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.
Nowhere Man
The Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now when it rains I don't feel cold
Now that I have your hand to hold
The winds might blow through me
But I don't care
There's no harm in thunder if you are there and
Now
Now when I'm smiling I know why
You light up my world like the morning sun
You're so deep within me we're almost one
[Chorus]
And now
All the fears that I had start to fade
I was always afraid love might forget me
Love might let me down
Then look who I found
And now, now
Now when I wake there's someone home
I'll never face the nights alone
You gave me the courage I need to win
To open my heart and to let you in
And I never really knew how until now
No, I never really knew how until now
[Chorus]
"Nowhere Man" is a song by The Beatles that speaks about a man who is lost and wandering aimlessly. The Carpenters version, however, takes a different approach. The lyrics of the song give the impression that the singer was alone before, wandering aimlessly like the "Nowhere Man" of the original version. But now, they have found someone they love and who loves them back, and that love has changed everything for them.
The opening verse talks about how the rain no longer affects the singer because they have someone's hand to hold. The second verse explains that this person makes them feel alive and purposeful, like they have something to smile about. The chorus of the song speaks about how the fear of being alone and unloved has faded away since they found their significant other, and all of their worries have vanished.
The last verse is a declaration of love and gratitude for the person who has changed their life. They say they no longer face their nights alone because this person has given them the courage to open up their heart and let them in. The singer talks about how they never really understood what love was until this person came into their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now when it rains I don't feel cold
With you by my side, even the harshest storms can’t bring me down.
Now that I have your hand to hold
Having you to hold onto makes me feel like I can take on anything.
The winds might blow through me
Life’s struggles and hardships may come blowing through, but I’m not afraid anymore.
But I don't care
As long as I have you, nothing else matters.
There's no harm in thunder if you are there and
Your presence alone can calm even the most intense situations.
Now when we touch my feelings fly
Your touch ignites a fire within me that I’ve never felt before.
Now when I'm smiling I know why
My happiness is thanks to you and the love we share.
You light up my world like the morning sun
Your love shines brighter than any other light in my life, bringing joy to my every day.
You're so deep within me we're almost one
Our love runs so deep that we are practically intertwined, united together as one.
And now all the fears that I had start to fade
With you by my side, I’m not afraid of anything anymore.
I was always afraid love might forget me
I used to fear that love might not find me, but now I know it was just waiting for the right person - you.
Love might let me down
I used to think that love might disappoint me, but now I know that with you, it never will.
Then look who I found
I found the love of my life - you - and I’ll never let you go.
Now when I wake there's someone home
Waking up next to you, I feel like I’m home, no matter where we are.
I'll never face the nights alone
I used to feel alone in the dark, but now I know that you’re always with me, shining a light in the darkness.
You gave me the courage I need to win
Your love has given me the strength and courage to face any challenge that comes my way.
To open my heart and to let you in
You taught me to open up my heart and let love in, and I’m forever grateful.
And I never really knew how until now
I never knew how to truly love until I met you.
No, I never really knew how until now
I never knew what true love was until I found you, and now I never want to let you go.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kenneth Ostrer
The greatest singer of all time covering the greatest group of all time. Nuff said
lyradguitar
John Lennon once told Karen in passing her voice was incredible, and she had trouble accepting/believing the complement...RIP sweet Karen.
kerrywsmyth
No human being had a voice as great as Karen. Not even close.
johanna m tartak
lyradguitar Lennon loved their version of Ticket to Ride 🎶❤️❤️
Tom rg
She was 17 years old? Oh God! her voice is precious, is in the deep of my heart. I love this song, Carpenters too
Paymon Bidari
😲😲😲
diator
That was a rare treat, thanks a lot. Great cover, love it when Karen sings in a deeper voice, it carries so much more emotion.
ChipsAplentyBand
I'm in exactly the same boat as Herb Alpert…having heard Karen sing in the studio one day he wiped away a tear and told her: "You got to me again." She ALWAYS gets to me, every single time.
sharpvidtube
Same here, every time.
June Lynn
this is incredible....my favorite Beatles song, I never heard Karen sing this gorgeous version....I'm so glad to hear from the above comments that John Lennon loved Karen's voice too!...she truly sang like an angel