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".
Wanting Things
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
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Wanting things,
Needing things, when I have so much.
There are many men who have much less than me,
Day by day they make their way.
And they find more in life thank I can see.
Tell me,
Wanting things,
Touching things that say "do not touch."
People that I meet seem to think I am strong,
They don't see inside of me.
So they don't know I'm weak and often wrong.
Tell me,
Why must I keep wanting things,
Needing things that just can't be mine!
(yes, wanting things,
That just can't...
Be...
Mine...)
Burt Bacharach's song "Wanting Things" is a soulful ballad that speaks directly to the feeling of wanting more and more despite having so much already. The song serves as a lament about the cultural expectation to have more things and the emptiness that we feel when we cannot achieve this ideal. Through the song's lyrics, Bacharach delves into the nature of human wants, the feeling of powerlessness, and the emotional toll it takes when we fall short of our expectations.
The song opens with a simple yet poignant question, "Tell me how long must I keep wanting things, needing things when I have so much?" Bacharach highlights the conflict between being content with what one has and the constant desire to possess more. He then puts this personal experience into a wider context by referring to other men who have less than him but find more meaning in their lives. This juxtaposition makes the listener reflect on the nature of wealth, the idea that having more can, in fact, make us feel less fulfilled.
The second verse of the song shifts the focus inward, as Bacharach asks why he cannot resist wanting and touching things that he should not have. He sings that people often see him as strong, but they do not see the fragile and vulnerable part of him that wrestles with these desires. Bacharach is pointing out the idea that society expects us to be tough and to suppress our emotions, even when it is harmful to us.
Overall, "Wanting Things" is a powerful song with a message that is still just as relevant today. Bacharach's lyrics showcase the conflict between the desire for more and the emotional emptiness that it can create. The song is a poignant reminder that the material things we seek will never fully satisfy us.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me how long must I keep
Wanting things,
Needing things, when I have so much.
I am pondering how much longer I'll be wanting and needing things even though I have a lot already.
There are many men who have much less than me,
Day by day they make their way.
And they find more in life thank I can see.
There are men who have much less but they seem to be more contented with their lives than I am.
Tell me,
When will I learn to resist
Wanting things,
Touching things that say "do not touch."
I'm wondering when I will acquire the wisdom to not give in to my desire for things that I should not have.
People that I meet seem to think I am strong,
They don't see inside of me.
So they don't know I'm weak and often wrong.
People I meet think I'm tough, but they don't realize that I'm actually vulnerable and often mistaken.
Tell me,
Why must I keep wanting things,
Needing things that just can't be mine!
I'm asking why I keep desiring and requiring things that are unattainable.
(yes, wanting things,
That just can't...
Be...
Mine...)
Yes, I admit, I'm still longing for things that I know I can't have.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind