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
Goodbye to Love
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one ever cared if I should live or die
Time and time again the chance for love has passed me by
And all I know of love
Is how to live without it
I just can't seem to find it
So I've made my mind up
And though it's not the easy way
I guess I've always known
I'd say goodbye to love
There are no tomorrows for this heart of mine
Surely time will lose these bitter memories
And I'll find that there is someone to believe in
And to live for something I could live for
All the years of useless search
Have finally reached an end
Loneliness and empty days will be my only friend
From this day love is forgotten
I'll go on as best I can
What lies in the future
Is a mystery to us all
No one can predict the wheel of fortune as it falls
There may come a time when I will see that I've been wrong
But for now this is my song
And it's goodbye to love
I'll say goodbye to love
The Carpenters' hit song "Goodbye to Love" is a heart-wrenching ballad about a person's decision to give up on love. The singer of the song has had a series of disappointments in love throughout their life, and they have come to the conclusion that they must live their life alone. They have given up on the prospect of finding someone to love, and have resolved to say "goodbye to love." The lyrics speak to the universal struggle of many people who have experienced heartbreak and despair in their romantic lives.
The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, with the singer declaring that they will say "goodbye to love." They reflect on their past experiences, ruminating on the missed opportunities and failed chances at love in their life. The line "No one ever cared if I should live or die" highlights the singer's feelings of loneliness and isolation, which have been compounded by their lack of success in finding love. They admit that they have only learned how to live without love, expressing a deep sense of resignation and despair.
The chorus reflects their painful decision to go it alone, no matter how difficult it may be. They have decided that they must "live their life alone," acknowledging that it may not be the easy way, but it is what they have always known. The verses continue with more reflections on the past, with the singer wondering if they will ever find someone to believe in and live for. They have accepted that loneliness and emptiness will be their only companions, at least for now. The song concludes with an acknowledgment of the unpredictability of the future, leaving the possibility open for a change of heart, but for now, it is goodbye to love.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the universal human experience of grappling with love and loss. Its lyrics speak to the deep pain and regret that can come with failed relationships, as well as the hard-won acceptance that sometimes, being alone is the best choice. The Carpenters brought their signature style of lush, melancholy pop to this memorable tune, creating a classic ballad that embodies the struggle and triumph of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll say goodbye to love
The singer is choosing to turn away from love in their life.
No one ever cared if I should live or die
The singer feels that they have not had anyone truly care about them and their wellbeing.
Time and time again the chance for love has passed me by
The singer has had multiple opportunities for love, but has not been successful in finding it.
And all I know of love
The artist has limited experience with love.
Is how to live without it
The artist has lived without love and has become accustomed to it.
I just can't seem to find it
The singer has been searching for love, but has not been able to find it.
So I've made my mind up
The singer has made a decision.
I must live my life alone
The artist has decided to live their life without a romantic partner.
And though it's not the easy way
The artist knows that living alone is not the easy path.
I guess I've always known
The artist has had this feeling for a long time.
There are no tomorrows for this heart of mine
The singer feels as though they will never find love.
Surely time will lose these bitter memories
With time, the pain of not finding love will lessen.
And I'll find that there is someone to believe in
The singer looks forward to eventually finding someone they can believe in and trust.
And to live for something I could live for
The singer longs to find a purpose in life, something to live for.
All the years of useless search
The singer has wasted many years searching for love.
Have finally reached an end
The artist has decided to stop searching for love.
Loneliness and empty days will be my only friend
The artist knows that loneliness will now be a constant presence in their life.
From this day love is forgotten
The singer has made a conscious decision to forget about love.
I'll go on as best I can
The singer will continue living, despite the pain of not finding love.
What lies in the future
The artist is uncertain about what the future holds.
Is a mystery to us all
No one truly knows what the future holds.
No one can predict the wheel of fortune as it falls
No one can accurately predict how fate will play out.
There may come a time when I will see that I've been wrong
The singer acknowledges that there may be a time when they realize they were wrong to give up on love.
But for now this is my song
For the time being, this is how the artist feels about love.
And it's goodbye to love
The singer reiterates their decision to say goodbye to love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard Lynn Carpenter, John Bettis
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.