Richard was watching TV one night when he heard a commercial come on the television. It was a commercial for Crocker Bank that showed a newlywed couple getting married and moving into their new home. "You've got a long way to go, we'd like to help you get there," said the commercial's slogan. Carpenter recognized the vocal work as that of Paul Williams, a friend and fellow recording artist at A&M, and requested the full version of the song from him on the company's lot. The optimistic ballad, combining easy-listening and the pulse of pop/rock, was an instant smash- commanding the adult contemporary charts for seven weeks. It also became the wedding song of a generation.