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".
Is Love Enough?
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
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Always movin'
Things never change
Things stay the same
Things fall apart
Life breaks your heart
Always movin'
Things never change
Things stay the same
Things keep changing
Always moving
Things never change
Things stay the same
Things fall apart
Life breaks your heart
Things fall apart
Life breaks your heart
Is love enough?
Nothing but love's
Ever enough
But love's enough
Things never change
Things stay the same
Nothing but love's
Ever enough
But love's enough
Things fall apart
Life breaks your heart
Is love enough?
Nothing but love's
Ever enough
The lyrics of Burt Bacharach's song "Is Love Enough?" captures the wrenching sense of despair that accompanies the realization that even love, which many of us rely on to ease the inevitable trauma of living, may not be enough to shield us from the often brutal fate that comes with life.
The opening lines "Times keep changing, always movin'" sets the tone for what is to come - the never-ending cycle of change and the inherent uncertainty that comes with it. The repetition of the phrases "things never change, things stay the same" represents the paradox of life - while we may wish for stability, things are always in flux, always transforming, and morphing into something unrecognizable.
The phrase "life breaks your heart" seems to be a cornerstone of the song. It reminds us that no matter how hard we try to keep things together, be it relationships or other aspects of our lives, we may still experience shattered dreams and disappointment.
The lines "nothing but love's ever enough, but love's enough" is a plea for us to hold onto the belief that love is a powerful force that can help us weather any storm. Despite the harsh realities of life and its ceaseless ways of changing, we must hold onto hope and trust in the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Times keep changing
The world is always evolving and moving forward.
Always movin'
Life is dynamic and constantly changing.
Things never change
No matter what happens, some things always remain the same.
Things stay the same
Certain aspects of life are unchanging and predictable.
Things fall apart
Sometimes things don't work out and fall apart unexpectedly.
Life breaks your heart
Life can be tough and disappointing at times, causing emotional pain.
Is love enough?
In the face of adversity and heartbreak, can love solve our problems?
Nothing but love's
There is nothing besides love that can overcome the hardships of life.
Ever enough
Love alone is sufficient.
But love's enough
Although life can be difficult, having love in one's life is enough to weather the storms.
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.