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.
Two Lives
The Carpenters Lyrics
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Maybe just a fool
Lately I can hardly see the sun
If you had a secret
But nothin? in your eyes seems to hold me
Truth or consequences
Which one will be?
(*) someone said
That time would ease the pain
Of two lives love has torn apart
But I believe whoever wrote that song
Never had a broken heart
One of us is hidin?
One of us can tell
And no one likes to be the first to know
Someone has to answer
?cause someone has to ask
If keepin? on like this is torture
And goin? undecided
You know, is twice as bad for sure
Repeat (*)
No, I can?t believe it?s over
It?s over
And I love you more than ever
And ever
The Carpenters' song Two Lives is a poignant reflection on the aftermath of a broken love affair. Karen Carpenter's tender voice expresses raw emotion as she sings about trying to make sense of the end of a relationship. The opening lines of the song reveal the singer's confusion and vulnerability. She wonders whether she is a dreamer or fool, questioning her own judgment in allowing herself to love someone.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses her frustration that her partner seems unwilling or unable to communicate honestly with her. She notes that she cannot read his eyes, and that he might have a secret that is keeping them apart. The lyrics of the song suggest that both people are hiding their true feelings, and that each is waiting for the other to make the first move.
The chorus of the song is bittersweet, acknowledging the pain of a relationship ending but also rejecting the idea that time can heal all wounds. The singer notes that whoever wrote the song about time easing the pain of a broken heart must never have experienced such a heartbreak themselves. The song ends on a note of longing and regret, with the singer expressing her enduring love for her partner even as their relationship comes to an end.
Overall, Two Lives is a beautiful, haunting meditation on the nature of love and loss. The lyrics are emotive and heartfelt, and Karen Carpenter's vocals are as moving as ever.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe i?am a dreamer
I may have impractical hopes and desires.
Maybe just a fool
Or perhaps I am easily deceived or misguided.
Lately I can hardly see the sun
I am finding it hard to be happy lately.
If you had a secret
If you had something to hide from me.
I could take a guess
I could try to figure it out on my own.
But nothin? in your eyes seems to hold me
But I cannot find any hints in your facial expressions.
Truth or consequences
Deciding between honesty and the repercussions of it.
Which one will be?
Which one will I choose?
Someone said
I've heard someone mention that
That time would ease the pain
That given time, the pain of a broken heart would lessen.
Of two lives love has torn apart
Of two individuals whose love ended and are now apart.
But I believe whoever wrote that song
But I do not think the writer of that song experienced such pain.
Never had a broken heart
They may never have felt the heartbreak I feel.
One of us is hidin?
Either one of us is keeping something from the other.
One of us can tell
Either one of us knows what the other is hiding.
And no one likes to be the first to know
And it can be uncomfortable to be the first to learn what is hidden.
Someone has to answer
Someone must be honest and provide an explanation.
?cause someone has to ask
Because someone else must pose the question first.
If keepin? on like this is torture
If ignoring the issue like this is causing me pain.
And goin? undecided
And not making a decision one way or the other.
You know, is twice as bad for sure
You know, that's only going to make things worse.
No, I can?t believe it?s over
I cannot accept that our relationship has ended.
It?s over
Our relationship has come to an end.
And I love you more than ever
Despite everything, my love for you has only increased.
And ever
It will always be this way.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARK JORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind