Jim Adams is the tune-slinging host of Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie’s Music Challenge. Jim says:
The challenge today is to focus on, “Just the Two of Us” and use it for a short story, a piece of flash fiction, or a poem that you can share with the WordPress writing community.
We gotta go for all we know
Just the two of us
–Bill Withers, William Salter and Ralph MacDonald
These lines from this excellent tune jumped out at me, as they are also part of the lyrics of a song made famous by The Carpenters, “For All We Know.”
Love, look at the two of us
Strangers in many ways
We’ve got a lifetime to share
So much to say and as we go from day to day
I’ll feel you close to me
But time alone will tell
Let’s take a lifetime to say
I knew you well
For only time will tell us so
And love may grow for all we know
Love, look at the two of us
Strangers in many ways
Let’s take a lifetime to say
I knew you well
For only time will tell us so
And love may grow for all we know
Songwriters: Fred Karlin / James Arthur Griffin / Robert Wilson Royer
Over the years, bits and pieces of Karen and Richard Carpenters’ personal lives have surfaced. Some things include Karen’s eating disorder, Richard’s addiction to prescription medication, and innuendo that the two shared an emotionally incestuous relationship with each other.
I know that Karen married an abusive toxic narcissist and the marriage lasted only fourteen months. Richard married the road manager, his adopted cousin, they ended up having five children — and are still married to each other.
What I don’t know is, when Karen sang this song, who was she thinking of? Does it matter? I think it does. The support system around Karen and Richard let them down. Their mother’s viciousness made it impossible for either of them to turn to her for guidance. Karen had a therapist for years; one who wasn’t able to help her sort things out. Richard moved on, and Karen wanted to disappear.
Tao Talk 
It breaks my heart to see her so emaciated; I love the Carpenters, so much talent, and Karen had the most amazing voice, but such a sad story.
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I know :(
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This seems like a sad songs even though it speaks of love. Maybe it is just the way Karen sings this song or your writing about her, but love never did grow for her and that is sad, because she deserved better.
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Yes, she did :(
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This is very sad.
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:( I know, Sadje. A real tragedy in so many ways.
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I have seldom seen the lives of celebrities being happy. Most have trouble.
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Always soothing to hear her.
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Karen has the voice of an angel. I love the way she sings, God bless her.
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She is an angel now and beyond all pain.
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Yes, that’s right. I was just thinking about how she’s in a much better place in heaven.
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Forgot all about this song. She was treated so bad…I just wished she could have gotten help.
She had a beautiful voice…
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Reading the lyrics in Bill Withers song reminded me of it. Yes she was, especially by that wicked mother :(
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And those tv producers who told her she was fat..there is a special hell for people like that.
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Another tragic loss. I had forgotten this song too. Heartbreaking. (K)
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Anorexia is one of the most devastating mental illnesses out there. Very hard to treat.
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A great song, it always seemed rather optimistic to me. Carpenters were a great duo. I was so happy when the tribute ‘If I Were A Carpenter’ came out in the 90s, with Sonic Youth, Sheryl Crow, Grant Lee Buffalo etc… introduced their music to a new generation & kind of validated those like us who never doubted they were a good act!
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The song, “If I Were….” is about The Carpenters??
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no, I don’t think that song was but they used it as a title for a tribute album… 13 or 14 of the Carpenters songs done by (then) current hot artists. Defintiely worth a listen!
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Ah! Good choice of title as it’s easy to remember.
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