The music of Bacharach and David includes songs written for, or made popular by artists such as Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, B. J. Thomas, Gene Pitney, Tom Jones, Jackie DeShannon, and others in the 1960s. His best selling hits include: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", "This Guy's in Love with You", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", "Do You Know the Way to San Jose", "Walk on By", "What the World Needs Now Is Love", "I Say a Little Prayer", "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me", "One Less Bell to Answer", and "Anyone Who Had a Heart".
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" won an Academy Award as the score for the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. "Don't Make Me Over", "(They Long to Be) Close to You", and Walk on By are all in the Grammy Hall of Fame. "What's New Pussycat?" (the theme song to the film of the same name), "Alfie", and "The Look of Love" received Oscar nominations. He also co-wrote many country music hits, including Willie Nelson's "To All the Girls I've Loved Before". For these and many other songs, Hal David is considered to be one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.
In 1970 Johnny Mathis issued a double-LP album set, "Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert," for Columbia. It consisted of a total 21 tracks in a heavyweight gatefold picture sleeve. The Bert Kaempfert tracks were done in the arrangement style of the great German composer and orchestra leader, and the Bacharach/David tracks were done in the Americans' unique upbeat style.
Other achievements:
* In 1984 he was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
* He received a Doctor of Music degree from Lincoln College, Illinois in 1991 for his major contribution to American music.
* In May 2000 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Claremont Graduate University.
* He is a Founder of the Los Angeles Music Center
* He is a member of the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
* He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of ASCAP, having served as its President, and where he now works on reform of intellectual property rights.
* He serves the Advisory Board of the Society of Singers.
* He is a member of the Board of Visitors of Claremont University in California.
* He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the National Academy of Popular Music and its Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Work on Broadway:
* Promises, Promises (1968) - musical - lyricist - Tony Nomination for Best Musical
* André DeShield's Haarlem Nocturne (1984) - revue - featured songwriter
* The Look of Love (2003) - revue - lyricist
Alfie
Hal David Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
is it just for te moment we live
what's it all about when you sort it out alfie
are we meant to take more than we give
or are we meant to be kind
and if only fools are kind alfie
then i guess it's wise to be cruel
and if life belongs only to the strong alfie
as sure as i believe there's something much more
something even non-believers can believe in
i believe in love alfie
without true love we just exist alfie
until you find the love you've missed you're nothing alfie
when you walk let your heart lead the way
and you'll find love any day alfie alfie
The lyrics "What's it all about Alfie?" is a question that the singer, Dionne Warwick, poses to the titular character Alfie. It is a question about the meaning of life and what one should strive for in their short time on earth. The singer wonders if life is just about the present moment or if it's more profound than that. She also asks if we're meant to live selfishly or if we should be kind to others. The line "if only fools are kind Alfie, then I guess it's wise to be cruel" suggests that the world is full of people willing to take advantage of the kind-hearted, and it's better to be cautious than to be taken advantage of.
However, the singer feels that there's more to life than just the superficial things that surround us. She believes that there's something more profound that even non-believers can believe in. She believes in love, the kind of love that is true and lasting. She believes that without true love, we're just existing and that until we find the love we've missed, we're nothing. She advises Alfie to let his heart lead the way when he walks, and he'll find love any day.
Line by Line Meaning
what's it all about alfie
What is the meaning of life, Alfie?
is it just for te moment we live
Do we only exist for a brief moment in time?
what's it all about when you sort it out alfie
When you try to make sense of life, what do you conclude, Alfie?
are we meant to take more than we give
Should we always strive to take more than we give?
or are we meant to be kind
Is kindness the true purpose of life?
and if only fools are kind alfie
If being kind is seen as foolish, is it better to be cruel, Alfie?
then i guess it's wise to be cruel
So, is it more intelligent to be cruel than to be kind, Alfie?
and if life belongs only to the strong alfie
Do only the strong have the right to exist, Alfie?
what will you lend on an old golden rule
Will you follow the traditional moral principles, Alfie?
as sure as i believe there's something much more
I'm certain that there's something beyond mere existence, Alfie.
something even non-believers can believe in
Even those who don't believe in religion can have faith in something, Alfie.
i believe in love alfie
For me, love is the most important thing, Alfie.
without true love we just exist alfie
If we don't experience genuine love, we're just surviving, Alfie.
until you find the love you've missed you're nothing alfie
Only when you discover the love you've been missing, will you truly exist, Alfie.
when you walk let your heart lead the way
Follow your heart as you journey through life, Alfie.
and you'll find love any day alfie
If you let your heart guide you, you'll discover love at any time, Alfie.
alfie
Alfie, these are the questions and beliefs about life and love that I have to speak to you.
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bgwaterfilter2
What's it all about, Alfie
Is it just for the moment we live
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it's wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Alfie
I know there's something much more
Something even non-believers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you've missed you're nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie, Alfie
@jerrybeaver4677
Classic song Alfie thank you Burt and Hal David for this song both of you RIP you will always be remembered 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
@Tina-qp7py
This is one of his best compositions. And this arrangement is wonderful.
@arnaldomachado1009
Just might have been (😭) the greatest composer ever. May 12th and February 10th will never be forgotten.
@Saraaah071295
I love Burt Bacharach, he is an actual genius <3
@leonelrodriguez2929
Otra hermosa melodía de las cinco décadas doradas de la música del siglo XX
(1930 - 1980).
@robertboney4493
One of the great ballads of all time.
@erikamayer2046
Que romanticismo!!
Me recuerda mi juventud
Con un gran amor
@teacher19304985
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR BACHARACH: There are like a thousand songs to hear today on celebration of your life and masterpieces.
@magburner
When you walk, let your heart lead the way. No truer words have ever been spoken.
@littlejpl
Absolutely Love the Horn arrangement in this instrumental WOW so smooooooth