Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun

Paul Williams on "We've Only Just Begun."

It had all the romantic beginnings of a bank commercial . Roger and I were approached by Crocker Bank. They were going to show a young couple getting married, their first kiss, the wedding reception and then riding off into the sunset. No voice over, just copy at the end that said, "You've got a long way to go. We'd like to help you get there." We wrote the first two verses of the song in the studio while we were working on something else. I remember writing the lyrics on the back of an envelope. It came together very quickly. We slapped it on the commercial. We added a bridge and 3rd verse just in case anyone ever wanted to cut it. It was never going to be a hit. Then Richard Carpenter heard it and cut it. An angel sang it and everything changed. Crocker Bank never had any of the publishing, so there was no problem with them wanting a cut of it. Quite the opposite, our publisher then went around and licensed the song to other banks for commercials all around the country. I meet a lot of people who've been married to "Begun." That's heart payment for a songwriter. To have been a part of something that important in someone's life. It makes you feel like you've done something worthwhile.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carpenters
• Karen
• Richard
• Carpenter
• We've
• only
• just
• begun

[Carpentersfan2003]

Watching this I have to say that I still don't understand why Richard felt it was so nessassary for Karen to "front" the band and get "out form behind the drums.." It was clear that Karen was at her happiest when she was playing and singing at the same time. Hell she said it herself.." I am a drummer who sings... and I wouldn't feel right out front.."

[singsoulfulscott]

@Carpentersfan2003 Time melts when I watch this. To see her drum, using both hands, both feet, sing beautiful and grove to the music is poetry. She was wonderful "fronting" the band behind the drums!

[Andreterragt]

she played the drums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrLinoventura]

tres professionnel les Carpenters .......toujours juste ...et humble ....j'aime ... c'est rare !

[Canadian925]

Life is too brief,short, and seems unfair this side of heaven. So many people close to us and people we have never met personally that lived in this world depart from us. But the hardest part and experience in life is when someone else dies. Nothing harder than that for eternity.

[moseyalong1]

I think there is always a problem with the microphone for the vocals and the mike for the drums being too close to each other when your singing from the drum set.

It is an impossible situatuation for the guy doing the mixing of the mike volumes

backstage. I am guessing that this video was over dubbed with a studio recording.

[turnitback]

In the dim and distant past, I sang from behind the drums myself. It is very, very difficult. To play to Karen's standard and still sing would be impossible for most singer-drummers.

[LARSE42]

SI KAREN HUBIERA VISTO AL DE LA PANDERETA QUE ESTABA ATRAS DE ELLA SE HUBIERA DESTORNILLADO DE LA RISA

[dizzypilots1]

with a voice like that who in the hell would care about the DRUMS.

[jchahine]

How can I get a job as their Tambourine Guy?

[CarpenterKittens]

@Movickrox I second that

[wastemytime77]

@jachiza66sjh they did a song together check it out on youtube