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".
Land of Make Believe
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the land of make-believe
In the land of make-believe
In the land of make-believe
You're mine tonight, although you are far away
In the land of make-believe
I'm holding you tight
A silver moon is shining above
And there's love in your eyes
And I'm kissing you like I used to do
Yesterday in paradise
I've been livin' in the land of make-believe
Since you've been gone
I need you so much that, without your love,
I must deceive myself to go on
Your loving hand caresses my face
We embrace tenderly
Never will we part
Deep down in my heart
You are always here with me
You are always here with me
In the land of make-believe
In the land of make-believe
I need you so much
Your loving hand caresses my face
We embrace tenderly
Never will we part
Deep down in my heart
You are always here with me
You are always here with me
In the land of make-believe
In the land of make-believe
You are always here with me
In the land of make-believe
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's song "In the Land of Make Believe" suggest a world of fantasy and imagination where two people can be together despite the physical distance separating them. The singer's deep longing for his/her love interest is apparent in the repeated refrain "You are always here with me, in the land of make-believe." The imaginary world that they have created together is a place where they can be in each other's arms and experience the intense desire and passion they once shared. The mood of the song is wistful and melancholic, with a hint of nostalgia for the love they used to have.
The lyrics evoke a sense of escapism and a longing for something that is clearly unattainable in the real world. The land of make-believe represents the singer's desire to experience the joy and happiness of being with their loved one once again. The silver moon, shining bright above, symbolizes the romantic ambiance of the land of make-believe, while the loving embrace and tender caress of their love interest provide the emotional connection that they so desperately crave. The lyrics suggest that the land of make-believe is not only a place of fantasy but also a place of healing, where the singer can find solace and comfort in the face of their heartache.
Overall, "In the Land of Make Believe" is a poignant and romantic song that speaks to the power of imagination and the longing for love that is often unrequited. It is a song that captures the essence of unfulfilled desires and the yearning for a lost love, and it does so with a tender and heartfelt sincerity that is both moving and memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
You are always here with me
The singer feels as though the person they miss is always near them, even if it's only in their imagination.
In the land of make-believe
This phrase is repeated throughout the song to emphasize that the reunion between the singer and the person they miss is only possible in their imagination.
You're mine tonight, although you are far away
The singer feels like they have the person they miss with them, despite being physically distant from one another.
I'm holding you tight
The artist imagines themselves holding the person they miss tightly as if they were really there.
A silver moon is shining above
This detail sets the scene for the romantic and dreamy atmosphere of the land of make-believe.
And there's love in your eyes
The singer imagines the person they miss looking at them with the same loving gaze as they had before.
And I'm kissing you like I used to do
The singer imagines themselves kissing the person they miss the way they used to before they parted.
Yesterday in paradise
The memory of being together is a precious and beautiful one to the artist, and they yearn to relive it.
I've been livin' in the land of make-believe
The artist uses this phrase to express that they have been living in a fantasy world without the person they miss.
Since you've been gone
The person they miss has been gone for some time, making their absence all the more painful to the artist.
I need you so much that, without your love,
The singer acknowledges that they need the person they miss so badly that they have to deceive themselves into thinking they are still present.
I must deceive myself to go on
The only way the artist can cope with their longing for the person they miss is by pretending that they are still together.
Your loving hand caresses my face
The singer envisions the gentle touch of the person they miss, which brings them comfort and happiness.
We embrace tenderly
The singer imagines themselves and the person they miss in a tender and loving embrace, enjoying each other's company.
Never will we part
The singer wishes that they will never have to part with the person they miss again.
Deep down in my heart
This phrase serves to emphasize the depth and intensity of the artist's love for the person they miss.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@georgeburress5196
Heavenly.. I had this album in high school in the mid sixties! Timeless!
@johnvandehey7002
Utterly fantastic. Hidden Gems, the album containing this, contains a handful of Bacharach's little-known, but truly classic compositions. Played that album right through to the other side. My favorites: Land of Make Believe; They Long To Be Close to You; How Many Days of Sadness; Here I Am and Who is Gonna Love Me?
@angeladogan26
i absolutely love this. Really gold dust!
@JuneLynn
a fantastic song, never heard this one before.....thank you so much for sharing this gem!
@MusicPerth
Thanks for the bday wishes :)
@llb380
Is the photo of Leslie Ann Down? Sure looks like her.
@joesampson7724
Originally recorded by The Drifters
@micheller79
was this song from a movie? Like Valley of the Dolls or something?