Karen Carpenter's calm, often somber voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. The duo's sound drew more from pre-rock pop than rock & roll, but that didn't prevent the Carpenters from appealing to a variety of audiences, particularly Top 40, easy listening, and adult contemporary. While their popularity declined during the latter half of the '70s, they remained one of the most distinctive and recognizable acts the decade produced.
The Carpenters formed in the late '60s in Downey, CA, after their family moved from their native New Haven, CT. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local Californian record label Magic Lamp, who released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name The Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968.
Following Jacobs' departure, the siblings formed Spectrum with Richard's college friend John Bettis. Spectrum fell apart by the end of the year, but the Carpenters continued performing as a duo. The pair recorded some demos at the house of Los Angeles session musician Joe Osborn; the tape was directed toward Herb Alpert, the head of A&M Records, who signed the duo to his record label in early 1969.
Offering, the Carpenters' first album, was released in November 1969. Neither Offering or the accompanying single, a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride," made a big impression. However, the Carpenters' fortunes changed with their second single, a version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Taken from the album Close to You, the single became the group's first number one, spending four weeks on the top of the U.S. charts. "Close to You" became an international hit, beginning a five-year period where the duo was one of the most popular recording acts in the world. During that period the Carpenters won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist of 1970, and had an impressive string of Top Ten hits, including "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Goodbye to Love," "Yesterday Once More," and "Top of the World."
After 1975's number-four hit "Only Yesterday," the group's popularity began to decline. For the latter half of the '70s, the duo were plagued by personal problems. Richard had become addicted to prescription drugs; in 1978, he entered a recovery clinic, kicking his habit. Karen, meanwhile, became afflicted with anorexia nervosa, a disease she suffered from for the rest of her life. On top of their health problems, the group's singles had stopped reaching the Top Ten and by 1978, they weren't even reaching the Top 40. Consequently, Karen decided to pursue a solo career, recording a solo album in 1979 with Phil Ramone. The record was not completed at that time (though it would be released in 1996), and she returned to the Carpenters later that year. The reunited duo released their last album of new material, Made in America, in 1981. The album marked a commercial comeback, as "Touch Me When We're Dancing" made it to number 16 on the charts. However, Karen's health continued to decline, forcing the duo out of the spotlight. On February 4, 1983, Karen was found unconscious at her parents' home in Downey; she died in the hospital shortly after due to cardiac arrest, which was later due to the strain on her heart caused by years of crash dieting caused by anorexia nervosa.
After Karen's death, Richard Carpenter concentrated on production work and assembling various compilations of the Carpenters' recorded work. In 1987, he released a solo album called Time, which featured guest appearances by Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
from http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=1607403&contenttype=artistsongs
Caught Between Goodbye and I Love You
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know it won't be easy
I've been thinking these past few days
It might be time to leave
You're like a stranger
Then you're a lover
Never the same
Always hard to believe
(*) I'm caught between goodbye and I love you
Never knowing quite where I stand
I'm caught between goodbye and I love you
Falling both ways nowhere to land
So constantly stranded
I can't understant it
(understand)
This double life you've handed me
Is like the devil and the deep blue sea
If we go on much longer
If my doubts grow any stronger
Then I may have to let you go
If only to survive
Give me a reason
Why should I stay here?
(stay)
I've tried so hard
Just to keep love alive
Repeat (*)
The Carpenters' Goodbye And I Love You is a song about a love that has become complicated, with the person questioning whether to stay or leave their partner. The song starts with the lines "I have something to tell you, And I know it won't be easy" which suggest that what the person has to say is not going to be pleasant. They've been contemplating leaving for a while, and their mixed feelings are hard to understand as their partner is like a stranger and a lover at the same time. As the song progresses, the person seems to be caught between two feelings, goodbye and love.
The lyrics highlight the struggle of being stranded between two emotions and not knowing where to land. The person seems to be constantly questioning their relationship, and their doubts grow stronger every day. They know that if they go on like this, they might have to let go of their partner for the sake of survival. The person clarifies that they've tried hard to keep their love alive but still can't understand the double life that has been handed to them, which is like the devil and the deep blue sea.
Line by Line Meaning
I have something to tell you
I need to have a conversation with you.
And I know it won't be easy
This conversation is going to be difficult.
I've been thinking these past few days
I've been pondering about something for days.
It might be time to leave
I might need to go away.
You're like a stranger
You're like someone I don't know.
Then you're a lover
Then you turn into someone I love.
Never the same
You seem to transform quite quickly.
Always hard to believe
It's always difficult to understand.
I'm caught between goodbye and I love you
I'm in a dilemma between ending things or continuing the relationship with you.
Never knowing quite where I stand
It's hard to comprehend where I stand in this relationship.
Falling both ways nowhere to land
I'm stuck in this predicament, with no solution in sight.
So constantly stranded
I feel stuck in a difficult situation.
I can't understand it
I cannot comprehend this situation fully.
This double life you've handed me
I'm living two different lives because of you.
Is like the devil and the deep blue sea
It feels like being stuck in a terrible situation, with no escape.
If we go on much longer
If this situation continues, as it is.
If my doubts grow any stronger
If I become more uncertain about our relationship.
Then I may have to let you go
I might have to end things with you.
If only to survive
To make it through this difficult time.
Give me a reason
Show me a reason to stay.
Why should I stay here?
What makes it worthwhile for me to remain?
I've tried so hard
I've done my best.
Just to keep love alive
To maintain our love and relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN BETTIS, RICHARD LYNN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wolfhoundersful
I have something to tell you
And I know it won't be easy
I've been thinking these past few days
It might be time to leave
You're like a stranger
Then you're a lover
Never the same, always hard to believe
I'm caught between goodbye and I love you
Never knowing quite where I stand
I'm caught between goodbye and I love you
Falling both ways, nowhere to land
So constantly stranded
I can't understand it
This troubled life you've handed me
Is like the devil and the deep blue sea
If we go on much longer
If my doubts grow any stronger
Then I may have to let you go
If only to survive
Give me a reason, why should I stay here
I've tried too hard just to keep love alive
@robertorossi521
very few women singers can hit those low notes and karen does it perfectly and makes you feel it in your heart and soul and her voice is so rich and timeless
@glecycenido8133
Her voice is one in a million,miss so much...😍
@joyfaithlovehope6376
I miss them, too.
@guywebb950
Not only Karen's vocals but the heavenly breath's Richard left included in recording. Some slow and some quick. Magic
@rudolftrost3534
This is my absolute favourite Carpenters song. What Karen brings to the table here will NEVER be equalled, no matter how much the Japanese try.
@jurgengenuit4176
Just heavens giving! What a great music and what a great voice. Karens and Richards music will always be part of my life !
@bruschmidt9943
Her voice flows over the orchestration like a butterfly in flight. Ever so gently, knowing exactly where she's going. Nobody can interpret a piece the way she could, taking a mere song & caressing it into a timeless work of art 😍😥. Her heart warming, majestic vocals were also recorded on 1st take 😯💕
@MN-mn3qv
Beautiful said and so true.
@robertarmstrong6015
Her intonation when she sings deep blue "sea" literally cuts to the core! What a wondrous voice.
@bruschmidt9943
After more than 50 years, I'm still mesmerized whenever I hear her sing.