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".
Can't Give It Up
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never try to
I'll never understand love
I'll never get it
I'll never ever change you
I'll never try to
'Cause you're my only
Just like you are
I'll never understand love
I'll never get it
But can't give it up
I'll never ever change you
I'll never try to
You'll be my only
Broken valentine
Just like you are
I'll never understand love
I'll never get it
But can't give it up
I'll never ever change you
I'll never try to
'Cause you're my only
Broken valentine
Just like you are
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's song "Can't Give It Up" express a sentiment of acceptance and resignation. The singer acknowledges that they will never be able to change the person they are addressing, and further, that they will never understand love itself. Despite these limitations, they declare that they cannot give up on this person, who they refer to as their "broken valentine."
The idea of a "broken valentine" is powerful, as it suggests a love that is flawed, imperfect, and perhaps even painful. The singer seems to recognize that this relationship may not be easy, but they are willing to accept it as it is, without any attempts to change it. This could be seen as an act of love in itself, as it shows a deep commitment to accepting someone for who they are.
Overall, the lyrics to "Can't Give It Up" convey a sense of both resignation and devotion, acknowledging the limitations of the situation while still holding onto a powerful emotional connection. The song is a testament to the complexities of love, and to the fact that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we simply cannot change or fully understand the people we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never change you
I will never try to change you as a person, I will accept you as you are
I'll never try to
I will not attempt to make you something you're not
I'll never understand love
Love is a mystery to me, and I don't believe I will ever comprehend it
I'll never get it
No matter how much I try, I'll never be able to fully understand love
But can't give it up
Despite not understanding love, I cannot let go of the feeling that I have
You'll be my only
You are the only one for me, no one else compares to you
Broken valentine
You may be flawed and imperfect, but you are still my valentine
Just like you are
I accept you for who you are, including your faults and shortcomings
Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.