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".
Lost Horizon
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
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Far away from it all
Where the air you breathe is soft and clean
And children play in fields of green
And the sound of guns
Doesn't pound in your ears (anymore)
Have you ever dreamed of a place
Where the winter winds will never blow
And living things have room to grow
And the sound of guns
Doesn't pound in your ears anymore.
Many miles from yesterday before you reach tomorrow
Where the time is always just today
There's a lost horizon waiting to be found.
There's a lost horizon
Where the sound of guns
Doesn't pound in your ears
anymore.
The lyrics of Burt Bacharach's song Lost Horizon touch on the theme of escapism and yearning for a better place free from the chaos and turmoil of the world we currently live in. It paints a picture of a utopian society where everything is serene, and the sound of guns does not disturb the peace. The words 'far away from it all' emphasize the need to escape the hecticness of life, away from the conflicts and tensions that plague our daily existence. The mention of fields of green and clean air to breathe paints a picture of an idyllic world that is free from pollution and destruction, where everything is pure and natural.
The specific mention of the sound of guns not pounding in your ears anymore also adds a political and social commentary to the song, highlighting the need for peace and harmony in the world. The lyrics suggest that this utopia is a place that is waiting to be found, which evokes the idea of a future where positive change can occur. The line "Where the time is always just today" implies that in this lost horizon, there is no past to regret or future to be anxious about; all there is, is the present moment of bliss.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever dreamed of a place
Have you ever imagined a utopian world,
Far away from it all
Far away from the chaos and troubles of the real world,
Where the air you breathe is soft and clean
Where the quality of air is pristine and free from pollutants,
And children play in fields of green
Where the environment is lush with greenery and fertile for children to play,
And the sound of guns
Where the noise of violence and aggression,
Doesn't pound in your ears (anymore)
Is non-existent and peace reigns.
Where the winter winds will never blow
Where the harsh cold weather of winter never exists,
And living things have room to grow
Where there is abundant space for life to thrive and grow,
Many miles from yesterday before you reach tomorrow
A place that is so far away and detached from the past and future,
Where the time is always just today
A place where time has no relevance and the present moment is all that matters,
There's a lost horizon waiting to be found.
This place is a figment of imagination and resides only in our dreams,
There's a lost horizon
This utopian world is known as the lost horizon,
Where the sound of guns
Where the noise of violence and aggression,
Doesn't pound in your ears anymore.
Is non-existent and peace prevails forevermore.
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.