His family was in the cinema business, but it was during his National Service that he began performing as a musician. After taking a correspondence course and arranging for some of the bands of the day, he formed The John Barry Seven. Barry then met Adam Faith, and composed songs and film scores on the singer's behalf.
It was this notoriety that caught the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who were dissatisfied with the score given to them by Monty Norman. Barry and the JB7 were hired and their recording of Norman's "James Bond Theme" would go on to be one of the most famous signature tunes in film history.
This would be the turning point for Barry, as he would go on to become one of the most celebrated film composers of modern times, winning five Academy Awards and four Grammys, with such memorable scores as The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, and Dances with Wolves.
Barry is often cited as having had a distinct style which concentrated on lush strings and extensive use of brass. However, he was also an innovator, being one of the first to employ synthesizers in a film score (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), and to make wide use of pop artists and original songs in Midnight Cowboy.
Living in his native England until the mid 1970s, Barry spent some time in Spain (for tax purposes) before spending much of his life in the United States, mainly in Oyster Bay, outside of New York.
Barry died of a heart attack on 30 January 2011, at his Oyster Bay home, aged 77 years.
Places
John Barry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could never fall
'Cause loving you is what I'm made for
I'd gladly give my all and all
It doesn't matter where I am
As long as I'm with you
You can take me high above
[Chorus]
In all the right places, it's feeling so good
In all the right places. just like it should
And I swear, I love you
And I swear, I love you
If we're dancing all alone
Or in a crowded room
When you wrap your arms around me
You can always send me to the moon
When we kiss our sugar kisses
And the music starts to play
We've got love, we've got each other
And we're going all the way
[Chorus]
Find time's never wasted, when it's ours to kill
I know in all the right places, you're touching me still
And I swear, I love you
And I swear, I love you
And I swear, I love you
And I swear, I love you
I love you
The lyrics of John Barry's "Places" convey a sense of complete surrender to the power of love. The singer declares that they could never fall if they are with the one they love, and they would gladly give everything they have for that person. The location or circumstance does not matter as long as they are together. The chorus affirms that the feeling of being with the right person is "just like it should" and that the singer loves this person without reservation.
The second verse of the song continues this theme of complete immersion in love with descriptions of dancing with the loved one, cuddling, and kissing. The lyrics suggest that even in a crowded room, the singer and their partner are completely wrapped up in each other - the world around them ceases to matter. The second chorus echoes the first, with the addition of a new line - "time's never wasted when it's ours to kill" - which reinforces the idea that the singer feels complete and fulfilled when they are with the person they love.
Overall, "Places" is a love song that celebrates the joy and completeness of being in love with the right person. The lyrics convey a sense of complete surrender to the power of love, and a belief that being with the right person makes any location or circumstance feel like "all the right places".
Line by Line Meaning
If you take me straight to heaven
I am so in love with you, that even if you were to take me to heaven, I could never fall because you are what I am made for.
'Cause loving you is what I'm made for
My purpose in life is to love you, so I will never stray from doing so.
I'd gladly give my all and all
I am willing to give up everything for our love because it's the most important thing to me.
It doesn't matter where I am
As long as I am with you, I will always be happy no matter where we are.
As long as I'm with you
My happiness lies in your company, and I am content as long as I am with you.
You can take me high above
You have the power to take me to great heights, and I trust you completely.
Whatever I've been dreaming of
You are the missing piece to everything I've ever dreamed of, and being with you makes it all a reality.
In all the right places, it's feeling so good
When you touch me in all the right places, it feels amazing, and it's exactly how love should feel.
Just like it should
Our love feels natural and right, as it should be.
And I swear, I love you
I promise and pledge my love to you, now and forever.
If we're dancing all alone
Even in a room full of people or when we are all alone, dancing with you makes my heart full.
You can always send me to the moon
Your touch has the power to make me feel like I am soaring high in the sky, to the moon and beyond.
We've got love, we've got each other
Our love is strong, and we have each other to support us through everything that comes our way.
And we're going all the way
Our love is not going anywhere, and we will be together through thick and thin.
Find time's never wasted, when it's ours to kill
As long as we have each other, time spent together is not wasted, and we will make the most of every moment we have with each other.
I know in all the right places, you're touching me still
I can feel your touch in all the right places, even when we are not together physically, because our love transcends distance.
And I swear, I love you
My love for you is unwavering, and I will always be yours.
I love you
Simply put, I love you more than anything else in this world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN BARRY, IAN DEVANEY, ANDY MORRIS, LISA STANSFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind