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".
The Bell That Couldn't Jingle
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Jack Frost will bring my Christmas gift to you
And on Christmas Eve, you'll jingle
Just like you were brand new"
A Christmas bell was cryin' and Santa heard it say
I just can't seem to jingle and I can't go on the sleigh
Then Santa soon discovered the reason that it cried
Then Santa said
"Jack Frost will bring my Christmas gift to you
And on Christmas Eve, you'll jingle
Just like you were brand new"
Then Jack Frost froze a teardrop
So each time that it swayed
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
Then Santa said
"Jack Frost will bring my Christmas gift to you
And on Christmas Eve, you'll jingle
Just like you were brand new"
Then Jack Frost froze a teardrop
So each time that it swayed
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
It went jingling all the way, it went jingling all the way
The Bell That Couldn't Jingle by Burt Bacharach is a heartwarming and magical tale about a Christmas bell that had lost its jingle. Santa Claus hears the bell crying and discovers that it cannot jingle because it is empty inside. Santa then makes the promise that Jack Frost will bring a Christmas gift to the bell, so that it can jingle once again on Christmas Eve. It is unclear what this gift may be, but the anticipation builds as we wait to find out.
Jack Frost arrives and freezes a single teardrop onto the bell. When the bell sways or moves, the frozen tear acts as a clapper, and the Bell That Couldn't Jingle finally jingles once again. The bell that was once sad and alone is a part of the joy and celebration of Christmas once again. The song evokes feelings of hope and redemption, showing that even things that seem beyond repair can be mended with a little bit of love and magic.
Overall, this song is a beautiful and poetic reminder of the joy of the holiday season, as well as the power of kindness and compassion. It reminds us that even the smallest things can have a profound impact on our lives, and that what may seem broken can always be fixed with the right attitude and a little bit of effort and care.
Line by Line Meaning
Then Santa said
Santa Claus spoke
"Jack Frost will bring my Christmas gift to you
"Jack Frost will deliver your present for Christmas
And on Christmas Eve, you'll jingle
On Christmas Eve, you will make a jingling sound
Just like you were brand new"
Just as if you were a new bell
A Christmas bell was cryin' and Santa heard it say
A bell that is associated with the holiday season was sobbing, and it spoke to Santa
I just can't seem to jingle and I can't go on the sleigh
The bell could not produce a jingling sound, so it couldn't be taken on the sleigh
Then Santa soon discovered the reason that it cried
Santa quickly found out why the bell was crying
The bell that couldn't jingle, it had nothin' there inside
The cause of the bell's inability to make a sound was its lack of contents
Then Jack Frost froze a teardrop
Jack Frost turned a tear into ice
So each time that it swayed
Whenever it moved
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
Due to the frozen teardrop, the bell that couldn't make a sound began to make jingling sounds
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
The bell that could not produce a jingling sound continued to make one
Then Santa said
Santa Claus spoke
"Jack Frost will bring my Christmas gift to you
"Jack Frost will deliver your present for Christmas
And on Christmas Eve, you'll jingle
On Christmas Eve, you will make a jingling sound
Just like you were brand new"
Just as if you were a new bell
Then Jack Frost froze a teardrop
Jack Frost turned a tear into ice
So each time that it swayed
Whenever it moved
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
Due to the frozen teardrop, the bell that could not make a jingling sound began to make one
The bell that couldn't jingle, it went jingling all the way
The bell that could not produce a jingling sound continued to make one
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, LARRY KUSIK, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WriterandPhotographer
My parents played this album on the console stereo back in 1968 and for years afterwards. Good memories of a better time. Merry Christmas.
@lindalagalo8018
My mom and dad did too 😊
@JosephStately
@Linda Lagalo Same here. Still have the album.
@ppxhbqt
Was my great aunt, but yeah.
@samanthaharris805
Yep, my aint Clara was a big Herb Alpert fan, this song was my favorite Christmas song my whole life. Cutest song Ever!
@prodes883
MY MOM USE TO SING THIS SONG ALL THE TIME AT CHRISTMAS. SHE PASSED AWAY IN 2006.....WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE TO HEAR HER SING IT AGAIN
@bubby2325
I won this album in Dec. '68 on a radio contest when our family lived in Ventura, CA. This song is my favorite of all the selections.
@Theasworld1984
Loved this song and the entire album since Christmas of 2003 even as a 19 year old I could appreciate great music now as a 38 year I still enjoy it.
Just miss listening to it with my beloved grandmother who passed away four years ago we love mr Alpert's music.
@libragirl4471
how could I live 50 years and have never heard this song! what a pleasant surprise
@chrischeshire6528
Such a lovely Christmas song...but then Herb Albert never did anything bad. Yes, that was terrific!