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".
Long Ago Tomorrow
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
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And not the things I seem
Maybe I'll get to change the world
Before it changes me
And maybe my life
Will always be
Just as happy as it seems
Long ago tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
In my dreams
Maybe I'll learn to face the truth
And like the truth I face
Maybe I'll get to find myself
Before I'm lost in space
And maybe a love
Will always be
Just as faithful as it seems
Long ago tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
In my dreams
And maybe a love
Will always be
Just as faithful as it seems
Long ago tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
In my dreams
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's song Long Ago Tomorrow touch on the themes of hope and self-discovery. The singer expresses a desire to be the things they dream of and not just the things they seem to be. They hope to change the world before it changes them, and they hope that their life will always be as happy as it seems. The idea of the future, or "long ago tomorrow" as the title suggests, is a continuous theme throughout the song, representing the singer's dreams and hopes for what is to come.
However, the singer also recognizes the need to face the truth and find themselves before getting lost in space. This shows a deeper desire for both personal and emotional growth, and for the love in their life to be just as faithful as it appears. The repetition of "long ago tomorrow" emphasizes the distance between the present and the possibilities of the future. The reference to dreams in the final line of the song reinforces this idea, suggesting that the images of the future and the possibilities of change are still just dreams at this point.
Overall, the lyrics of Long Ago Tomorrow suggest a longing for a brighter future while also recognizing the need for personal growth and self-discovery in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I'll be the things I dream
Perhaps I'll become the person I aspire to be
And not the things I seem
And not just what others perceive me to be
Maybe I'll get to change the world
Maybe I'll have an impact on the world
Before it changes me
Before I'm influenced by the world's changes
And maybe my life
And possibly my existence
Will always be
Will perpetually remain
Just as happy as it seems
As blissful as it appears
Long ago tomorrow
A distant tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
A remote future
Long ago tomorrow
A far-off time
In my dreams
In my imagination
Maybe I'll learn to face the truth
Perhaps I'll learn to confront the reality
And like the truth I face
And accept it the way it is
Maybe I'll get to find myself
Perhaps I'll discover my true self
Before I'm lost in space
Before I'm entirely disoriented
And maybe a love
And perhaps a loving relationship
Will always be
Will eternally remain
Just as faithful as it seems
As loyal as it appears
Long ago tomorrow
A far-flung future
Long ago tomorrow
A remote tomorrow
Long ago tomorrow
A distant tomorrow
In my dreams
In my fantasy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE HUBBARD JR CAMPBELL, MARVIN J MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind