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".
Come And Get Me
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things haven't been too much fun for you
That's why you ran away
And now I'm all alone
I wasn't meant to be on my own
Turn back, turn back
And come and get me
Take me along
I don't care where you lead me, if you lead me
It can't be wrong
Just to be with you there's no place in this world
That I wouldn't go
This time isn't the time for you
You have to be where the skies are blue
And here the skies are gray
Darling, I understand
Don't you need someone to hold your hand?
Turn back, turn back
And come and get me
Oh, come and get me
Take me along
I don't care where you lead me, if you lead me
It can't be wrong
Just to be with you there's no place in this world
That I wouldn't go
Oh please, won't you tell me where you've gone to, gone to?
If I knew where you were I'd be right there
I need something I want to be hangin' onto
Just to show me you care
The lyrics of Burt Bacharach's "Come And Get Me" depict a yearning for companionship and longing for the return of a loved one who has left. The song is an appeal to the one who has left, as the writer understands their struggles and is willing to accompany them wherever they go. The opening lines of the song "I know what life has done to you, things haven't been too much fun for you" establish a connection between the writer and the loved one who has left. The lyrics demonstrate the writer's understanding of the struggles of the loved one who has left, and his/her desire to accompany them wherever life takes them.
The chorus "Come and get me, take me along, I don't care where you lead me, if you lead me it can't be wrong" echoes this sentiment. The writer is willing to go wherever the loved one leads him/her, showing a willingness to compromise and follow without reservation. The line "Just to be with you there's no place in this world that I wouldn't go" in the second verse further highlights this sentiment, conveying the writer's commitment to do anything to be with the loved one.
The lyrics of "Come And Get Me" are a testament to the depth of love and the lengths one is willing to go to be with a loved one. The song's pleading tone and its raw emotion make it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I know what life has done to you
I am aware of the struggles you have faced in life
Things haven't been too much fun for you
You have had a difficult time with life
That's why you ran away
You left because of your struggles
And now I'm all alone
Since you left, I have become lonely
I wasn't meant to be on my own
I am not meant to be alone
Turn back, turn back
I am pleading with you to come back
And come and get me
I want you to come back and take me away with you
Oh, come and get me
I am desperately asking you to come and get me
Take me along
Take me with you
I don't care where you lead me, if you lead me
I am willing to follow you anywhere
It can't be wrong
Being with you cannot be wrong
Just to be with you there's no place in this world
I am willing to go anywhere just to be with you
That I wouldn't go
There is nowhere I wouldn't go to be with you
This time isn't the time for you
You need to be somewhere else at this time
You have to be where the skies are blue
You need to be in a happier place
And here the skies are gray
The place where you are now is not happy
Darling, I understand
I understand your need to be elsewhere
Don't you need someone to hold your hand?
Do you not need someone to support you?
Oh please, won't you tell me where you've gone to, gone to?
Please tell me where you went
If I knew where you were I'd be right there
I would be with you if I knew where you were
I need something I want to be hangin' onto
I need something to hold onto
Just to show me you care
I need you to show me that you care
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@musicrocksoffical
One of her best songs she ever recorded. I love it. Jackie is among the greatest singers we will ever see. ❤❤❤Jackie❤❤❤
@bradly2007
Soulful & mesmerizing, Jackie DeShannon goes to the depths of "Come And Get Me" turning it into a classic timeless performance...Bravo Jackie!
@paulyoung01
Just exceptional. only someone like Jackie could pull this off ! fantastic X
@markaaronsite
beautiful vocals and beautiful arrangement - bravo!
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1966 {April 30th} Jackie DeShannon performed "Come and Get Me"* on the Dick Clark ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
Three weeks later on May 22nd, 1966 the song entered Billboard's Top 100 chart at position #87, the next week it peaked at #83, and the following week it remained at #83 and that was also it's third and last week on the Top 100...
Between 1963 and 1980 the Hazel, Kentucky native had sixteen records on the Top 100 chart; two made the Top 10, "What The World Needs Now Is Love", it peaked at #7 {for 2 weeks} on July 18th, 1965 and "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" peaked at #4 {for 1 week} on August 24th, 1969...
Ms. DeShannon, born Sharon Lee Myers, will celebrate her 77th birthday in four months on August 21st {2018}...
* In 1965 Ms. DeShannon composed a song titled "Come and Stay With Me", Marianne Faithful took it to #26 on the Top 100 in April of 1965...
@vrinda5303
@byan85, there are still some great songs yet to be written, and we may never hear them with the modern garbage that passes for music nowadays.
@IanDenchasy
Only 18k views and 9 comments is a crime against humanity.
@dchern
bravo
@NewMediaFormat
@mancmuso1 Thanks Mancmuso1 - It's a new version with a little bit better audio
@DionnesDiscography
Very Dionne-esque.. parts of it remind me of "don't say I didn't tell you so".