Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon-dust
In your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKh86kOoiWQ&mode=related&search=
When I was little both my god-parents and parents would play The Carpenters proudly at their weekly get togethers and I do associate the first notes of this magical song with that innocent time: pillow fights and trays down the stairs until one adult lost all tolerance and we slunk off to bed with lights out.
Nowadays when I hear this song it seems painfully perfect. And her tragic death seems to overwhelm our hearing with an awareness of her ‘knowingness’ that came at such a price.
The intimacy Of Karen Carpenter’s voice on Bacharach’s song reaffirms what we have all longed to feel and may only have admitted to ourselves in secret: the utter wonder and vulnerability of falling in love. And with this, comes also the strength and empowerment of admission. Her voice gains spirit and courage in this song from the progressive acknowledgement of love. It soars and elevates the heart and just one note of her voice captures the inevitability of the feeling….it seems to confirm what we have always wanted to know..only great songs have this inevitability…
‘close to you.’
It seems as if she is singing to us.
As if she were in this very room.
Here.