Richard Carpenter recalled: "I happened to hear [the song] being played as an oldie one day in early 1969, and upon hearing it this particular time, decided the tune would make a nice ballad." As arranged by Richard Carpenter, the song became the plaint of a castoff lover, with the opening line: "I think I'm gonna be sad", being sung repeatedly as the track fades.
"Ticket to Ride" became the Carpenters' first charting song, peaking at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1970, reaching number 19 on the same magazine's Adult Contemporary chart, and number 24 on the Canadian AC chart in February. The single's success led to its parent album, their debut "Offering", being reissued as "Ticket to Ride".
The music video was filmed to recall Beatles film "Help" (1965), were the song was first introduced. The shot took place in Squaw Valley, California, on Karen's 20th birthday. Richard mentioned they both had a lot of fun filming, even thought the temperature was very cold.
In 1973, "Ticket to Ride" was re-recorded for their first compilation The Singles 1969-1973.
In 1974, the Carpenters sibilings got to met Paul McCartney, who invitated them to watch the recording of Mike McGear's album at 10cc’s Strawberry Studios. McCartney complimented them and Karen's singing. In a 1977 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, McCartney praised Karen Carpenter's vocal abilities and referred to the Carpenters as "really good."
01. Ticket To Ride
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think it's today, yeah
The boy that's driving me mad
Is going away
He's got a ticket to ride
He's got a ticket to ride
He's got a ticket to ride
He said that living with me
Was bringing him down, yeah
He would never be free
When I was around
He's got a ticket to ride
He's got a ticket to ride
He's got a ticket to ride
And he don't care
Don't know why he's riding so high
He oughta do right, he oughta do right by me
Before he gets to saying goodbye
He oughta do right, he oughta do right by me
I think I'm gonna be sad
I think it's today, yeah
The boy that's driving me mad
Is going away
He's got a ticket to ride
He's got a ticket to ride
He's got a ticket to ride
And he don't care, don't care where
Think I'm gonna be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
The lyrics to Carpenters' song "Ticket to Ride" are a reflection of a broken relationship. The singer is unhappy and is going to be sad because the boy she loves is leaving her, and she feels like she has driven him away. The boy has singled out his reasons for leaving, stating that the singer's presence in his life was bringing him down and restricting his freedom. He has his ticket to ride, and he does not care about the singer's feelings. The singer is left questioning why the boy is riding so high and why he cannot do right by her before leaving.
The song is a testament to the different perspectives people have on a relationship. The singer is still in love and hurt, while the boy is certain that he needs to leave to find happiness. The ticket to ride could be interpreted as a metaphor for the freedom that the boy seeks beyond the perimeters of this relationship. In contrast, the singer is fearful of the future without the boy and the sadness she would feel.
Overall, "Ticket to Ride" is a bittersweet song that evokes feelings of loss and regret for what could have been. The departure of the boy has shattered the illusion of a perfect relationship, and the singer is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'm gonna be sad
I feel like I'm going to be sad
I think it's today, yeah
I think the thing that will make me sad is happening today
The boy that's driving me mad
The boy that I'm really upset about
Is going away
Is leaving me
He's got a ticket to ride
He has a ticket to go away
And he don't care
He doesn't care that leaving is hurting me
He said that living with me
He said that being with me
Was bringing him down, yeah
Was making him unhappy
He would never be free
He felt like he would never be free to do what he wanted while with me
When I was around
When he was with me
Don't know why he's riding so high
I don't understand why he's so happy to be leaving me
He oughta do right, he oughta do right by me
He should treat me better, he should be considerate of my feelings
Before he gets to saying goodbye
Before he leaves me
Think I'm gonna be sad
I think I'm going to be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
I think I'm going to be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
I think I'm going to be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
I think I'm going to be sad
Think I'm gonna be sad
I think I'm going to be sad
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Parker
on Happy
Wrong lyrics shown. Correct ones --- Happy by Carpenters
I've played the game of love before.
Too young to know
How hard the fall could be;
I never thought I'd try again.
Somehow you brought
The gambler out in me.
You can deal me in this time around.
Even though the odds are high,
We'll play them down.
You may be a chance I need to take,
And the hand I'm holdin' says it's no mistake.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
If this is luck then let it ride.
If it's the starts,
They're surely on my side.
I've never been so safisfied
By love before;
For all the times I've tried.
These beginnings could mean more
Than the brief affair I bargained for.
Little did I know, when we began,
That my time had come to win a hand.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
Please forgive me if I seem
To be walking through a waking dream.
Laughter never came so easily;
There's a freedom here that's new to me.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.