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.
It's Going To Take Some Time
The Carpenters Lyrics
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To get myself in shape
I really fell out of line this time
I really missed the gate
The birds on the telephone line (next time)
Are cryin' out to me, (next time)
And I won't be so blind next time
And I'll find some harmony
But it's going to take some time this time
And I can't make demands
But, like the young trees in the winter time
I'll learn how to bend
After all the tears we've spent
How could we make amends?
So, it's one more round for experience
And I'm on the road again
And it's going to take some time this time
And I can't make demands
I'll learn how to bend
It's going to take some time this time
No matter what I've planned
And, like the young trees in the winter time
I'll learn how to bend
After all the tears we've spent
How could we make amends?
So, it's one more round for experience
And I'm on the road again
And it's going to take some time this time
The Carpenters’ song “It’s Going to Take Some Time” deals with the aftermath of a difficult, presumably romantic, relationship. The opening lines depict the struggle to regain emotional, and perhaps physical, stability after a period of disarray. Karen Carpenter sings, “It’s gonna take some time this time, to get myself in shape.” She recognizes that she has “really fell out of line this time” and that “the birds on the telephone line are cryin’ out to me.” This imagery reinforces the impression of chaos and despair, as even the birds seem to notice the singer’s distress. She acknowledges her blindness to the situation and looks forward to a future where she can find “some harmony.” However, for the time being, she knows that healing will be a gradual process, as emphasized by the repetition of the phrase, “it’s going to take some time this time.”
The second verse continues to reflect on the nature of the challenge the singer faces. She recognizes the complexity of relationships, singing, “after all the tears we’ve spent, how could we make amends?” The solution can be found only in “one more round for experience,” implying that the singer must keep trying and learning in order to eventually heal. The closing lines of this verse lead into the final repetition of the chorus, once again emphasizing the slow and difficult nature of the path towards healing. However, the lyrics also suggest that there is hope: “And I’m on the road again, and it’s going to take some time this time.”
Line by Line Meaning
It's gonna take some time this time
It will take a significant amount of time to get back on track, compared to previous times.
To get myself in shape
To improve my physical, mental, and emotional state after falling off track.
I really fell out of line this time
I made some significant mistakes that led to me falling off course.
I really missed the gate
I missed opportunities or chances to achieve my goals.
The birds on the telephone line (next time)
The birds serve as a metaphor for the wise and experienced, who warn me about my mistakes.
Are cryin' out to me, (next time)
Their cries are a sign of their concern for me and a message to pay attention to their advice.
And I won't be so blind next time
I will be more aware, alert, and conscious of my actions next time and avoid repeating mistakes.
And I'll find some harmony
I'll discover balance and peace in my life again by making the necessary changes.
But, like the young trees in the winter time
I will learn to adapt and endure hard times, just as the young trees survive the toughest season.
After all the tears we've spent
After experiencing many hardships and difficulties, it's hard to find a way to reconcile and make things right.
How could we make amends?
It's not easy to find a way to repair and rebuild what's been damaged.
So, it's one more round for experience
It's another opportunity to learn from mistakes and become a better, more experienced person.
And I'm on the road again
I'm embarking on a new journey or phase in my life, with new challenges and opportunities.
And it's going to take some time this time
It will take time and effort to overcome the obstacles and to succeed this time.
No matter what I've planned
Despite my plans and goals, there are always factors outside my control that can affect the outcome.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, TONI STERN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind