Burt Freeman Bacharach(May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American com… Read Full Bio ↴Burt Freeman Bacharach(May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, and musician who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music.

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".

You'll Never Get to Heaven
Burt Bacharach Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mother told me always to follow the golden rule
And she said it's really a sin to be mean and cruel
So remember if you're untrue
Angels up in heaven are looking at you

You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart

Oh no

I've been hearin' rumors about how you play around
Though I don't believe what I hear, still it gets me down
If you ever should say goodbye
It will be so awful, the angels would cry

You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart
Oh no

If you break my heart, break my heart
I can hardly wait for the day when we say I do
It's a day I've dreamed of so long now it's comin' true
You will promise to cherish me
If you break your promise the angels will see

You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart, heart heart

Oh no
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)

Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "You'll Never Get to Heaven" by Burt Bacharach are about love and loyalty in a relationship. The song starts with the classic wisdom passed from mother to child: the golden rule. Mother tells the singer to stay kind and empathetic towards her partner, as angels in heaven are watching. This sets up the theme of the song: if you want to get to heaven, you need to stay loyal in love.

The singer then reveals that she has been hearing rumors about her partner's infidelity, and even though she does not believe them, the idea gets her down. She goes on to say how much she is looking forward to the day when they get married, but warns her partner that if he breaks his promise, it will not only hurt her but also bring tears to the eyes of angels in heaven.

The chorus of the song is a warning to her partner not to break her heart if he wants to get to heaven. If he does, the singer warns that he will not only lose her but also the chance to go to heaven. The song emphasizes the message that loyalty is essential to developing and keeping a strong relationship.

Overall, "You'll Never Get to Heaven" is a sweet love song with a moral message. It speaks about the power of being kind and faithful in relationships and highlights the consequences of not following that path.

Line by Line Meaning

Mother told me always to follow the golden rule
My mother advised me to behave well and treat others as I would like to be treated.

And she said it's really a sin to be mean and cruel
My mom told me that being unkind and cruel is morally wrong.

So remember if you're untrue
If you are dishonest or unfaithful,

Angels up in heaven are looking at you
angels in heaven will notice and disapprove of your actions.

You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
If you hurt me emotionally or end our relationship, you'll never reach paradise.

So be very careful not to make us part
Therefore, be cautious and not separate from me

Oh no

I've been hearing rumors about how you play around
People have been gossiping about your infidelity

Though I don't believe what I hear, still it gets me down
Even though I don't trust these rumors, they still upset me.

If you ever should say goodbye
If you decide to leave me and end our relationship,

It will be so awful, the angels would cry
It will be so devastating that even celestial beings would weep.

I can hardly wait for the day when we say I do
I eagerly anticipate the day when we get married.

It's a day I've dreamed of so long now it's comin' true
This is a long-awaited, dream come true moment for me.

You will promise to cherish me
You will pledge to value, care for, and treat me well.

If you break your promise the angels will see
If you break your vow, it will not go unnoticed by the angels

Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
You will never reach paradise if you hurt me emotionally or end our relationship.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sentric Music, Shemaroo Entertainment Limited
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David, BURT F. BACHARACH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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