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".
Make It Easy on Yourself
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, breaking up is so very hard to do
If you really love him
And there's nothing I can do
Don't try to spare my feelings
Just tell me that we're through
And make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
Cause breaking up is so very hard to do
And if the way I hold you
Can't compare to his caress
No words of consolation
Will make me miss you less
My darling, if this is goodbye
I just know I'm going to cry
So run to him
Before you start crying too
And make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
Cause breaking up is so very hard to do
Oh, baby, it's so hard to do
The song "Make It Easy On Yourself" by Burt Bacharach explores the sadness and difficulty of breaking up with someone you love. The singer is asking for honesty from their partner, even though it will be hard to hear the truth. The lyrics suggest that the singer understands that their partner may be leaving them for someone else, but they don't want to be lied to or given false hope. They acknowledge that it will still be painful, but if the partner truly loves someone else, it's better to end things sooner rather than later.
The chorus, "make it easy on yourself, cause breaking up is so very hard to do" is a plea for the partner to not only be honest, but to also make it as easy as possible for the singer to move on. The singer recognizes that the heartache of a breakup can be overwhelming and hopes that the partner will end things in a way that allows them both to move on with their lives.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the emotional turmoil that comes with the end of a relationship. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak and are a testament to Bacharach's ability to capture complex emotions in his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Make it easy on yourself
Simplify the process of breaking up with me
Oh, breaking up is so very hard to do
The act of ending our relationship is emotionally difficult
If you really love him
Assuming you have strong affection for someone else
And there's nothing I can do
I am powerless to stop the end of our relationship
Don't try to spare my feelings
You do not need to be concerned about my emotional well-being
Just tell me that we're through
Explicitly state that our relationship is over
And if the way I hold you
If my physical touch does not measure up
Can't compare to his caress
Cannot match the intimacy conveyed by his embrace
No words of consolation
Any attempt to provide comfort will be ineffective
Will make me miss you less
I will still yearn for you regardless of anyone's efforts to console me
My darling, if this is goodbye
Sweetheart, if we are truly separating
I just know I'm going to cry
I am certain that I will cry
So run to him
Hurry to be with the one you love
Before you start crying too
Before you experience the same emotional pain as me
Oh, baby, it's so hard to do
Breaking up is grueling, my beloved
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hal David, Burt F. Bacharach, BURT F BACHARACH, CHANELLE CALICA, PJ STENNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cvega_1956
¡¡ Que canción más desgarradora !! .
Make It Easy On Yourself - Hazlo fácil para tí .
Make It Easy On Yourself - Hazlo fácil para tí .
Oh, breaking up is so very hard to do - Oh, romper es muy duro de hacer .
If you really love him - Si realmente lo amas ,
And there's nothing I can do - ya no hay nada que yo pueda hacer .
Don't try to spare my feelings - No trates de calmar mis sentimientos ,
Just tell me that we're through - sólo dime que hemos terminado .
And make it easy on yourself - Y hazlo fácil para tí .
Make it easy on yourself - Hazlo fácil para tí .
‘Cause breaking up is so very hard to do - Porque romper es muy duro de hacer .
And if the way I hold you - Y si la forma en que yo te abrazo ,
Can't compare to his caress - no se puede comparar con sus caricias .
No words of consolation - Sin palabras de consuelo ,
Will make me miss you less - hará que te extrañe menos .
My darling, if this is goodbye - Cariño, si esto es un adiós ,
I just know I'm gonna cry - solo se que voy a llorar .
So run to him - Así que corre hacia él ,
Before you start crying too - antes de que empieces a llorar también .
And make it easy on yourself - Y hazlo fácil para tí .
Make it easy on yourself - Hazlo fácil para tí .
‘Cause breaking up is so very hard to do - Porque romper es muy duro de hacer .
( Coro )
It's so hard to do - Es tan duro de hacer .
( Coro )
It's so hard to do - Es tan duro de hacer .
@angelab1326
How can one man write so many beautiful songs! All his songs are part of my childhood! My mum passed away recently and his songs remind me of her
@swami1
Same here. It seemed my mom always had a Bachrach album on the stereo or the car radio. He was one of America's greatest songwriters/arrangers.
@Nick-AngelpeodSeaxisc
R.I.P Burt, you absolute genius.
@January.
An AMERICAN TREASURE sorely missed 😢
@0327babygirl
Burt was one of my all time favorite songwriters..My dad, now 91, was in showbiz all his life and got to sing n play these beautiful melodies..R.I.P. Burt and thank you for giving us these unforgettable n heart warning songs.. 👑🙏🏽❤️🕊️🌹🌟🎶🎵
@julitt4317
Rest in peace; the sound track of my childhood. 😔
@January.
*soundtrack
@valerianeiva3065
I LOVE BURT BACHARACH
@nidst5468
Oh man, Burt ist a godlike genius!
@January.
AGREE 💕