Burt Freeman Bacharach(May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American com… Read Full Bio ↴Burt Freeman Bacharach(May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, and musician who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music.

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".

Reach Out For Me
Burt Bacharach Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you go through a day
And the things that people say
They make you feel so small
They make you feel that
Your heart will just never stop aching
And when you just can't accept the abuse you are taking
Darling reach out for me

Don't you worry I'll see you through
You just have to reach out for me
I'll be there and I'll comfort you
Oh yes I will
Comfort you and love you
How I'm gonna love you

When good friends prove untrue
And the things they do to you
They make you feel so bad
They make you feel that
You haven't a reason for living
So when you feel, you
Throw in the towel and just give in
Darling reach out for me

Don't you worry I'll see you through
You just have to reach out for me
I'll be there and I'll comfort you
Oh yes I will
Comfort you and love you
How I'm gonna love you

Reach out for me
Don't you worry I'll see you through

You just have to reach out for me
I'll be there so reach out

Overall Meaning

Burt Bacharach's Reach Out For Me is a song about finding comfort and support in times of distress. The first verse describes the feeling of being small and overwhelmed by the things that people say. When the abuse becomes too much to bear, Bacharach suggests that one should reach out for him, assuring them that he will be there to see them through and give them the comfort they need. The chorus repeats this message, assuring the listener that they just need to reach out and he'll be there to love and comfort them.

The second verse speaks to the pain of being let down by friends, which can make one feel like they have no reason to go on. Again, Bacharach urges the listener to reach out for him when they feel like giving up. The song ends with the repeated message to "reach out" for him, promising to be there for the listener.

Overall, Reach Out For Me is a song that promotes the idea of reaching out for help when you're feeling overwhelmed and alone. It's a reminder that there are people who care, and who are there for you even when things seem hopeless.

Line by Line Meaning

When you go through a day
When you experience difficult moments in life

And the things that people say
When people say hurtful things to you

They make you feel so small
Their words make you feel insignificant and worthless

They make you feel that
Their words create a feeling within you

Your heart will just never stop aching
The pain in your heart will never go away

And when you just can't accept the abuse you are taking
When you are unable to tolerate the mistreatment you receive

Darling reach out for me
My love, please ask for my help

Don't you worry I'll see you through
Do not fear, I will help you get through this

You just have to reach out for me
You have to ask for my help

I'll be there and I'll comfort you
I will be present to console you

Oh yes I will
I am committed to being there for you