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".
Lisa
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
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Beautiful, beautiful hands are meant to hold
And yet your hands are untouched I'm told
Standing like a statue carved out of stone
Lovely and alluring and alone
How can anyone so beautiful be mine love, so unloved?
Everyone envies you
They say you have wealth and fame
When you walk on the street
Everyone whispers your name, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa
Beautiful, beautiful girls have broken hearts
Being unwanted is how it starts
Some men are afraid to reach for a star
So, you must be worshiped from afar
How can anyone so beautiful be mine love, so unloved?
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's song Lisa seem to describe the singer's admiration of a woman named Lisa who is beautiful but seemingly unloved. The singer notes how her hands are "untouched" and how she stands "like a statue carved out of stone," suggesting a certain aloofness or inaccessibility about her. Despite this, the singer expresses wonder at the fact that such a beautiful woman could be theirs.
The lyrics go on to describe Lisa as someone who is envied by others for her wealth, fame, and notoriety. But despite her outward appearance, the singer suggests that she may be carrying a broken heart. The line "Being unwanted is how it starts" implies that Lisa's beauty may have prevented her from finding real love and companionship.
The song seems to be a meditation on the nature of beauty and its role in relationships. The singer seems to be acknowledging the paradox that while beauty can be a powerful force that attracts others, it can also create distance and prevent meaningful connections from forming. The repeated refrain of "how can anyone so beautiful be mine, love?" suggests a sense of wonder at the possibility of being with someone like Lisa, while also acknowledging the difficulties that come with that desire.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful, beautiful hands are meant to hold
Lisa is very attractive and supposed to be with someone, but she is not with anyone
And yet your hands are untouched I'm told
People talk about Lisa being single, and no one dares to approach her
Standing like a statue carved out of stone
Lisa is very composed and stands out like a statue carved out of stone
Lovely and alluring and alone
Lisa is extremely attractive, charming, and is currently single
Everyone envies you
Lisa is the envy of the town due to her beauty and fame
They say you have wealth and fame
People believe that Lisa is rich and renowned
When you walk on the street
Lisa receives a lot of attention when she walks on the street
Everyone whispers your name, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa
People say Lisa's name in hushed tones due to her beauty
Beautiful, beautiful girls have broken hearts
Women as beautiful as Lisa sometimes end up brokenhearted
Being unwanted is how it starts
Being single is where it all starts for people who are not desired by others
Some men are afraid to reach for a star
Some men are afraid to approach someone as amazing as Lisa
So, you must be worshiped from afar
Lisa needs to be loved from a distance if no one is brave enough to approach her
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind