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".
To Wait for Love
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is a day of sorrow
Don't wait til tomorrow
To wait for love is just
To waste your life away
Dreams come true and if you
Get too far behind them
To wait for love is just
To waste your life away
So press your lips
Against my lips
And thrill me with the
Warmth of your caress
The time for love is late
So please don't wait
Together, we can
Find happiness
I know that
Every day without love
Is a day of sadness
Let me bring you gladness
To wait for love is just
To waste your life away
Hear what I say
Tomorrow
True love may fly away
Burt Bacharach's song To Wait for Love is a love song with a message that prompts a sense of urgency in the search for love. The song describes the sadness that comes with each day that is lived without love, and stresses the importance of taking action and not waiting until tomorrow to find it. The verse "To wait for love is just to waste your life away" is a critical message in the song, reminding listeners that life is short and not to be taken for granted.
Bacharach warns that dreams can come true, but if you get too far behind them, someone else will find them. This is a reminder that if you wait too long to go after what you want, someone else may come and take it from you. The lyrics "The time for love is late, so please don't wait. Together, we can find happiness" suggest that the time for love is now and not to be delayed any longer. The song encourages the listener to take action, to not be afraid to take chances, and to open up their hearts to find love.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day without love
Each and every day that passes without love is a day filled with sorrow.
Is a day of sorrow
Without love, one's days are filled with sadness, sorrow and desperation.
Don't wait til tomorrow
One should not postpone pursuing their love and happiness in life till tomorrow.
To wait for love is just
Waiting indefinitely for true love is nothing but a waste of precious time.
To waste your life away
Longing for love, and not anticipating its arrival, can be a wasted and unhappy experience.
Dreams come true and if you
Dreams can certainly come true with enough effort and proper timing.
Get too far behind them
One must work to keep up, and not fall behind in following their dreams and passions.
Someone else will find them
If one does not pursue their dreams fervently, they may be overtaken and achieved by someone else.
So press your lips
Kissing your loved one fully and tenderly can be a wonderful, unforgettable experience.
Against my lips
Pressing your lips against someone else's, in a mutual show of passion, can be immensely satisfying.
And thrill me with the
One can inspire incredible joy, emotion and pleasure in another when sharing an intimate embrace.
Warmth of your caress
The physical act of a loving embrace, caress or cuddle can help to demonstrate one's true feelings and emotions.
The time for love is late
One should not delay, as time to find and embrace love is limited.
So please don't wait
One should embrace love and joy without delay, as tomorrow is never a guarantee.
Together, we can
Two people working together can achieve a level of happiness and fulfillment that cannot be individual achieved.
Find happiness
With passion, dedication and hard work, it is possible to achieve true and lasting happiness in life.
I know that
As someone who has experienced love and life, the singer knows the value of true love.
Let me bring you gladness
The singer wishes to share their love, passion and joy with another person who is willing to embrace it.
Hear what I say
Pay attention to these words, as they are heartfelt and important.
True love may fly away
One should not take true love for granted, as it may fly away if not properly nurtured and cared for.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind