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".
Please Explain
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember
Said 'What the world
Needs now'
Where is the love
Where did it go
Who broke our hearts
Where are the dreams
That we once knew?
Please explain
Please explain
Where is the love
Where did it go
Who broke our hearts
'Cause we need to know
Where are the dreams
That we once knew?
Please explain
Please explain
The sun and the moon are crying
The stars and our hearts crying
Please explain
The fathers and mothers are crying
Sisters and brothers crying
Please explain
Please explain
The sun and the moon are crying
The stars and our hearts are crying
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's song "Please Explain" speak to the universal human experience of longing for answers in the face of heartbreak and loss. The song references a previous song, the popular 1965 hit "What the World Needs Now Is Love," which itself was a plea for greater acceptance and compassion amidst societal divisions and conflicts. In "Please Explain," Bacharach asks where that love and those dreams have gone, and who or what is responsible for their loss. The repeated refrain of "please explain" underscores the need for clarity and understanding, suggesting that only through honest communication and empathy can true healing and reconciliation take place.
The powerful imagery of the sun, moon, stars, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers all crying draws attention to the collective pain and grief felt by people from all walks of life. The song reminds us that we are not alone in our suffering, and that only by acknowledging and sharing our emotions can we begin to move forward together. Ultimately, the message of "Please Explain" is one of hope and possibility, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is a potential for healing and renewal if we are willing to listen, learn, and grow.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a song
Once there was a song that I recall
I remember
I can still recall it
Said 'What the world Needs now'
It featured lyrics that repeated the phrase 'What the world needs now'
Where is the love
What happened to the love?
Where did it go
Where did the love disappear to?
Who broke our hearts
Who caused our hearts to be broken?
'Cause we need to know
We really need to know
Where are the dreams
Where are the hopes and aspirations?
That we once knew?
That we were familiar with before?
Please explain
Can someone offer some kind of explanation?
Please explain
I implore you, please explain
The sun and the moon are crying
It seems like even the sky is upset
The stars and our hearts crying
The stars -- symbols of hope -- are crying, matching the despair felt in our hearts
The fathers and mothers are crying
Even the people we look up to and depend on are grieving
Sisters and brothers crying
People who are typically there for us through thick and thin are mourning
Please explain
Is there anyone who can give us some answers?
Please explain
Please offer any explanation you can
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, STEVEN KRIKORIAN, DENAUN PORTER, BURT F. BACHARACH, DENAUN M. PORTER, STEVEN M. KRIKORIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Antonio Borrego Junior
Parabens Burt Bacharach.... Feliz Aniversario Felicidades....Feliz..12/05/2019
Barbara Bishop
I am so impressed by you -your talent is God given Just listened to A Better Man so beautiful & this CD of Please Explain I bought at your concert in Brisbane Thank you dearest Burt for all the wonderful music True genius & the greatest composer of my life time. "Who are these People" applies to every day--
Tracey Milli
The magic of Burt ... Love everything you stand for. This album is amazing and timeless 🎶🎤🎹
Barbara Bishop
Burt never ceases to give me joy through his music I know someday the music will never end....
Barbara Bishop
So glad Burt was born in my time.. love this mans music & please explain is what & where we are at now in our lives..
Barbara Bishop
Just love the arrangements. Burt & Rod Mckuen may not have the greatest voices compared to many but how & what is said moves me to new heights..
Margus Alviste
Amazingly good song! :)
Manuel Domingos
bacharach é eterno. Sua música é atemporal e maravilhosa! manusundays
David Trumper
Just listened to this again. It sent shivers down my spine. The quality of this track is giga. The emotional quality of the musical notes, words and sentiments touches the heart. This is a love song about the absence of love in this world. It's an ultra intelligent, musical masterpiece...just like Burt Bacharach himself . The master of his art, for which I am greatly indebted for the life time of musical pleasure he has given. I thank you.
Margus Alviste
Amazingly good song! :)