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".
Take a broken heart
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a woman must forgive them
I know I was wrong, forgive me
Won't you give me one more chance?
Take a broken heart
Make a broken heart smile again
I'm in love with you
Take my lips, take my tears away and love me
Come back to my arms
Believe me, if you leave me I will die
Take a broken heart
Make a broken heart smile again
I'm in love with you
Say you love me too, sweetheart
Come back to my arms
Believe me, if you leave me I will die
Take a broken heart
Make a broken heart smile again
I'm in love with you
Say you love me too, sweetheart
In these poignant lyrics by Burt Bacharach, the singer begins by acknowledging societal expectations that men are often seen as foolish and that women are expected to forgive them for their mistakes. The singer humbly admits to being in the wrong and asks for forgiveness, pleading for one more chance from their partner. This vulnerability and self-awareness set the tone for the rest of the song.
The recurring refrain of "Take a broken heart, make a broken heart smile again" captures the essence of the singer's plea for emotional healing and revival. The singer expresses their deep love for their partner and implores them to reciprocate that love, to say the words "I love you too" and to embrace them fully. The imagery of taking their arms, lips, and tears away to love them reflects a desire for a complete and unconditional connection, where all emotional wounds can be mended.
The repetition of the phrase "Come back to my arms" emphasizes the singer's longing for their partner to return and be reunited. The dramatic declaration that the singer will die if their partner leaves highlights the intensity of their emotions and the depth of their fear of losing the one they love. This sense of desperation underscores the importance of love and connection in the singer's life.
The final verse brings a sense of resolution as the singer continues to express their love and longing, pleading for their sweetheart to return to their arms. The repeated plea for the broken heart to be made whole again conveys a sense of hope that love can overcome pain and strife. The vulnerability, passion, and raw emotion in these lyrics showcase the profound impact of love and the willingness to fight for it, even in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
They say men are such fools
Society often portrays men as foolish beings
And a woman must forgive them
It is expected for a woman to forgive a man's mistakes
I know I was wrong, forgive me
I acknowledge my mistake, please forgive me
Won't you give me one more chance?
Can you give me another opportunity to make things right?
Take a broken heart
Mend a heart that has been shattered
Make a broken heart smile again
Bring joy back to a heart that has been hurt
I'm in love with you
I have deep feelings of love for you
Say you love me too, and take my arms
Express your love for me and embrace me
Take my lips, take my tears away and love me
Kiss away my pain and show me your love
Come back to my arms
Return to my embrace
Believe me, if you leave me I will die
Trust me, if you walk away, it will be the end of me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sstavsky
What a great voice he had! Probably underappreciated as a singer.
frankie hunter
Never knew this song existed, altough consider myself a big BB fan. But loved the song from the first bar.
TheNewFormat
@rdg1847 NMF Would love to upload "The Balance Of Nature" and many more Bacharach/Dionne classics... But the WMG etc. would close down my channel ( they have already done so once ) because of copyright disputes. Maybe this will change sometime next year. Thank you for your view and comment : )
Noe Berengena
Love this song -- it's great to hear Rick Nelson singing it. He died in 1985 in a terrible plane crash. Just 45 years old. Although here he definitely lends it a country twang he was adept performing in quite a few musical genres.
Kathleen Norris
If he just would not have gotten that plane!! He was scared to death of flying. What a voice.
beefstewcurtains flap
wat a magic singer rick nelson is
Tristan Robin Blakeman
Is this from the TV musical "On the Flip Side?"
TheNewFormat
@Tristan Robin Blakeman ... Yes