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
The End of the World
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don't they know it's the end of the world
'Cause you don't love me anymore?
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world
I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything's the same as it was
I can't understand, no, I can't understand
How life goes on the way it does!
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye
"Ah, what memories, what memories
From Nineteenhundred and Sixty-Three
Well, later that same year
This golden goodie blast from the past
Was introduced by The Chrystals"
The lyrics of the song "The End of the World" by Carpenters convey a sense of disbelief and sadness about a lost love, juxtaposed against the normalcy of the world that continues on as if nothing has changed. The song starts by asking why the sun still shines and the waves still crash on shore, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the singer's love has ended. The second verse continues with a similar theme, wondering why the birds still sing and the stars still twinkle even though the world as she knew it has come to an end. In the chorus, the singer sings about her own heart that keeps beating and her own eyes that keep crying, even though her love is gone.
The final line of each verse, "It ended when you said goodbye," highlights the finality of the situation and that there is no going back. The singer is left with a sense of disorientation, unable to comprehend how life can continue on without the love that was so central to her existence. The mention of the year 1963 at the end of the song is a reference to when the original version of the song was released by The Crystals, suggesting that the sentiment expressed in the song is timeless and relatable across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does life go on when everything seems to be falling apart?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Why does everything in nature continue, despite the despair in my heart?
Don't they know it's the end of the world
Why doesn't the world recognize the pain and emptiness in my life?
'Cause you don't love me anymore?
The end of the world is a personal state, and it's come because my love is gone.
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the birds sing with joy when my life has lost all happiness?
Why do the stars glow above?
How can the stars keep their shine when I'm in such darkness?
It ended when I lost your love
The end of the world began when my love left.
I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Every day starts the same, with me lost in thought about my lost love.
Why everything's the same as it was
Life moves on, but it's all so without heart or meaning.
I can't understand, no, I can't understand
My confusion and pain only increase, and I feel so alone.
Why does my heart go on beating?
How can my heart keep beating when it feels like it's been ripped in two?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Why can't I stop crying, even when I try not to?
It ended when you said goodbye
That moment when you said goodbye was the end of everything for me.
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
How can the world keep spinning when I'm so lost and alone?
Ah, what memories, what memories
Reflecting on the past only reinforces my sense of loss and heartache.
From Nineteenhundred and Sixty-Three
These memories are from a time when we were together and life was full of hope and promise.
Well, later that same year
Even though it was a happy time, it's a reminder of what was lost.
This golden goodie blast from the past
This song is a reminder of happier times that will never come again.
Was introduced by The Chrystals
This specific song is just another artifact of a more innocent and hopeful time.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Arthur Kent, Sylvia Dee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lavoxii
"End Of The World"
(originally by Skeeter Davis)
Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don't they know it's the end of the world
'cause you don't love me anymore,Yes
Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love
I wake up in the mornin' and I wonder
Why everythings the same as it was
I can't understand, no
I can't understand
How life goes on the way it does
Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye
[spoken]
Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
[sung]
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye
Goodbye
@mftepera
Hands down the best female voice I’ve ever heard. Caught my attention as 5 year old boy and I’m still amazed almost 50 years later.
@jawtek82
Has it been difficult going through life as a gay man?
@maxamahnken7325
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
@umbertocalvini7429
I wish Karen loved herself, as much as we all loved her! 🥰
@greyhound785
So true..
@user-rf8xc4vu2i
Beautiful...
@waynedunn1108
What a waste of life carol was so beautiful and talented
@Eva7998
same here
@TheMrmartind40
Well put
@Mikeschmidt61
I started writing Karen on a bet from some fellow marines when I was in Vietnam in 1970, they bet me she wouldn't respond back. About 3 weeks later I received a handwritten letter that was very heartwarming and we continued to correspond until I was gravely wounded twice in April 71. I was sent to Yokosuka Naval Hospital, my mail caught up to me the last of may and was able to tell Karen what happened, she actually sent a get well card I was 17 and definitely had a crush on her. We corresponded a couple more times but then drifted apart. I will always treasure the memories that got me through a difficult time. 1st Marine Div. 2/11 Foward Observer. Sgt. Michael Schmidt