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".
Knowing When To Leave
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn
Go
I'm afraid my heart isn't very smart
Fly while your still have your wings
Knowing when to leave will never let you reach the point of no return
Fly
Foolish as it seems
I still have my dreams
So I keep hoping, day after day as I wait for the man I need
Night after night as I wish for a love that can be
Though I'm sure that no one can tell
When a wish is a hope
Somehow I feel there is happiness just waiting there for me
When someone walks in your life
You'd just better be sure he's right
'Cause if he's wrong there's are heartaches and tears you must face
Keep both of your eyes on the door and never let it get out of sight
Just be prepared when the time has come, you run away
Sail when the wind starts to blow
But like a fool I don't know when to leave
When to leave
When to leave
When to leave
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's "Knowing When to Leave" portray the importance of recognizing when it's time to move on from a situation before it becomes too difficult to bear. The song advises listeners to "go while the going is good," emphasizing the necessity of leaving a situation before it becomes too late. The author acknowledges that leaving may not be easy, especially for those who are deeply invested in the situation, as they may not have the emotional intelligence to determine when the right time to leave is. The song encourages people to stay optimistic about the future and keep their eyes open for the right man to walk into their life to pursue their dreams of love.
In the second verse, the song describes someone who is still holding onto their hopes and dreams, even though their love life has yet to pick up. Such people should continue to wish and dream, because every wish has a possibility of coming true. Furthermore, it highlights the idea that people need to be certain that the person they invest their time into is the right one, or it could lead to tears and heartaches. It's critical to know how to recognize the best time to leave, and never lose sight of the door and be ready to run when things don't feel right. The song concludes with the message of "sailing when the wind starts to blow" instead of being like foolish people who don't know when to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Go while the going is good
It's wise to leave a situation that may turn bad in the future
Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn
Being able to recognize the right time to leave can save you from pain and hardship
Go
Emphasizing the importance of leaving before it's too late
I'm afraid my heart isn't very smart
Admitting a lack of wisdom when it comes to matters of the heart
Fly while your still have your wings
Make the most of your opportunities while you still have them
Knowing when to leave will never let you reach the point of no return
Recognizing when it's time to leave can prevent you from reaching a point of no return
Fly
Urging the listener to take advantage of opportunities and not hold back
Foolish as it seems
Acknowledging that one's actions may seem foolish to others
I still have my dreams
Despite potential criticism, it's important to hold onto one's dreams
So I keep hoping, day after day as I wait for the man I need
Holding onto hope for the right person to come along
Night after night as I wish for a love that can be
Longing for a deep and meaningful love that is possible to attain
Though I'm sure that no one can tell
Acknowledging the uncertainty of the future
When a wish is a hope
The difference between a wish and a hope is unclear
Somehow I feel there is happiness just waiting there for me
Despite uncertainty, optimism remains
When someone walks in your life
When you meet someone new
You'd just better be sure he's right
It's important to make sure the right person is chosen
'Cause if he's wrong there's are heartaches and tears you must face
Selecting the wrong person can result in painful consequences
Keep both of your eyes on the door and never let it get out of sight
Be alert and prepared to leave if something goes wrong
Just be prepared when the time has come, you run away
Recognizing when it's time to go and not hesitating to do so
Sail when the wind starts to blow
Take advantage of favorable conditions when they present themselves
But like a fool I don't know when to leave
Admitting a potential lack of wisdom in recognizing when to leave
When to leave
The importance of recognizing when it's time to move on
When to leave
Reiterating the importance of recognizing when to move on
When to leave
Emphasizing the message of the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HAL DAVID, BURT BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
itsjustTaloria
Go while the going is good
Knowing when to leave
May be the smartest thing that anyone can learn
Go
I'm afraid you are
Not so very smart
Fly while your still have your wings
Knowing when to leave
Will never let you reach the point of no return
Fly
Foolish as it seems
I still have my dreams
So I keep hoping
Day after day as I wait for the man I meet
Night after night as I wish for a love that can be
Though I'm sure that
No one can tell where their wishes and hopes will lead
Somehow I feel there is happiness just waiting there for me
When someone
Walks in your life, you'd just better be sure she's right
'Cause if she's wrong, there are heartaches and tears you must pay
Keep both of your
Eyes on the door, never let it get out of sight
Just be prepared when the time has come for you to run away
Sail when the wind starts to blow
But like a fool, You don't know
When to leave
Liliana Coloma
Me encanta esta música
JFrancis S Filho
Um Gênio da Música Universal!!!
StevieB1362
Great memories. Another example of the variety & versatility of this incredible composer. I enjoyed all of Mr. Bacharach's music growing up in the 70's. I saw him in concert in Oklahoma City in the 70's. Wow! Unforgettable. There'll never be another to match his genius & talent. He was also generous with his time, helping young artists like Dionne W., Dusty S. & the Carpenters. I wore out these songs in Jr. High. Simply beautiful. LONG LIVE BURT !!
Robert Boney
Bacharach great sense of dynamics with his great melodies!
Nena Costa
Burt atravessou o século levando sua música imortal!
Adilson Costa
Burt Bacharach. Um dos mais admiráveis músicos do século!!!
Humberto Carreira
ESSE BURT BACHARACH É DUCARALHO!!AS MÚSICAS TOCAM NOSSA ALMA LÁ NO FUNDO!!! FICARIA HORAS OUVINDO ESSE CARA!!
LU V.AM.
Cresci ouvindo isso, como posso gostar das porcarias de hoje? Um gênio que completa minha alma
Brian McD
The music has a 60's 70's signature ,a time of free loving and colourful fashion🙂good times
Katy Taylor
I can’t get enough of this arrangement, it’s beautiful. His music is in my soul growing up with parents who had Burt playing in the house everyday.