this classic, from The Drifters’ original rendition to James Taylor’s soulful take and Carole King’s own versions. However, Laura Nyro’s 1970 performance stands out for its captivating portrayal of a languid summer night in the city.
Laura Nyro’s Soulful Rendition: Finding Freedom in Solitude
Laura Nyro’s interpretation of “Up on the Roof” beautifully captures the song’s essence of tranquil escape. Her performance highlights the feeling of blissful solitude found high above the urban sprawl. There’s a magical moment in her rendition where her passion ignites as she sings, “I get away from the HUST-lin’ crowds!” In Nyro’s voice, solitude is not loneliness but a cherished personal haven, a space she relishes, even as she playfully suggests “there’s room enough for two.”
Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone lauded Goffin’s lyrical craftsmanship, noting, “From the internal rhyme of ‘stairs’ and ‘cares’ to the image of ascending from the street to the stars by way of an apartment staircase, it’s first-rate, sophisticated writing.” Indeed, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of ascending to a rooftop retreat, leaving behind the cares of the city below.
But beyond its lyrical brilliance and cultural significance, “Up on the Roof,” especially in Nyro’s rendition, possesses an irresistible quality that simply makes you want to dance. It’s a song that celebrates finding your own secret place, your own rooftop escape, amidst the vibrant energy of city life.
“Up on the Roof”
Carole King (b. 1942) and Gerry Goffin (1939-2014)
Performed by Laura Nyro
