Crescent Noon by Carpenters

Album: Close To You (1970)

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Songfacts®:

This song is about the months at the end of the year, and seems to refer to depression that some people suffer during those seasons. A gloomy song, it's quite a contrast to the highly optimistic hits from the album "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
Richard Carpenter wrote this with lyricist John Bettis, who also worked on the Carpenters songs "Top Of The World" and "Only Yesterday," as well as "Crazy For You" by Madonna and "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson.

Comments: 9

Sparky from Brisbane AustraliaKenneth you are right on the money. That is exactly what this song is about, and all of Karen's vocal control and range are on display, with this beautiful, haunting instrumentation to complement her. Read into the lyrics what you will. This song is a masterclass in vocal technique, from one of the best vocalists of our time.
Bag13p from Chicagothis is kind of the "cycle of life stuff" is clearly conveyed. But, more importantly it's Karen's self-awareness of her [small] place in larger scheme [moon, planets, etc.]. Now, so really, what is the noon is this scheme; noon in larger scheme of things is the height of sun and the mid-day and the time after which life begins to end. simple enough [again] but till you feel it..it's not got the emotion. and anyway, who will care..yes, reflection of your life and those among you will be what she is sharing. it's very good and worthwhile thing she brings, to us, here from there.. not trying to be difficult to write but it's my attempt to explain this to myself after 30 years of knowing of this song.
Nige from EnglandWhy “noon”? Surely a crescent “moon” makes more sense?
Kenneth Dimaio from MeThis song is much deeper then the explanation. It is about a love lost to TIME! The seasons represent the times of the relationship, thus the "Green September" thru to other parts of the relationship, till it is gone for good. " you and I were born like the breaking day, all our seasons, All our green Septembers burn away, slowly we'll fade into a sea of midnight blue and a falling crescent noon"
Thus there is no more hope, it is all fading into the abyss of time. Very deep and expressionative.
KD 3/29/22. KD&TS TLF
Pudden Tane from UsIt’s NOON. You’re mistaken, Charlie.
Mary from Pueblo, CoJust curious-how does the person above, describing the song's meaning, know this? It seems to have a more "far reaching" meaning, at least, to me. Especially, since at the time it was written, there was little known about SAD (seasonal affective disorder). What is meant by the language in the song is still not explained, such as in the lyrics " somewhere in a fairytale forest lies an answer that is waiting to be heard" or what is meant by the title "Crescent Noon." The song, to me, has a broader meaning and refers to the span of a lifetime, ("you and I were born at the break of day" and "all our seasons...burn away"), although looking at life through a dark lens.
David from Barnsley, United KingdomThe key of B flat minor heightens the melancholy and gloomy feeling - I often find that the key a song is recorded in can make a noticeable and subtle difference to the listener.
Siansonea from Denver, CoIt's Crescent Noon. It's a great song, very haunting. Love the orchestration.
Charles from Charlotte, NcI thought it was titled "Crescent Moon"? Am I mistaken?

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