At the End of a Song - Carpenters

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This song was recorded in 1981 for the album, "MADE IN AMERICA," the last studio album released during Karen's lifetime, but it wasn't included on the album. Karen was 31 years old at the time of the recording. Karen and Richard had previously released the album "PASSAGE" in 1977, and their Christmas album, "CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT" in 1978 - but nothing since. Karen recorded her solo album in 1980, but the album was shelved and not released until 1996. Karen married in August 1980, but by the time this final album was released, her marriage was already in shambles, and she was separated from her husband, Tom Burris.

Karen and Richard made appearances in Brazil and different locations in Europe to publicize the new album. The appearances in Brazil and Europe took their toll on Karen and she returned home exhausted. In November 1981, she formally separated from her husband. In January 1982, she went to New York to begin therapy and treatment for her anorexia. She stayed there until November 1982, when she returned home to California in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family. On December 17, 1982, she gave her final public performance at Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. It was a Christmas-themed appearance for her godchildren and their friends. On January 11, 1983, she made her final appearance on television at a gathering of Grammy winners. It was an event set up by "Entertainment Tonight" to publicize the upcoming Grammy Awards. On February 4, 1983, while staying at her parents' home, Karen died of heart failure, a result of the anorexia she had battled for so many years.

Following Karen's death, Richard returned to the studio to complete the album that he and Karen had been working on. "Voice of the Heart" was a tribute album for Karen, using outtakes from previous albums and several songs that she and Richard had recorded in April 1982, when she took a two week vacation from the treatment in New York for her anorexia.

AT THE END OF A SONG
(lyrics by John Bettis, music by Richard Carpenter)

They tell me
Somewhere this life isn't crazy
But I've traveled the world far and wide
And I say they're wrong

Don't sell me
Stories that music's a lady
It's not when the singer's alone
At the end of a song

At the end of a song
There's no one
After the last note is played
Only the memory stays
Then even that fades away
And there's nothing so hard
As convincing your heart
That you should start singing again

You told me
Nothing could change perfect lovers
But like every promise you made
It broke before long

It's lonely
Falling away from each other
But we've come to the last of your words
And the end of a song

At the end of a song
There's no one
After the last note is played
Only the memory stays
Then even that fades away
And there's nothing so hard
As convincing your heart
That you should start singing again