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".
Check Out Time
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was all alone
Stretched out in bed
Two hundred miles from home
In some old motel
I don't know
What's to become of me
I didn't mean to hurt him
He has so much pride
I never dreamed
I have to run and hide
To this lonely route
I just hope
He doesn't follow me
I know the check out time is three
There's just no use
Why try to make an excuse?
I must pray blues because to be his wife
Well, that would be just giving up on life
I've got to go on living
I just can exist
I wanna taste all of the feelings
I've missed for example, love
Till the day
Love catches up with me
As always
Check out dot at three
The lyrics of Burt Bacharach's song "Check Out Time" convey the emotional turmoil and sense of displacement experienced by the singer. The song opens with the singer waking up alone in a motel room far away from home, setting the tone of loneliness and distance. This feeling of isolation is reinforced by the mention of being two hundred miles from home, emphasizing the physical and emotional distance from familiar surroundings.
As the lyrics delve deeper into the singer's thoughts, it becomes apparent that there is a sense of regret and guilt present. The singer admits to not intending to hurt someone, acknowledging their actions and the consequences that have led them to run away and hide. These conflicted feelings are further highlighted by the reference to the other person's pride, suggesting a complex interpersonal relationship that has taken a toll on both parties.
The mention of the check-out time being three adds a sense of urgency and finality to the situation, creating a metaphorical deadline for the singer to come to terms with their actions and decisions. The repetition of this line throughout the song underscores a sense of inevitability and the need to confront the consequences of their choices.
The final verses of the song delve into themes of self-preservation and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. The singer grapples with the idea of giving up on life by settling for a situation that does not bring them true happiness. Instead, they express a desire to experience all the emotions and sensations that life has to offer, including love. The reference to love catching up with them suggests a longing for genuine connection and emotional fulfillment, indicating a desire to move past the events that led to their current state of turmoil. Ultimately, the singer acknowledges the need to keep moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty and regret, embodying a sense of resilience and determination to embrace life's complexities.
Line by Line Meaning
When I woke up this morning
At the start of the day, I found myself in a state of solitude.
I was all alone
I experienced the deep emptiness of being without companionship.
Stretched out in bed
I lay there, physically present but emotionally adrift in my own thoughts.
Two hundred miles from home
I felt the weight of distance, both physically from my familiar surroundings and metaphorically from where I truly belong.
In some old motel
I found myself in a transient place, lacking comfort and connection, just a temporary stop.
I don't know
I feel a profound uncertainty about my future and my path forward.
What's to become of me
I am left pondering the inevitable outcomes of my current state.
I know the check out time is three
I am aware that my time in this transient state is limited and will come to an end soon.
I didn't mean to hurt him
My actions were not intended to cause him pain; it was never my wish.
He has so much pride
His strong sense of self-worth complicates the situation; he may not easily recover from this.
I never dreamed
I couldn't have imagined this complex reality unfolding before me.
I have to run and hide
To cope with the emotional turmoil, I feel the urge to escape and shield myself from the consequences.
To this lonely route
In my decision to flee, I embark on a solitary path riddled with uncertainty.
I just hope
Amidst my fears, I cling to the hope that my choice brings me clarity.
He doesn't follow me
I wish for tranquility and distance, hoping he won't chase after me emotionally or physically.
I know the check out time is three
Once more, I recognize that my time here is fleeting, adding urgency to my decisions.
There's just no use
I perceive a futility in trying to resolve this overwhelming situation.
Why try to make an excuse?
I see no point in fabricating justifications for my actions; honesty feels more essential.
I must pray blues because to be his wife
I feel a deep sorrow and conflict over the idea of conforming to traditional expectations of marriage.
Well, that would be just giving up on life
Accepting this role feels like a surrender to a reality I cannot embrace, a stifling of my own existence.
I've got to go on living
Despite the turmoil, I recognize the necessity of continuing my journey and survival.
I just can exist
Merely existing is no longer sufficient; I long for more depth in my experiences.
I wanna taste all of the feelings
I yearn to explore the full spectrum of emotions and experiences that life offers.
I've missed for example, love
There are profound sentiments like love that I have yet to genuinely experience, leaving a void in my heart.
Till the day
I hold onto the hope of a future transformation or revelation.
Love catches up with me
There is an awareness that love will eventually find its way back into my life, perhaps unexpectedly.
As always
This realization is a constant theme within my life’s narrative; love seems to be a recurring yet elusive force.
Check out dot at three
The inevitability of leaving this phase of my life echoes as a reminder of time’s passage and the transitions it brings.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ashley Barrett
Beautiful and mature music. They don't make songs like this anymore.
Robert P. Wainman
So true!
John Fulton
Dionne is so amazing this is a great song but not the easiest song to sing but dionne nails it her interpretation is dramatic and sensitive at the same time she only did one film it's a shame that she didn't get the break that other divas like cher and Streisand got I think she had the potential to be serious actress
Alex Riddick
A beautiful sung with the pen of Hal David and arranged by Burt Bacharach. Especially the dynamic singing of Dionne Warwick who brings this song to life.
shjakes
Once Upon a Time...
The lyrics of this song proved too complex for a lil' girl to comprehend but could not stop her from loving it. But how can I explain that after all these years, the lush, dramatic, tres French -flavored melody and orchestration, the pathos-laden lyrics delivered by Dionne's bitter-sweet voice...is still powerful enough to bring me to tears??
That line "Till the day love catches up with Meeee" will cause any emotional dam to burst! I grew up and eventually understood the full meaning of this beautiful song...the desire of any human heart is to give and receive "O Grande Amor."
May we all be so blessed and grateful to find ours...
didilllk lelek
Agree thanks for sharing
Mikel Alatza
Best Bacharach melody...all the stops are pulled on this one.
His restraint and quirky beauty....
Nicole Lette
Brilliant music Burt Bacharach ❤you are a legend
Rosemary Penn
You can never mistake a Bacharach song
ross coombes
Distintively Burt and Dionne.