Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “plan.”
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Some of the Song Lyric Sunday themes have truly been challenging but when I learned this week’s theme, one song immediately stood out to me.
If I had to choose a song to represent baby boomers of the 70s, We’ve Only Just Begun is it, hands down.
It was the theme of proms, senior classes, clubs, new businesses–even the U.S. Air Force used it in a commercial. And who among hasn’t been to a wedding with it as the theme or the newlywed’s first dance song?
So many roads to choose, sharing new horizons, working together day-to-day… it was all part of the plan.
Landing at number 405 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 for recordings “of lasting quality or historical significance”, the tune has quite a legacy for a song that began as a commercial.
We’ve Only Just Begun debuted within a wedding-themed television commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in the winter of 1970, with songwriter Paul Williams on vocals. Richard Carpenter recognized Williams’ voice (both were under contract with A&M Records) and asked for a full version. The rest is history… and pop culture!
Released on their Close To You album, We’ve Only Just Begun became the Carpenters best selling single, spending seven weeks at number one. It also helped them to win two Grammy Awards in 1971: for the Best New Artist (The Carpenters) and Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus (Close to You).
The video is not of me singing the song at my ninth grade graduation…. because that happened, but of The Carpenters during a television performance.
And just in case you’re not feeling ancient yet, boomers, keep in mind this song is two years away from it FIFTIETH anniversary! 😀 😀
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection for FeliciaDenise.com!
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Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
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 begun
Before the rising sun we fly
So many roads to choose
We start out walking and learn to run
And yes, we’ve just begun
Sharing 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
Together
And 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
She has such a beautiful voice, and they are just brilliant together. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Okay, you really got me in the gut with this one. I geeked out on the Carpenters. I remember being able to have my radio on at work because I had my own little room. The radio announcer said that he had sad news – Karen Carpenter had just died of heart problems stemming from Anorexia. This had always been my favourite of their songs.
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I do understand. The news left me numb. Knew she was thin but anorexia never entered my mind. 😔
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Karen Carpenter had one of the best, if not the best, voices of all time. This was our first dance, 40 years ago.
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Oh, my word…Fiftieth!? How can that be?
One of my favorite groups ever. Got their first album while we were in Germany, and played it over & over. Later on back home I got to see them in concert here. Amazing! I still have my ticket stubs from that night. Wonderful … thanks for sharing the song! 🙂
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You’re welcome. Love how music is such a big part of our lives and our memories. 🙂 Have a great week!
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Lovely song. Wasn’t it one of the most used for weddings as well? I just re-watched the Karen Carpenter story. Sad.
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Most definitely. And her story is heartbreaking. Even when people appear to have it all, you never know what they’re struggling with inside. 😔
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Nice choice and this was the theme song for my senior prom.
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Baby boomers rule! 😊
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They were an amazing group. Her voice always took me away. Great share.
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Thanks. They’re definitely on the list of timeless artists. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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