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".
Wishin' And Hopin'
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plannin and dreamin each night of his charms
That wont get you into his arms
So if you're lookin to find love you can share
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, cause
Thinkin and a-prayin
Wishin and hopin
Just wishin and hopin and thinkin and prayin
Plannin and dreamin his kiss is the start
That wont get you into his heart
So if youre thinkin how great true love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
(You gotta)
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, cause
You wont get him
Thinkin and a-prayin
Wishin and hopin
Just wishin and hopin and thinkin and prayin
Plannin and dreamin his kiss is the start
That wont get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin how great true love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
You will be his, you will be his.
The song "Wishin' and Hopin'" is a classic hit from the 1960s that was sung by Dusty Springfield and written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The lyrics are a reflection of the advice given to the singer's friend who is looking for love. The song is essentially a list of things that the friend needs to do to find love and win over the man she desires. The first verse encourages the friend to take action instead of just wishing and hoping for the man to fall in love with her. The singer advises that planning, dreaming, and praying won't get the friend into the arms of the man she seeks.
The chorus repeats the message that the friend needs to take action. The singer tells her to hold, kiss, love, and show her affection for the man. Doing so, she will be able to win his heart and have a chance at true love. The second verse echoes this sentiment and reiterates that simply planning and dreaming won't be enough to capture the man's heart.
Overall, "Wishin' and Hopin'" is a simple yet charming song that encourages the listener to be proactive in seeking love. The lyrics are relatable and timeless, resonating with people today as much as they did when the song was released over fifty years ago.
Line by Line Meaning
Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Futile attempts at securing love through thoughts and prayers
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
Thinking of ways to charm him and dreaming of being with him
That won't get you into his arms
These methods won't work in getting physical affection from him
So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
If your goal is finding shared love
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and love him
The simple actions of physical affection and love is all it takes
And show him that you care
Demonstrate your feelings through actions
Show him that you care just for him
Express your affections only for him
Do the things he likes to do
Participate in activities that he enjoys
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
Style your hair to his liking
You won't get him
These efforts won't win him over
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'
Repeating the same futile actions of thinking and praying, wishing and hoping
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
Imagining that romantic events will happen
That won't get you into his heart
These methods won't gain his affection
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is
If you're considering the benefits of true love
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Physical affection and love is the key
Yeah, just do it
Simply act on your feelings
And after you do, you will be his
After expressing love and affection, he will reciprocate those feelings
You will be his
You will officially have his affections
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Annarita Ranalli
Masterpiece,and bacarach wrote a perfect song for a perfect voice
vanessa wyndham
Love this song. Great performance by Dusty. Quintessential Bacharach/David song with brilliant lyrics and quirky rhythms. Only the most talented singers could do justice to their songs and Dusty was most certainly that.
M. Paquette
This reminds me when I was really young :)
americanfellow
sp pretty - each note is clear and perfect, backarach and dusty MADE this song, but youtube hq made it perfect!
Frans Jansen
Thanks for the upload!