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.
Goodnight
The Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along
It made me smile
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again just like a long lost friend
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's so fine
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry just like before
It's yesterday once more
Lookin' back on how it was in years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's so fine
All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry just like before
It's yesterday once more
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's so fine
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
The Carpenters' song "Goodnight" is a beautifully nostalgic song about fond memories and how music has the power to evoke those memories. The first verse talks about the importance of radio in the singer's life when he or she was young. It was the channel through which the singer listened to favorite songs, sang along to them, and had happy times. The second verse is a reflection on how much has changed from those times of listening to songs of love and memorizing each word. Today, when the singer listens to those old melodies, they still sound good to them and bring back the best memories. In the end, the song is a reminder that music can transport us back to those sweet moments of the past, and those melodies that we loved so well can shine again and again.
The song was released in 1971 as a B-side to the Carpenters' hit single "Hurting Each Other." However, "Goodnight" became a fan favorite and received heavy airplay on the radio.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young I'd listen to the radio
As a child, I would often tune into the radio and listen to my favorite songs.
Waitin' for my favorite songs
I eagerly waited for my favorite music tracks to be played.
When they played I'd sing along
As soon as they started playing, I would sing along while listening.
It made me smile
Those moments used to make me so happy that I couldn't help but smile.
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
Those days were filled with so much joy and, in retrospect, they don't seem like too long ago.
How I wondered where they'd gone
I often found myself wondering where all those good times had gone.
But they're back again just like a long lost friend
However, these songs have found their way back to me now and feel like they were a dear old friend that I had lost touch with.
All the songs I loved so well
These are the songs that I loved the most and hold close to my heart.
Every sha-la-la-la
Every 'sha-la-la-la' in each song still resonates with me today.
Every wo-o-wo-o still shines
Also, every 'wo-o-wo-o' in those songs still shines as bright as ever for me, even today.
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
Every 'shing-a-ling-a-ling' they start to sing, I hold dear to my heart.
Where he's breakin' her heart
When the song reaches the part where the artist is breaking his lover's heart, it still strikes me emotionally.
It's yesterday once more
The past is relived again, and the memories of yesterday come flooding back in with this song.
Lookin' back on how it was in years gone by
When I look back at what my life was like before, and the way things used to be, it feels like a lifetime away.
And the good times that I had
I recall the good and happy times that I have experienced, which are now a distant memory.
Makes today seem rather sad
I compare those joyful moments from the past with the present, and it makes me feel sad inside.
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
I vividly remember singing romantic songs when I was younger.
And I'd memorize each word
I would even memorize every word and sing it effortlessly without fail.
Those old melodies still sound so good to me
Even after all these years, hearing those old melodies still fill me with the same joy and elation.
As they melt the years away
When I hear these songs again, I feel like I'm getting younger and the years are melting away.
All my best memories
All my best memories come back to me as soon as I hear these old songs.
Come back clearly to me
I can recollect those memories vividly, as if they happened yesterday.
Some can even make me cry just like before
Certain songs that trigger the most intense memories can still make me feel emotional even after all these years.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Firth
Had this played at my grandads funeral. Beautiful song. Deep meaningful words x
Philip England
I had Carpenters 'Sometimes' played at my Mum's funeral
Bananadiva1
Whoever gave this utter masterpiece a thumbs down has neither a heart or ears that work. This is without doubt one of Karen's most astonishing vocal performances. Pure beauty!
Mark Jolley
John Lennon once said too karen ...you have the most amazing voice love.. probably after hearing this!!!
harvey1954
John probably never heard this cover. It came from a Long Beach College album that had a couple of covers by the Carpenters. Somebody dubbed a copy which is how this got out originally.
Mark Prange
He had to have also heard her cover of what he had sung, "Ticket to Ride."
pricefan2007
Could any of you imagine Karen singing this to her own child if she'd been a mom?
Kim Wood
The guy she married had gotten a vasectomy, and didn't tell her about it, until just before their marriage.
Karen wanted to call off the marriage. But her pushy mother, Agnes, said that she had already paid for her wedding; and told Karen to go out there, and put on a big smile.
If you see the photos on Karen's wedding day, Karen's smile looks forced.
Rita6868 Sora
@Wanting One Angel Awe sorry about your Dad.My Dad passed in 2000.His birthday Jan.20.My Mom in 2015 so still kind of new.Nice to know other people feel like they knew Karen as well.
Wanting One Angel
@Rita6868 Sora Thank you for sharing your thoughts and kind words about Karen Carpenter 😊😊💛💛!!. And Karen Carpenter might be singing to my Dad too in Heaven. My Dad passed away ion Jan. 23rd 2008. Karen Carpenter was popular both before I was born and after. And yes, I feel like I know her even though I never met her.💛💛💛💛💛!!!