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
Still Crazy After All These Years
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He seemed so glad to see me
I just smiled
And we talked about some old times
And we drank ourselves some beers
Still crazy after all these years
Oh Still crazy after all these years
I'm not the kind of girl
(To socialize)
I seem to lean on old familiar ways
And I ain't no fool for love songs
That whisper in my ears
Still crazy after all these years
Still crazy after all these years
(Crazy, I'm gonna crazy, I'm gonna crazy)
Four in the morning, crashed out, yawning
Longing my life away
I'll never worry
Why should I?
It's all gonna fade
Now I sit by my window
And I watch the cars
I fear I'll do some damage
One fine day
But I would not be convicted
By a jury of my peers
Still crazy after all these years
Oh, Still crazy
(Baby I'm crazy through all these years)
Still crazy
Still crazy after all these years
The Carpenters' song Still Crazy After All These Years is a poignant ode to aging, reflecting on the past and coming to terms with the present. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about meeting an old lover on the street and exchanging pleasantries. The lyrics speak of drinking beers and discussing old times, alluding to a simpler and younger period of the past.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on herself, touching upon her reluctance to socialize and her tendency to cling to familiar ways. She does not care for romantic love songs, stating that she is "not a fool" for them. The singer then reflects on her current state, describing herself as "crazy" but still "longing" and "watching the cars."
The final verse of the song is reflective and somber. The singer acknowledges her own destructive tendencies, fearing that one day she may do some damage. However, she ultimately finds solace in the knowledge that she will not be judged by her peers. The song ends with the titular refrain, "Still crazy after all these years," a statement of acceptance and perseverance in the face of aging and the changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
I met my old lover on the street last night
I saw my ex-partner on the street last night
He seemed so glad to see me
He appeared very happy to see me
I just smiled
I simply smiled
And we talked about some old times
We reminisced about the past
And we drank ourselves some beers
We consumed a few beers
Still crazy after all these years
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years
Oh Still crazy after all these years
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years (repeated)
I'm not the kind of girl
I'm not the kind of person
Who tends to socialize
Who usually likes socializing
(To socialize)
(To interact with others)
I seem to lean on old familiar ways
I always find myself doing things the way I did them before
And I ain't no fool for love songs
I'm not easily swayed by romantic songs
That whisper in my ears
That try to sway me emotionally
Still crazy after all these years
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years
Still crazy after all these years
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years (repeated)
(Crazy, I'm gonna crazy, I'm gonna crazy)
(I'm still a bit unstable)
Four in the morning, crashed out, yawning
At four in the morning, exhausted, and yawning
Longing my life away
Wishing for something I don't have
I'll never worry
I won't be concerned
Why should I?
I don't have a reason to
It's all gonna fade
Everything will eventually disappear
Now I sit by my window
Currently, I'm sitting by my window
And I watch the cars
I'm observing the cars outside
I fear I'll do some damage
I worry that I'll act recklessly and harm someone or something someday
One fine day
At some point in the future
But I would not be convicted
But I wouldn't admit guilt
By a jury of my peers
Judged by a group of people like me
Still crazy after all these years
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years
Oh, Still crazy
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years (repeated)
(Baby I'm crazy through all these years)
(I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years)
Still crazy
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years (repeated)
Still crazy after all these years
I'm still a bit unstable even after all these years (repeated)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Paul Simon
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.