Album: Close To You (1970)

Charted: 28 2

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• 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 risin' sun, we fly
  So many roads to choose
  We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
  (And yes, we've just begun)
  
  Sharing horizons that are new to us
  Watching the signs along the way
  Talkin' it over, just the two of us
  Workin' 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)
  
  Sharing horizons that are new to us
  Watching the signs along the way
  Talkin' it over, just the two of us
  Workin' together day to day
  Together
  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 Writer/s: Paul Williams, Roger Nichols
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 22

• Poiboy1964 from HonoluluThanks, Barry! I was wondering was song(s) prevented “We’ve Only Just Begun” from topping the Hot 100. “I’ll Be There” (Jackson 5) is an all time classic (love Mariah’s version also), “I Think I Love You” is not though I like the song and watched the Partridge Family as a child.
• Tb from Cincinnati, OhioTimeless - we just used this song for my son’s wedding in 2020; fifty years after it was recorded.
• Rodney from TorontoNot to take away from Paul Williams's talents, but he did not write the music to the LOVE BOAT theme. Just the words, which are perfect.
• Rodney from TorontoNB: Paul Williams did NOT write the music for this song; with regard to songs, he is primarily a lyricist.
• Rodney from TorontoNB: Paul Williams did not write the music for this song. With regard to songs, he is primarily a lyricist.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaRon, Paul also did a guest spot on one of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew episodes, where the Hardys wind up singing with a group overseas at Dracula castle.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 5th 1970, the Carpenters performed "We've Only Just Begun" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
  At the time the song was at #5 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart and in its 13th week on the Top 100 {See next post below}...
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 7th 1972, the Carpenters performed "We've Only Just Begun" on the Tom Jones' TV special 'The Special London Bridge Special'...
  Two years earlier on September 6th, 1970 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; and on October 25th it peaked at #2 (for 4 weeks) and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 9 of those 17 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
  And on October 4th, 1970 it reached #1 (for 7 weeks) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
  The first three weeks it was at #2 the #1 record was "I'll Be There" by the Jackson 5 and for the fourth week it was "I Think I Love You" by the Partridge Family...
  It was the 2nd in a string of six straight Top 10 records by the duo; started with "Close To You" (#1 for 4 weeks), this one, "For All We Know" (#3 for 1 week), "Rainy Days and Mondays" (#2 for 2 weeks), Superstar" (#2 for 2 weeks), and finally "Hurting Each Other" (once again, #2 for 2 weeks)...
  R.I.P. Ms. Carpenter (1950 - 1983).
• Kathleen from Palm Coast, FlMy husband and I danced to this at our wedding in 1972. We have danced to it every year since ... holding our babies, now holding our grandchildren!
• Randy from Houghton Lake, MiI graduated in '73 and this was our class motto. Seems kind of corny but listening to this always makes me wish I was back living those carefree days.
• Mike from Matawan, NjThis song is also used in the horror movie, "1408" with John Cusack. Great juxtaposition.
• Blair from Nowhere, NhI never knew Paul Williams wrote so many great tunes!
• Siansonea from Denver, CoThis song is so pure and beautiful. I'm glad it has endured.
• Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, Caclarinet and piano on the intro...nice!
  and of course later on, all the hallmarks of a Carpenters single...it was a special sound.
• Susan from Westchestertonfieldville, VaThis song is listed as one of the greatest songs of our time...I love singing it, it makes me feel like I can sing like Karen carpenter!!!
  White lace and promises......
• David from Youngstown, OhI love this song like so many other by the Carpenters. I also greatly admire Paul Williams. I'm quite interested to see the comments for this song are almost entirely about Paul. He was a great songwriter - my fav Williams Carpenters' song is "Rainy Days and Mondays."
  
  I loved the Odd Couple episode with Paul in it because it was just so incredibly unlikely that Edna would be in love with him.
  
  As for the Phantom of the Paradise - it is one of the best cult movies I've ever seen along with Hot Rods to Hell. The record company Williams' character owned in the movie, he played Satan essentially in the movie, is Swan Songs. That caused some legal headaches for Paul and Zeppelin.
• Fyodor from Denver, CoThe high point of Paul Williams's career was starring in the movie, Phantom of the Paradise.
• Ron from Green Bay, WiPaul Williams appeared in the movie "Smokey and the Bandit". He was Little Enos Burdette. He also appeared on the many variety shows of the 70's
• Bill from Southeastern Part Of, FlPaul Williams made an appearance on an episode of The Odd Couple series with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. He wrote the song he performed on the show in about a half hour during rehearsals. The story line is that Felix, Randall's character, wrote a note to his daughter Edna who had run away to follow Paul Williams in concert to try to get her to come back home. Williams wrote a song to let Edna know how much her father loves her. It was quite a touching episode.
  
  Here are the lyrics to that song for all you Paul Williams fans:
  
  And even though I'm not around to pick you up the times you're down
  You know I think about you each and every day
  And though I feel a love for you that's always growing, always new
  The things I'm quick to feel I'm sometimes slow to say
  And so I lay awake at night and worry, are you hungry, are you warm?
  For there's nothing in this world too good for you
  And then I turn around and make a list of things that you can't have
  I only hope my good intentions still show through
  You know the ones who love you expect the most from you
  
  Once I held a perfect baby, you slept soundly in my arms
  Now a woman is awakening in you
  And I'll probably be jealous when your first love comes along
  I guess that calls for extra understanding too
  We'll order up a cup of tolerance for two
  You know the ones who love you expect the most from you
  
• Timmt from Orange, Ca"We've Only Just Begun" has gone on to be one of modern music's most popular wedding songs.
  
  The song was also used as the class song by many graduating classes of 1971.
• Timmt from Orange, CaPaul Williams also wrote "You And Me Against The World" which was a hit for Helen Reddy. The Carpenters recorded several other Paul williams tunes including the classics "Rainy Days and Mondays", "Let Me Be the One" and "I Won't Last A Day Without You."
  
  Just to add The Carpenters also recorded "The Rainbow connection" which was first released in 2001 on the disc "As Time Goes By", a collection of previously unreleased tunes by the Carpenters.
• Keith from San Francisco, CaIf memory serves, Paul Williams also co-wrote the theme to "The Love Boat" TV series

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