We’ve Only Just Begun – The Wedding Song That Became a Sad Prophecy
Who would have thought that one of the most beloved wedding songs of all time began as a bank commercial?
“We’ve Only Just Begun” was originally written in 1970 for a Crocker National Bank advertisement, encouraging young couples to “start a new life together.” But when the Carpenters recorded it, the song transformed into something much deeper — an anthem of beginnings, and eventually, a haunting echo of a life unfinished.
A voice of hope, wrapped in fragility
Karen Carpenter sang with a purity that felt almost untouchable. Yet, within that crystal-clear voice lived a delicate sadness. When she sang, “Sharing horizons that are new to us…”, it wasn’t just a lyric — it was a quiet prayer for a happiness she longed to believe in.
Her voice carried both innocence and melancholy, making the song not just about love, but about the courage to hope. That’s why it became more than a wedding tune — it became a message: love deeply, because we never know how long we have to begin.
The prophecy nobody wanted to believe
At the time she recorded it, Karen was only 20 — young, full of dreams, and quietly lonely. Years later, as her struggle with anorexia grew and fame turned into isolation, those lyrics took on a chilling truth.
When fans listened again after her passing at 32, the words “We’ve only just begun…” felt like a time capsule — a promise frozen in the very moment before it could bloom.
For the world, it remains a song of beginnings.
But for those who loved her, it’s a gentle whisper from someone who never got to finish her story.
“We’ve only just begun…” — and somehow, she never had the chance to go further.