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".
Anyone Who Had A Heart
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And know that I love you
Anyone who ever dreamed, could look at me
And know I dream of you
Knowing I love you so
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me, too
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
What am I to do
Every time you go away, I always say
This time it's goodbye, dear
Loving you the way I do
I take you back, without you I'd die dear
Knowing I love you so
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me, too
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
What am I to do
Knowing I love you so
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me, too
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
Anyone who had a heart would love me too
Anyone who had a heart would surely take me in his arms and always love me
Why won't you
The song "Anyone Who Had A Heart" by Burt Bacharach is about unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The lyrics describe the singer's longing for someone who does not reciprocate their love, and their belief that anyone who truly loved would never hurt them in the way that they have been hurt. The singer expresses their desperation and confusion, wondering why the person they love cannot love them back.
The song touches on themes of vulnerability, the fear of rejection and the risks of loving someone deeply. The lyrics suggest that love is not only an emotion, but an action - that anyone who really loved would show it through their actions and never cause pain to the one they love. The repeated phrase "anyone who had a heart" reinforces this idea of what it means to truly love someone.
The song's instrumentation is typically Bacharach-esque, with a lush arrangement of strings, horns and piano, as well as his signature use of unusual chord progressions and syncopated rhythms. The melody is instantly memorable and emotive, matching the lyrics' dramatic and heartfelt tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Anyone who ever loved, could look at me
If you have ever known love, then you can see in my eyes that I love you.
And know that I love you
It's clear to see that I truly love you.
Anyone who ever dreamed, could look at me
Anyone who has ever had a dream can see that I am the one in that dream.
And know I dream of you
And can see that my dreams revolve around you.
Knowing I love you so
It's important to know that my love for you is strong.
Anyone who had a heart
Anyone who has ever felt love in their heart...
Would take me in his arms and love me, too
...would embrace and love me back without hesitation.
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Someone with a true heart could never intentionally hurt me.
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
Only someone who is not honest and loyal could hurt me.
What am I to do
I am left feeling lost and unsure of what to do.
Every time you go away, I always say
When you leave, I am always left saying...
This time it's goodbye, dear
...that this is the last time we will say goodbye.
Loving you the way I do
My love for you is deep and unwavering.
I take you back, without you I'd die dear
Even if you hurt me, I would still take you back because I cannot live without you.
Anyone who had a heart
Once again, anyone with true love in their heart...
Would take me in his arms and love me, too
...would embrace and love me back without hesitation.
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Someone with a true heart could never intentionally hurt me.
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
Only someone who is not honest and loyal could hurt me.
Anyone who had a heart would love me too
Anyone who knows true love would love me as well.
Anyone who had a heart would surely take me in his arms and always love me
That same person would always hold and love me unconditionally.
Why won't you
So why do you continue to hurt me when you say you love me?
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind