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
If I Had You
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wouldn't have this tear drop in my eye
I wouldn't need the radio to be my lullaby
If I had you, if I had you
I wouldn't need the sun to light the morning
(I would need no sunshine)
If I could have your love to light my night
If I had you in my life
If I had you again
I wouldn't be the fool I've been
If I had you again
I'd never let the lovin' end
If I had you again
I'd show you baby you're the only one
So say that you believe in second chances
(You believe in love)
And say you'll let me be with you tonight
(All through the night)
If you'll take my hand I'll show you
just how love could be so right
If I had you ( If I had you)
If I had you
(Here in my life)
If I had you again
I wouldn't be the fool I've been
If I had you again
I'd never let the lovin' end
If I had you again
I'd show you baby you're the only one
If you'll take my hand I'll show you
just how love could be so right
(Ooooooooohhhh)
If I had you (If I had you)
If I had you
(Back in my life)
If I had you again
(If I had you, I wouldn't be blue)
I wouldn't be the fool I've been
(I wouldn't be the fool yeah)
If I had you again
I'd never let the lovin' end
(I'd never be a fool)
If I had you again
(If I had you, I would be true)
I'd never let this moment dissappear
(If I had you, I wouldn't be blue)
If I had you in my life.
The song "If I Had You" by Carpenters carries a deep and emotional message about the necessity of love in a person's life. The first verse talks about the insignificance of material things in the presence of love. The lyrics "I wouldn't have the TV in the bedroom, I wouldn't have this tear drop in my eye, I wouldn't need the radio to be my lullaby" highlights that love can be the true source of comfort and happiness in life. The chorus paints an even clearer picture of the importance of love. The line "I wouldn't need the sun to light the morning, if I could have your love to light my night" shows a desire for a love that fills every moment of the day, and the line "I'd never for a second keep our love from burnin' bright" reveals a commitment to keep the love alive forever.
The second verse speaks more directly to the theme of second chances. The lyrics "If I had you again, I wouldn't be the fool I've been" suggests that the singer has lost the love of their life due to foolishness or mistakes. The line "I'd never let the lovin' end" shows that they know the importance of the relationship and don't want to lose it again. The bridge is a plea for a second chance, "So say that you believe in second chances, and say you'll let me be with you tonight".
The song ends with a repetition of the same lines from the chorus, indicating that the singer's desire for love has remained unchanged. It is a heartfelt song that many can relate to and reflects the Carpenters' trademark of creating sentimental ballads that resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't have the TV in the bedroom
I don't need distractions because you would be in the room with me
I wouldn't have this tear drop in my eye
You have the power to make me happy and take my sadness away
I wouldn't need the radio to be my lullaby
Your voice is all I need to help me fall asleep
If I had you, if I had you
You are the missing piece that completes me
I wouldn't need the sun to light the morning
With you by my side, every day is bright and beautiful
If I could have your love to light my night
Your love is the light that illuminates my darkest moments
I'd never for a second keep our love from burnin' bright
I will never let anything dim the fire of our love
If I had you in my life
Having you in my life would be the greatest blessing
If I had you again
I long to have you back in my life
I wouldn't be the fool I've been
I wouldn't make the same mistakes I made before
I'd never let the lovin' end
I will always cherish and nurture our love
I'd show you baby you're the only one
You are the most important person in my life and I will treat you like royalty
So say that you believe in second chances
I hope that you are willing to give us another chance
And say you'll let me be with you tonight
I want to spend every moment with you, especially tonight
If you'll take my hand I'll show you just how love could be so right
Let me prove to you how much better life is with me by your side
If I had you
Life would be perfect with you in it
(Here in my life)
You are the missing piece that completes my life
(Ooooooooohhhh)
My heart aches for you
(If I had you, I wouldn't be blue)
You are the cure to my sadness
(I wouldn't be the fool yeah)
I wouldn't make foolish mistakes again
(If I had you, I would be true)
Being true to you is my top priority
(If I had you, I wouldn't be blue)
Your love is what brings color back into my life
If I had you in my life
My life would be complete
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY HARJU, LARRY W. HERBSTRITT, STEPHEN HARTLEY DORFF
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.