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
Goodnight
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for the sign to change then I'll be on my way
The noise, the heat, the crush of cars just robs me of my nerve
And someone yells and blasts their horn and pins me to the curb
I'm a stranger here, no one you would know
My ship has not come in but I keep hoping though
And I keep looking past, the sun that sets above
And I'm driving into Houston on a rain slicked Texas road
Land so flat and sky so dark, I say a prayer to float
Should all at once the Sanasito surge beyond it's banks
Like Noah reaching higher ground I'd offer up my thanks
'Cause I'm a stranger here, no one you would know
I'm just passing through, I am therefore I go
The moon rose in the east but now it's right above
As I say aloud, goodnight America
Midnight, it's hard to see the stars
Out on a highway near Atlanta
Full of strip malls and used cars
First light just roll your window down
And smell the salty air
Perfume of Charleston Town
I'm looking with a pilgrim's eyes upon some promised land
And dreaming with my heart outstretched as if it were my hand
And I'll hit the cross Bronx just in time to beat the rush hour lock
I have no clue what time it is from this world's busted clock
I'm a stranger here, no one you would know
I'm from somewhere else, well, isn't everybody though?
I don't know where I'll be when the sun comes up
Until then sweet dreams, goodnight America
The Carpenters' "Goodnight" lyrics describe a traveler's journey from west to east across America. They are in California, then Texas, and finally Georgia. The song describes the traveler's feelings of displacement and the unreliability of his watch. The repeated phrase "goodnight America" seems to acknowledge the good but troubled experiences he has had along his journey.
The song's lyrics suggest that the traveler is still searching for his place in the world. He acknowledges himself as a stranger, and it is not clear whether he has a specific destination in mind. The journey itself is the focus. Despite the traveler's sense of alienation, there is a sense of hope in the lyrics as well. The traveler keeps looking ahead and dreaming of the future. The song suggests that even though America is not perfect, it remains a land of opportunity and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm standing at a traffic light somewhere in West L.A.
I'm stuck in this chaos, unsure of where to go.
Waiting for the sign to change then I'll be on my way
I'm waiting for a chance to move forward.
The noise, the heat, the crush of cars just robs me of my nerve
The commotion around me clouds my judgement and makes me anxious.
And someone yells and blasts their horn and pins me to the curb
The aggression shown by others intimidates me and overwhelms me.
I'm a stranger here, no one you would know
I have no place of belonging, no one knows who I am.
My ship has not come in but I keep hoping though
Even though I haven't found success, I still have hope for a better future.
And I keep looking past, the sun that sets above
I'm looking past my current struggles towards the future.
Saying to myself, goodnight America
Acknowledging the end of the day, regardless of the hardships encountered.
And I'm driving into Houston on a rain slicked Texas road
I'm on a journey, enduring various obstacles.
Land so flat and sky so dark, I say a prayer to float
I'm feeling vulnerable and uncertain, hoping for some guidance.
Should all at once the Sanasito surge beyond it's banks
In the event of a natural disaster, I would turn to faith for comfort.
Like Noah reaching higher ground I'd offer up my thanks
I'm willing to recognize my blessings in the face of adversity.
'Cause I'm a stranger here, no one you would know
I'm disconnected from my environment and have little familiarity with this new place.
I'm just passing through, I am therefore I go
My journey is temporary, and I must eventually leave this place.
The moon rose in the east but now it's right above
Time has passed, and I'm still seeking a new path.
As I say aloud, goodnight America
Concluding another day, despite not achieving my goals.
Midnight, it's hard to see the stars
The darkness and confusion of night has set in.
Out on a highway near Atlanta
I'm on a journey away from the familiar.
Full of strip malls and used cars
This new environment is full of commercialism and is somewhat mundane.
First light just roll your window down
As a new day approaches, there's a chance to embrace the fresh air and start anew.
And smell the salty air
Taking in the scents of the coastal area, I'm reminded of the beauty of nature.
Perfume of Charleston Town
The aroma from the surroundings creates a sense of comfort.
I'm looking with a pilgrim's eyes upon some promised land
I'm searching for a better future with hope and faith.
And dreaming with my heart outstretched as if it were my hand
Envisioning my goals with all my heart, I'm determined to achieve them.
And I'll hit the cross Bronx just in time to beat the rush hour lock
I'm carefully timing each aspect of my journey to minimize any potential setbacks.
I have no clue what time it is from this world's busted clock
Despite my best efforts, I cannot fully control everything in my life.
I'm from somewhere else, well, isn't everybody though?
I'm part of a collective humanity that is always searching for a sense of belonging.
I don't know where I'll be when the sun comes up
I have no assurance of what the future holds.
Until then sweet dreams, goodnight America
I'm mindful of the present and looking forward to a better tomorrow, even as I say farewell to the present day.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music
Written by: MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Firth
Had this played at my grandads funeral. Beautiful song. Deep meaningful words x
Philip England
I had Carpenters 'Sometimes' played at my Mum's funeral
Bananadiva1
Whoever gave this utter masterpiece a thumbs down has neither a heart or ears that work. This is without doubt one of Karen's most astonishing vocal performances. Pure beauty!
Mark Jolley
John Lennon once said too karen ...you have the most amazing voice love.. probably after hearing this!!!
harvey1954
John probably never heard this cover. It came from a Long Beach College album that had a couple of covers by the Carpenters. Somebody dubbed a copy which is how this got out originally.
Mark Prange
He had to have also heard her cover of what he had sung, "Ticket to Ride."
pricefan2007
Could any of you imagine Karen singing this to her own child if she'd been a mom?
Kim Wood
The guy she married had gotten a vasectomy, and didn't tell her about it, until just before their marriage.
Karen wanted to call off the marriage. But her pushy mother, Agnes, said that she had already paid for her wedding; and told Karen to go out there, and put on a big smile.
If you see the photos on Karen's wedding day, Karen's smile looks forced.
Rita6868 Sora
@Wanting One Angel Awe sorry about your Dad.My Dad passed in 2000.His birthday Jan.20.My Mom in 2015 so still kind of new.Nice to know other people feel like they knew Karen as well.
Wanting One Angel
@Rita6868 Sora Thank you for sharing your thoughts and kind words about Karen Carpenter 😊😊💛💛!!. And Karen Carpenter might be singing to my Dad too in Heaven. My Dad passed away ion Jan. 23rd 2008. Karen Carpenter was popular both before I was born and after. And yes, I feel like I know her even though I never met her.💛💛💛💛💛!!!