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
One More Time
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop disasters for you
You still tell me who are you
And I
Keep it open for you
Feel ugly now without you
Tell me what else can I do
I just wanna give you some more time
Are you feeling low I'll make it right
I just wanna give you some more time
I believe in you
Don't waste my love this way
Another ten years can fade away
You owe me nothing and your secrets are safe with me baby
With you
Don't hesitate to say
Another ten years can fade away
You owe me nothing and your secrets are safe with me baby
I just wanna give you some more time
I just wanna give you some more time
Are you feeling low I'll make it right
I just wanna give you some more time
Your smile it don't change
When you're naked on me
Let me taste it
Wrap my arms round your waist and I'll make it
I just wanna give you some more time
I just wanna give you some more time
Are you feeling low I'll make it right
I just wanna give you some more time
The lyrics to Carpenters' song One More Time are a plea from the singer to their partner to give their relationship another chance. Despite the fact that their love has faded, the singer still wants to make an effort to keep the relationship alive. The opening line, "All the while I want you," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is fully aware that the relationship has been rocky, but they are determined to make it work.
Throughout the song, the singer tries to reassure their partner that they are committed to making things work. They promise to stop disasters for their partner and keep their hearts open to them. However, the partner remains hesitant and questioning, asking the singer to prove their commitment. The singer persists and insists on giving their partner more time to make things right.
The final stanza of the song is particularly poignant, with the singer acknowledging that their partner owes them nothing and that their secrets are safe with them. The singer's desperation to salvage the relationship is palpable throughout the song, making this one of the most emotional tracks in the Carpenters' discography.
Line by Line Meaning
All the while I want you
I have been wanting and desiring you all along
Stop disasters for you
I am willing to do anything to prevent any mishap or trouble from affecting you
You still tell me who are you
Despite our closeness, you still have secrets and mysteries that you have not shared with me
And I
As for me,
Keep it open for you
I am always ready and available for you to confide in and share your deepest thoughts and feelings
Feel ugly now without you
I feel incomplete and inadequate without your presence and affection
Tell me what else can I do
I am at a loss for words and actions to win back your heart
I just wanna give you some more time
I am willing to wait patiently and do whatever it takes to prove my love for you
Are you feeling low I'll make it right
If you are feeling down and troubled, I will be there to comfort you and make things right
I believe in you
I have faith in your abilities and potential to succeed and be happy
Don't waste my love this way
Please do not take my love for granted and use it for selfish or harmful purposes
Another ten years can fade away
Time flies by quickly and I do not want to waste any more of it without you
You owe me nothing and your secrets are safe with me baby
I do not expect anything in return for my love and I promise to keep your secrets and confessions confidential
With you
Being with you
Don't hesitate to say
Do not be afraid or reluctant to speak your mind and express your feelings to me
Your smile it don't change
Your beautiful smile remains constant and bright regardless of the situation or circumstance
When you're naked on me
Even in our most intimate moments, your smile still shines through and lights up my world
Let me taste it
Allow me to experience and bask in the joy and pleasure of your love and companionship
Wrap my arms round your waist and I'll make it
I will embrace you tightly and support you wholeheartedly through all hardships and challenges
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Amon Carpenter
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.