In the whirlwind of the 1970s, a decade of monumental change, one sound emerged that offered a moment of pure, unadulterated serenity. It was the sound of The Carpenters, the brother-sister duo of Richard and Karen Carpenter, whose harmonies felt like a warm embrace for an entire generation. And in 1970, they released a song that would not only define their career but would also become a deeply emotional anthem, its optimistic promise now tinged with a heartbreaking poignancy. That song was “We’ve Only Just Begun.”
The track arrived like a lightning bolt. It was a spectacular turning point for the duo, becoming their first original song to soar to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was more than a hit; it was a phenomenon that launched them into the stratosphere of global superstardom. The world was captivated by its message of hope, of love, and the thrilling promise of a future filled with shared dreams. Karen’s gentle, almost ethereal vocals wrapped around the listener, painting a vivid picture of a young couple on the precipice of a beautiful life together.
“I was just a session musician back then, but I was in the studio next door when they were laying down the tracks,” recalls a contemporary musician, his voice heavy with nostalgia. “You could just feel it in the air. Richard’s perfectionism at the piano, and then… Karen’s voice. It was pure magic. When she sang, ‘When I met you, I saw a star / And I knew that my life would never be the same,’ you believed her. You believed in that forever. It felt like the theme song for every young couple in America.”
The song’s power lay in its seamless blend of youthful excitement and deep commitment. As their voices melted together in the chorus, they sang of weathering life’s storms, celebrating a love that’s true and resilient. They sang, “We’ve had our share of ups and downs / But in the end, it’s all been worthwhile.” It was a powerful testament to the strength found in partnership, a belief in an enduring love that could conquer all. The lyrics spoke of a long journey ahead, a future stretching out with infinite possibility.
Yet, listening to it now, decades later, the song carries a haunting, bittersweet weight. It has become a timeless classic, yes, but it is also a tragic reminder of a promise unfulfilled. The boundless optimism of “We’ve Only Just Begun” is now forever intertwined with the devastatingly early loss of Karen. That beautiful journey, so full of hope, was tragically cut short, leaving the song as a beautiful, yet painful, monument to what could have been.
Video
Lyrics: We’ve Only Just Begun
We’ve only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we’re on our way
We’ve only begunBefore the rising sun we fly
So many roads to choose
We start out walking and learn to run
And yes, we’ve just begunSharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talking it over just the two of us
Working together day to day
TogetherAnd when the evening comes we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
And yes, we’ve just begun