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".
Odds
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your closet was empty, too
All of your shirts and ties were gone
There wasn't a trace of you
How could you go and leave so completely?
Nothing was left of all the memories that we used to share
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
And a half-filled cup of coffee
At least you could have said goodbye
You shouldn't have to run away
Were you afraid that I would cry?
My tears might have made you stay
Gone are the dreams that kept us together
Nothing was left to show that we were once so happy then
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
And a half-filled cup of coffee
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
How could you go and leave so completely?
Nothing was left of all the memories that we used to share
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
And a half-filled cup of coffee
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
The song "Odds & Ends" by Burt Bacharach is a heart-wrenching track about the aftermath of a failed relationship. In the lyrics, the singer describes discovering that their former partner has completely vanished, leaving behind no trace except for some "odds and ends" like an empty tube of toothpaste and a half-full cup of coffee. The singer is clearly struggling to come to terms with the sudden departure and feels hurt that their partner didn't even bother to say goodbye. The chorus of the song repeats several times, emphasizing the theme of the song: that all that remains of this once-beautiful love affair are just these sad odds and ends.
The lyrics in this song are incredibly poignant as they paint a vivid picture of the sudden end of a love affair. The emptiness of the closet and the sight of an empty toothpaste tube make the singer feel so alone and abandoned. He wonders how his partner could completely erase all of their shared memories and leave so completely. The song is a beautiful tribute to love that is lost and shows how even the little "odds and ends" can be a painful reminder of what once was.
Line by Line Meaning
Your pillow wasn't slept upon
Your absence is so painful that I notice things like your pillow being unused
Your closet was empty, too
There are no more signs of you in my life, even your clothes are gone from the closet
All of your shirts and ties were gone
You took everything with you when you left, even the shirts and ties that I remember seeing you in so many times
There wasn't a trace of you
You are gone completely, without a single reminder of your presence or existence
How could you go and leave so completely?
I am still in shock that you could leave without leaving anything behind, cutting all ties with the life we shared
Nothing was left of all the memories that we used to share
Everything that we shared together is now gone, with no trace or evidence to remind me of you
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
The only thing that remains is an object that you used every day when you were here, but now it's empty
And a half-filled cup of coffee
The other reminder of you is the cup of coffee that you left behind, which shows me that you were in a hurry to leave
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
These objects are the only physical remnants of our love story that ended so abruptly
At least you could have said goodbye
I am hurt that you left without even having the decency to say goodbye to me, as if I didn't matter to you at all
You shouldn't have to run away
I don't understand why you had to leave so suddenly, without giving me any explanation or reason for your departure
Were you afraid that I would cry?
I wonder if you left so quickly because you didn't want to face the pain of seeing me cry over your departure
My tears might have made you stay
Perhaps you were afraid that my tears would make you feel guilty and cause you to stay when you knew that you had to leave
Gone are the dreams that kept us together
All the hopes and aspirations that we shared for our future are now gone, along with you
Nothing was left to show that we were once so happy then
The happiness that we shared seems like a distant memory now, with nothing to remind me of those times
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
These objects are now the only proof that we had a beautiful love story, even if it ended so abruptly and unceremoniously
How could you go and leave so completely?
This line is repeated to show the artist's disbelief and shock at the sudden and complete departure of their loved one
Nothing was left of all the memories that we used to share
This line is repeated to emphasize the complete absence of any reminders or memories of their time together
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
This line is repeated to show the significance of this object as the only tangible reminder of their loved one's presence
And a half-filled cup of coffee
This line is repeated to show how the object of the half-filled cup of coffee symbolizes the unfinished nature of their relationship and the abruptness of their departure
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
This line is repeated to show how these objects are now the only remnants of their love story, as well as to emphasize the contrast between the beauty of their relationship and the sudden and incomplete way that it ended
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Compton
Odds & Ends / Dionne Warwick - Burt Bacharach
Your pillow wasn't slept upon
Your closet was empty, too
All of your shirts and ties were gone
There wasn't a trace of you
How could you go and leave so completely?
Nothing was left of all the memories that we used to share
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
And a half-filled cup of coffee
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
At least you could have said goodbye
You shouldn't have to run away
Were you afraid that I would cry?
My tears might have made you stay
Gone are the dreams that kept us together
Nothing was left to show that we were once so happy then
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
And a half-filled cup of coffee
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
How could you go and leave so completely?
Nothing was left of all the memories that we used to share
Just an empty tube of toothpaste
And a half-filled cup of coffee
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
Odds and ends of a beautiful love affair
Benny Rodriguez
I think this is a great song. It should have been a top 10.
brian jones
A simple tune with simple words which usually never work but here it clearly does.Magic!!!
tricky dick
Simple? I hope You're not serious, man.
Lucca Bella
Forgot how much I loved this song. Dionne & Burt Bacharach were a match made in heaven......
Gay Pearson
What a song, great vocal, unbelievable lyrics, fine arrangement! Never understood why it didn't become a big hit record! Yes, it's the story of my divorce, , maybe yours as well.
Dorianlove Lovedorian
Gay Pearson cause at the same time she came out who gets the guy and it stole the show
M
New Format, thank you so much for placing all those great songs written by the great team Burt Bacharach and Hal David with the golden voice of Dionne ! Every time you place such incredible songs of this team! Once again THANK YOU!
Ronald George Roumanis
I've been trying to find this song for years. The melody is mostly large skips which makes its sound unique. So glad I found it!
Miguel Cruz
there is a kind of blue note in this Bacharach/David/Dionne record. a song that says a lot about a separation and the end of a love affair. the timing of the instruments and of Dionne is incredible...
hollidayevery
Miguel Cruz I'm so glad you mentioned the great Hal David in the mix. Hal co-wrote AND co-produced ALL of those Bacharach/DAVID songs.
When the two of them split, it ended the marriage of the three (Bacharach/DAVID/Warwick).
Hal was a very necessary partner. Burt could write this magnificently by himself!
Masterful!