Bacharach studied music at McGill University and the Mannes School of Music. In the 1950s and the early 1960s he was the pianist, arranger and bandleader for Marlene Dietrich with whom he toured. He teamed with lyricist Hal David and others to write many popular songs in the 1960s and 1970s.
Bacharach's music has been sung by a number of popular singers including The Beatles,The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, Jack Jones, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Luther Vandross and The Drifters. He met Dionne Warwick, with whom he would form a famed collaboration. His songs are characterized by (1) the use of unexpected harmonic changes and (2) unusual rhythmic patterns and time signatures. He employs times such as 5/4 or 3/2, and frequently goes from one time signature to another in the same song, often after each measure. He also changes keys frequently. An excellent example of his style is "Promises, Promises", from his score to the musical of the same name. He has a total of 52 Top 40 hits. In addition, many of his songs were adapted by jazz artists of the time, such as Stan Getz and Wes Montgomery. The Bacharach-David composition "My Little Red Book", originally recorded by Manfred Mann for the film What's New, Pussycat, and promptly covered by Love in 1965, has become a rock standard. He composed and arranged the soundtrack of the 1967 film Casino Royale.
He has been married four times, to Paula Stewart (1953-1958), to actress Angie Dickinson (1965-1980), to lyricist Carole Bayer Sager (1982-1991) - with whom he collaborated on a number of pieces - and (since 1993) Jane Hanson. He has a total of four children, two girls and two boys.
In 1998 he collaborated on an album called Painted From Memory with singer/songwriter Elvis Costello. His 2005 album At This Time features collaborations with Costello, Rufus Wainwright, and Dr. Dre (who provides bass-and-drum loops).
Bacharach has had cameo roles in a number of Hollywood movies including all three Austin Powers movies. His music is also credited as providing inspiration for these movies.
During subsequent Burt Bacharach concert tours, each show would open with a very brief video clip from the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with Mike Myers (as Austin Powers) uttering "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach".
Always Taking Aim
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find the answer
'Cause there is
No one but you to find it
No world to save
Except the one in your heart
There's no love to lose
No time to lose
No tears to waste
No world to change
No love to make but yours
I know that things may never ever change
Things will stay the same
But I know love is never far away
Always taking aim
Burt Bacharach's song "Always Taking Aim" touches on the themes of introspection, self-discovery, and the pursuit of love within oneself. The opening lines, "Nowhere to go / To find the answer," suggest a sense of disillusionment or apathy towards external solutions or guidance. Instead, the song asserts that the answers to one's struggles lie within oneself, and that the only person responsible for finding them is oneself.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one's own heart and love, rather than attempting to change or save the world around them. The repetition of the phrase "Always taking aim" can be interpreted as a message of determination or persistence in pursuing one's innermost desires and needs.
The song's final lines, "I know that things may never ever change / Things will stay the same / But I know love is never far away / Always taking aim," suggest a sense of acceptance towards the uncertainties of life and the possibility of disappointment, but also a steadfast belief in the power of love to persist and flourish despite these circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Nowhere to go
There is no destination or direction to take.
To find the answer
To figure out or discover the solution to a problem or question.
'Cause there is
Due to the fact that such a situation exists and cannot be altered.
No one but you to find it
The search for the solution lies entirely in your hands and your responsibility.
No world to save
There are no environmental or global crises to address or fix.
Except the one in your heart
You only worry about fixing the issues within yourself for improvement.
There's no love to lose
One cannot experience deep remorse or regret after losing love or a loved one.
You'll lose it
The love or loved one will inevitably slip away from possession.
No time to lose
There is a sense of urgency to act because time is of utmost importance.
No tears to waste
There is no reason to shed tears or feel sorry for oneself due to lack of control over the situation.
No world to change
There is no need to make substantial alterations to the environment or society due to one's lack of power or importance.
No love to make but yours
The sole responsibility for nurturing and building any loving relationships lies directly with you.
I know that things may never ever change
The understanding and acceptance that challenges or problems faced might never resolve themselves and maintain a constant state.
Things will stay the same
The stagnancy of current situations will continue to persist and overcome all necessary ingredients for growth.
But I know love is never far away
Despite the constant environment and circumstances of life, love always exists within and around us.
Always taking aim
The process of constantly reaching and aiming for love, despite the situation or setback.
Contributed by London H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.