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 Last One To Be Loved
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found someone, they could love
Right from the start
But I was forever alone and blue
Until you held my hand
And touched my heart!
Now here I am
The last one to be kissed and caressed
And to be blessed from above!
Now that you're here
My lonely days are through
Oh, I'm so glad
That I saved my love for you!
If I hold you too tight
And kiss your lips until you're out of breath
Forgive me, but I am so new at this
That when I'm close to you I'm scared to death!
Remember, I'm
The last one to be loved
The last one to be kissed and caressed
And to be blessed from above!
I need you so
Don't ever say goodbye
Without your love
I just know, that I would die!
Remember, I'm
The last one to be loved
The last one to be kissed and caressed
And to be blessed from above!
I need you so
Don't ever say goodbye
Without your love
I just know, that I would die!
I'm the last one to be loved!
I'm the last one to be loved!
The Last One To Be Loved by Burt Bacharach is a song about finally finding love after feeling alone and unloved for a long time. The singer describes how all their friends had found love easily while they struggled to find someone to love. However, when they finally found someone, they were scared and nervous in their new love. They hold onto their love and plead for it not to leave because they know that without it they would not survive. Overall, the song expounds on the uplifting feeling of finally finding love when it felt hopeless and the fear that comes with the newness of love.
The song begins with an admission of feeling left out and behind when it comes to love as all the singer's friends were lucky enough to find someone to love right from the start. However, with the introduction of the chorus, the singer is grateful to have found love finally, and this love has made everything right. The lines "The last one to be loved, the last one to be kissed and caressed, and to be blessed from above" emphasize the rarity and how unique the newfound love is.
In the second verse, the singer expresses how they are inexperienced in love and new to the whole feeling that they become scared and nervous around this newfound love. They plead for the love not to leave their hands, emphasizing how much they need and depend on this love to soothe their loneliness. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, asserting that the singer is the last one to be loved and pleading for the love not to go away.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the friends I knew
Every friend I had found love except for me
Found someone, they could love
My friends were able to find people to love
Right from the start
They found love quickly
But I was forever alone and blue
I was always unhappy and never had anyone to love
Until you held my hand
But then you came along and showed me affection
And touched my heart!
And you made me feel loved
Now here I am
Now, with you, I finally have love
The last one to be loved
But I was the last of my friends to find it
The last one to be kissed and caressed
I was the last to experience the physical affection that comes with love
And to be blessed from above!
But now I feel like I've been blessed with your love
Now that you're here
Since you entered my life
My lonely days are through
I'm no longer lonely now that I have your love
Oh, I'm so glad
I'm very happy
That I saved my love for you!
That I waited to love someone like you
If I hold you too tight
If I'm too clingy
And kiss your lips until you're out of breath
And kiss you passionately
Forgive me, but I am so new at this
Please excuse my lack of experience
That when I'm close to you I'm scared to death!
Being close to you makes me very nervous
Remember, I'm
Please always keep in mind
The last one to be loved
I was the last of my friends to find love
I need you so
I need you in my life
Don't ever say goodbye
Please never leave me
Without your love
If you leave me, I will be lost without your love
I just know, that I would die!
I would be devastated if you ever left me
I'm the last one to be loved!
I was the last of my friends to find love and I'm so grateful to have you in my life now
I'm the last one to be loved!
I was the last of my friends to find love and I'm so grateful to have you in my life now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Noe Berengena
If you enjoy this, consider yourself special. The ones who can see (and hear) the beauty in the world will always live a special life. Bacharach gives us so much that way.
aythatsme
I agree, this is a beautiful gem and its amazing how people can live their whole lives without coming across it. I guess many would differ in opinions or say the same thing about a certain experience they've had, and I'm not undermining their experiences at all, but this is definitely a musical experience that one is lucky to hear and appreciate -- it's incredibly beautiful on many different levels, at least for what invokes in me when juxtaposed with my personal memories and way of viewing this amazing experience called life, which is glum, happy and a whole sundry of other emotions. . . The cherry on the cake is knowing there are others who feel the same way :)
Noe Berengena
+Steve Reekie That's the way to live -- immersed in beauty. Some people find their way in the world, and when they come to something new they are open to the experience. Das Weg, mien Freund !
Rcity2332
Bacharach is my hero
Luiz Cortez
Maravilhosa canção. Mais uma aliás do grande mestre Burt Bacharach.
poppy bright
Such a beautiful song. It reminds me of Puccini for its emotional depth. I never forgot this. Thanks, Burt, for everything.
Johnnie C. B
Haunting arrangement, especially Burt's piano
Jose Adelmo
A música é muito bonita! O Gino Vanelli dá um show de interpretação! Parabéns pela postagem.
Philip Watson
Este não é o Gino Vannelli.
MALP1231
This is one of Bacharach's most hauntingly beautiful songs, in my opinion. I love his gorgeous compositions and arrangements. He has contributed so much to the world of music....sublime. His fast tempo creations, such as "Promise Her Anything", "What's New, Pussycat?" are equally superb. Thank you for posting this.