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".
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just don't know what to do with myself
I'm so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we're through
I just don't know what to do with my time
I'm so lonesome for you, it's a crime
Parties make me feel as bad
When I'm not with you, I just don't know what to do
Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love to beat all the pain
I just don't know what to do with myself
I just don't know what to do with myself
Baby, if your new love ever turns you down
Come back, I will be around
Just waiting for you, I don't know what else to do
Don't know what else to do
I don't know what else to do
I'm still so crazy for you
Oh, oh, oh
In Burt Bacharach's song "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself," the singer is struggling to adjust to life after a breakup. They are used to being in a relationship where everything was planned for two people, but now they find themselves alone and unsure how to fill their time. Simple activities like going to the movies or attending parties only serve as reminders of their loneliness. The singer is desperate for their ex-lover's return, admitting "I'm still so crazy for you" and offering to be there for them if their new relationship doesn't work out.
The lyrics capture the feeling of heartbreak and the struggle to move on, as well as the hope that a lost love might someday return. The comparison to a summer rose needing both sun and rain to thrive reinforces the idea that a relationship needs both good times and bad to grow and flourish.
Line by Line Meaning
I just don't know what to do with myself
I am lost and confused without you, and I don't know how to fill my time.
Don't know just what to do with myself
I am at a loss in terms of how to move forward without you.
I'm so used to doing everything with you
I had become accustomed to making plans and decisions with you as we were a couple.
Planning everything for two
I was used to making plans for both of us, and now I don't know how to plan for just myself.
And now that we're through
Now that we have ended our relationship, I feel lost and unsure of how to proceed.
I just don't know what to do with my time
Without you in my life, I struggle to find ways to occupy my time and not feel lonely.
I'm so lonesome for you it's a crime
I feel so lonely and sad without you that it almost feels like a criminal act.
Going to the movie only makes me sad
Even small activities like going to the movies remind me of how much I miss you and how sad I am.
Parties make me feel as bad
Social events are also difficult for me because I am not with you, and I struggle to enjoy them without you.
When I'm not with you
Whenever I am not with you, I feel lost and unsure of what to do.
Like a summer rose
My emotional state resembles a rose which needs both sun and rain to flourish.
It needs the sun and rain
Just like a rose needs a balanced environment to thrive, I need your love and attention to heal and move on.
Oh, I need your sweet love
I crave the warmth and care that only you can provide, and I am struggling to go without it.
To beat all the pain
Your love was the only thing that could make me feel better and soothe the pain of our breakup.
Baby, if your new love ever turns you down
If your new relationship doesn't work out, I will be here waiting for you.
Come back, I will be around
I am still in love with you and will be here for you if you ever need me.
Just waiting for you
I am patiently waiting for you and your sweet love to return to me.
I don't know what else to do
Without you, I am lost and do not know how to proceed with my life.
I'm still so crazy for you, no, no, no, no
Even though we have broken up, my feelings for you are still strong and intense.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., CTM Outlander Music LC, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Hal David, Burt F. Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind