The Carpenters' melodic pop charted a record-breaking score of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, becoming leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary genres. The Carpenters had three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary Chart (see The Carpenters discography). In addition, they had twelve top 10 singles (including their #1 hits). To date, The Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units.
During their fourteen-year career, The Carpenters recorded eleven albums, five of which contained top 10 singles (Close to You, Carpenters, A Song for You, Now & Then and Horizon), thirty-one singles, five television specials, and one short-lived television series. They toured in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Their recording career ended with Karen's death on February 4, 1983. Karen passed away after cardiac arrest due to complications of anorexia nervosa. Extensive news coverage of the circumstances surrounding her death increased public awareness of the consequences of eating disorders.
Their first recordings were not successful, and the recording studio that was recording them, dropped them. That's when their 'savior' came in. Herb Alpert of A&M records heard a couple of their songs and said that he felt that they had good potential. Thanks to him, and his ability to see/hear quality when it appears, we had the GREAT performers of The Carpenters.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
The Carpenters Lyrics
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I can't believe it's true!
Girl, there's just no livin' without you.
Don't take your love away from me.
Don't you leave my heart in misery.
'Cause if you go, then I'll be blue,
Breakin' up is hard to do.
And you kissed me all through the night.
Think of all that we been through,
And breakin' up is hard to do.
They say that breakin' up is hard to do,
Now I know, I know that it's true.
Don't say that this is the end.
Instead of breakin' up I wish that
We were makin' up again.
I beg of you don't say goodbye,
Can't we give our love just one more try?
Come on baby, let's start anew,
Breakin' up is hard to do.
The Carpenters’ “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” is a powerful ballad that talks about the difficulty of breaking up. The song captures the pain and heartache associated with the end of a romantic relationship. It opens with the singer expressing disbelief that her partner is leaving her. She pleads with him not to take his love away, not to leave her heart in misery. The prospect of having to let go of the one she loves is too hard to bear, and the thought of being alone makes her feel blue.
Throughout the song, the singer recalls their past experiences, how they used to hold each other tight and kiss all through the night. She acknowledges that they have been through a lot together and that breaking up would be difficult for both of them. The singer admits that even though they are breaking up, she does not want it to be the end. She wishes they could make up and start over again. She pleads with her partner not to say goodbye and suggests that they give their love one more try.
The song’s lyrics, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, are touching, and Karen Carpenter's beautiful, sincere voice adds to the emotional depth of the song. It’s a timeless classic that still resonates with people today.
Line by Line Meaning
You tell me that you're leavin',
You inform me of your departure,
I can't believe it's true!
I find it hard to accept the truth of your leaving.
Girl, there's just no livin' without you.
My life is incomplete without you, my girl.
Don't take your love away from me.
Please don't withdraw your love from me.
Don't you leave my heart in misery.
Please spare my heart from pain by not leaving me.
'Cause if you go, then I'll be blue,
Your departure will make me feel sad and down.
Breakin' up is hard to do.
Ending a relationship is not easy.
Remember when you held me tight,
Reflect on the memories of our affectionate embraces.
And you kissed me all through the night.
And how you used to kiss me passionately all night long.
Think of all that we been through,
Recall all the experiences and challenges we shared together.
And breakin' up is hard to do.
And acknowledge that ending the relationship is going to be difficult for both of us.
They say that breakin' up is hard to do,
It is common knowledge that ending a relationship is not easy.
Now I know, I know that it's true.
Now I understand and accept that it is indeed true.
Don't say that this is the end.
Please don't declare that this is our final goodbye.
Instead of breakin' up I wish that
Rather than ending the relationship, I strongly wish that
We were makin' up again.
We could reconcile and be back together again.
I beg of you don't say goodbye,
I sincerely plead with you not to say farewell.
Can't we give our love just one more try?
Can't we try to save our love by giving it another chance?
Come on baby, let's start anew,
Let's start afresh, my dear.
Breakin' up is hard to do.
As ending a relationship isn't a simple decision and action.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind