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".
Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause something happened to me while I was driving home
And I'm not the same anymore
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa
Ah, only one day away from your arms
I saw a welcoming light and stopped to rest for the night
And that is when I saw her as I pulled in outside of the small motel she was there
And she showed me where
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa
Ah, only one day away from your arms
She took me to the café, I asked her if she would stay, she said okay
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa
Ah, only one day away from your arms
The jukebox started to play and night time turned into day as we were dancing
Closely, all of a sudden I lost control as I held her charms
And I caressed her, kissed her, told her I'd die
Before I would let her out of my arms
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa
Ah, only one day away from your arms
I hate to do this to you but I love somebody new, what can I do?
And I can never, never, never go home again
The lyrics to the song "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa" by Burt Bacharach and Gene Pitney tell the story of a man who is driving home when he stops at a motel and ends up falling in love with a woman he meets there. He is only one day away from being back in the arms of his own love, but he can't bring himself to leave this new woman behind. At the end of the song he tells his original love that he can never go home again because he has fallen for someone else.
The lyrics are both romantic and tragic at the same time, as they tell the story of a man who is torn between two loves. The emotion is conveyed through the melody and the simple yet powerful lyrics. The song is a timeless classic that has resonated with listeners for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Dearest darling I had to write to say that I won't be home anymore
I'm leaving you and I won't be coming back
'Cause something happened to me while I was driving home
I experienced something that changed me
And I'm not the same anymore
I'm a different person now
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa
I was so close yet so far from you
Ah, only one day away from your arms
I was almost home to you
I saw a welcoming light and stopped to rest for the night
I found a motel to spend the night
And that is when I saw her as I pulled in outside of the small motel she was there
I saw a woman outside the motel
And so I walked up to her, asked where I could get something to eat
I approached her and asked for her help in finding food
And she showed me where
She guided me to a cafe
She took me to the café, I asked her if she would stay, she said okay
She accompanied me to the cafe and agreed to stay with me
The jukebox started to play and night time turned into day as we were dancing
We danced until morning as the jukebox played music
Closely, all of a sudden I lost control as I held her charms
I couldn't resist her charm and gave in to temptation
And I caressed her, kissed her, told her I'd die
I became affectionate and promised to stay with her
Before I would let her out of my arms
I wouldn't let her go
I hate to do this to you but I love somebody new, what can I do?
I'm sorry to break your heart but I've fallen in love with someone else
And I can never, never, never go home again
I can't go back to my previous life and relationship with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HAL DAVID, BURT BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KorosenyiAgnes
I would like to say, that Burt is my Favorite of all Artists- exept- my Mama,+ Daddy Mother was a Balerina,She is still here with me, :)))) Father was a Pianist, passed in 2003.:((( He teached me, how I have to listen to the Music of the World.. that is why I am so Happy, when somebody loves Music, like You and me.!!! From faraway, from Hungary:Love: Agnes
@ANTONIORODRIGUES-jv1mn
TULSA THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD.
@MrAnthonyVance
Love the track. And I thought Gene Pitney wrote this song. Enjoyed my listen. Thank you.
@hcrun
My pleasure, Tony.
@accasadams973
I really like the orchestrations in these instrumental versions of B-D songs; they seem as outstanding to me now as they did when I first heard them nearly 35 years ago. Thanks again for posting the pieces from "Burt Bacharach Plays His Hits."
@PY2ERH
In most cases the discs always apesentavam pictures of girls or landscapes.
Really the important thing was the disks.
Arrangements and orchestras was a very rich music of that time.
not around anymore.
@Radioredkiss001
♥️
@bobwalter7495
un grande compositore
@MEGPESSOA
Grande orquestra! Obrigada por enviar.Felicidades.MEGPESSOA.3/10/11.
@hcrun
MAny thanks for your feedback. Most appreciated.