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".
So Long Johnny
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll just be gone for a little while
Johnny, so long Johnny
Promise you'll wait for me
Umm, wait for me
I will write twice every day
Here in my heart you will always stay
Promise you'll wait for me
Umm, wait for me (wait for me)
There is a boy I left behind
He's in love with me
And I want to see him and try
To explain he and I owe you
Let me come to you with a love that is free
No way you came to me
Johnny, dear, please understand
It's gonna be just the way we planned
Hold on, so long Johnny
I'm coming back to you
Oh, Johnny wait for me
I'm coming back to you
Oh, Johnny wait for me
"So Long Johnny" tells the story of a woman who has to leave her lover Johnny behind temporarily. She asks him to hold her close and show her a smile before parting ways. She writes to him twice every day and promises that he will always stay in her heart. She asks him to trust her while she's away and to wait for her return. The woman reveals that there is another boy who loves her, but she wants to make things right with Johnny. She promises to come back to him with a love that is free and asks him to wait for her.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold me close, show me a smile
I need your love and support before I have to leave
I'll just be gone for a little while
I have to leave for a short amount of time
Johnny, so long Johnny
I'm saying goodbye to Johnny
Promise you'll wait for me
Please wait for me until I come back
Umm, wait for me
Please wait for me
I will write twice every day
I will keep in touch as often as I can
Here in my heart you will always stay
You will always hold a special place in my heart
Trust me, so long Johnny
Please trust that I'll come back to you
There is a boy I left behind
I left another guy who loves me
He's in love with me
The other guy has feelings for me
And I want to see him and try
I want to see the other guy and talk to him
To explain he and I owe you
To clarify that he and I have no romantic connection like we do
Let me come to you with a love that is free
I want to come to you with genuine love and no emotional burdens
No way you came to me
I only want to be with you
Johnny, dear, please understand
Please try to understand my situation, Johnny
It's gonna be just the way we planned
Everything will work out as we planned
Hold on, so long Johnny
Hold on and be patient, Johnny
I'm coming back to you
I'm going to come back to you
Oh, Johnny wait for me
Please wait for me, Johnny
I'm coming back to you
I'm going to come back to you
Oh, Johnny wait for me
Please wait for me, Johnny
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jules Q.
So lucky to meet Mr Bacharach in 2007, and was so cool and gracious. Love this track!
Troy Lewis
For me the definitive Jackie De Shannon tune..Bacharach production values superb..
Erwin Woodedge
An orchestral and vocal tour de force - one of my favorite BB songs.
Toppercat
Just LOVE this!
Mary Emerich
One of my FAVORITE SONGS she sings, among many others. I used to have a boyfriend named Johnny.
RoofLight00
Love that clap beat and piano work....
LovinLife7777
Excellent - was a favorite from the first time I heard it. Thanks for sharing. (Why can I hear Madonna singing this song?)
Dee Dee Warwick Music
Background vocals by Dee Dee Warwick and for "What The World Needs Now Is Love"
purorock y agüita
mi cancion!!!1
mari
ma chanson favorite☆☆ Bacharach「So Long Johnny」「 High temperature, low resistance (What's new pussycat?)」