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.
Desperado
The Carpenters Lyrics
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Why don't you come to your senses
You been out ridin' fences
For so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But I know that you've got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you
If she's able
The queen of hearts
Is always your best bet
Now it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones
That you can't get
Desperado
Oh you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger
They're drivin' you home
Freedom, Ah freedom
That's just some people talkin'
You're prisoners walkin'
Through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time
From the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away
Desperado
Why don't you come to your senses
Come down from your fences
Open the gate
It may be rainin'
But there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you
You better let somebody love you
Before it's too late
The Carpenters' song Desperado is a plea to someone who refuses to let anyone get close to them, building walls around their heart and living a life of loneliness. The singer of the song is urging the person, referred to as "desperado," to come to their senses and open themselves up to love before it's too late. The line "you've been out ridin' fences for so long now" suggests that the person has been avoiding intimacy for a long time and has become accustomed to living in isolation. The singer acknowledges that the person may have their reasons for behaving this way, but warns them that eventually, their isolation will lead to nothing but pain and suffering.
The song goes on to paint a picture of the world outside the person's walls, suggesting that there are many fine things available to them, but they only seem to want the things they can't have. The lyrics "you're prisoners walking through this world all alone" and "that's just some people talking, you're unfree" are meant to convey the idea that the person is not truly free because they are unable to love and be loved in return. The singer urges the person to come down from their fences and open up to the possibility of love, warning them that they are not getting any younger and that their pain and hunger will eventually drive them home.
In the final verse, the singer offers a glimmer of hope, telling the person that even though it may be raining, there is a rainbow above them and they better let somebody love them before it's too late. The song ends with the beautiful and poignant refrain "you better let somebody love you before it's too late," a plea that anyone who has ever built walls around their heart can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Desperado
Addressing the subject of the song, who has been struggling and suffering for a long time
Why don't you come to your senses
Questioning why the subject is not making rational decisions and hoping they will start making realistic choices
You been out ridin' fences
The subject has been wandering and searching aimlessly for a long time
For so long now
Emphasizing the subject's prolonged struggles and how it's taken a toll on their well-being
Oh, you're a hard one
Acknowledging the subject's tough exterior and resilient nature despite their hardships
But I know that you've got your reasons
Recognizing that the subject has reasons for their actions, even if they aren't clear to others
These things that are pleasin' you
Commenting on how the subject desires things that are not necessarily good for them
Can hurt you somehow
Warning the subject that their wants could ultimately lead to their downfall
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
Advising the subject to avoid unnecessary risks and avoid the allure of temptation
She'll beat you
The risk being pointed out is enough to cause the subject to fail
If she's able
The subject almost accepting of this fact
The queen of hearts
Suggesting the subject should place their faith in something or someone reliable and trustworthy
Is always your best bet
Offering guidance that will lead to the best possible outcome
Now it seems to me some fine things
Observing that the subject has had opportunities in life
Have been laid upon your table
Metaphorically expressing that these opportunities have been given to them
But you only want the ones
Pointing out that the subject is only interested in the more difficult achievements
That you can't get
These achievements being almost impossible to attain
Desperado
Re-iterating that the subject is in a desperate situation
Oh you ain't gettin' no younger
Acknowledging that time is running out for the subject to make a change
Your pain and your hunger
Emphasizing the subject's struggle and desperation
They're drivin' you home
The subject's pain and hunger being the primary motivators for their actions
Freedom, Ah freedom
Suggesting that freedom might be what the subject is yearning for
That's just some people talkin'
Downplaying the significance of freedom
You're prisoners walkin'
The subject feels trapped and confined in their predicament
Through this world all alone
Feeling isolated and helpless in their struggles
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
Asking a rhetorical question to evoke sympathy for the subject's situation
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
Metaphorical reference to how the subject sees the world
It's hard to tell the night time
Things feel dark and gloomy
From the day
No clarity or direction in life
You're losin' all your highs and lows
The subject's life is losing its depth and meaning
Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away
Expressing a sense of hopelessness and resignation
Desperado
Calling back to the subject and how they are feeling
Why don't you come to your senses
Asking the subject again to think rationally and make good decisions
Come down from your fences
Metaphorically calling the subject to come down from the walls they have put up
Open the gate
Encouraging the subject to let others into their life
It may be rainin'
Acknowledging that life might not be perfect
But there's a rainbow above you
Offering a glimmer of hope and positivity
You better let somebody love you
Encouraging the subject to allow love into their life
You better let somebody love you
Reiterating the importance of love to the subject's well-being
Before it's too late
Emphasizing the urgency of the matter at hand
Lyrics © Cass County Music / Wisteria Music / Privet Music, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Red Cloud Music
Written by: GLENN FREY, DON HENLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind