Quotes by Burt Bacharach

“A synonym is a word you use when you cant spell the word you first thought of.”

“A small town is a place where theres no place to go where you shouldnt.”

“Who are these people that keep telling us lies and how did these people get control of our lives and wholl stop the violence cause its out of control? Make em stop.”

“[Things only get more right-wing when Bacharach unveils] Where Did It Go? ... When I was a young boy/ 12 years old/ Growing up in New York City/ I could ride the subway by myself/ And never, ever be afraid/ Where did it go?”

“Im afraid of public transportation,”

“I dont think of it quite that way. Its interesting that you do. Im thinking more about whats gone wrong in the past four years. You come from a different political spectrum. The thing is, the album is also about love. Thats why the album has that early reference to What The World Needs Now. We need love.”

“You could say, How does a guy who has written love songs his entire life suddenly decide to rock the boat?”

“Alfie.”

“Stuff just kept going more wrong and more wrong here as I was writing.”

“[In addition to shaking up the lyrical content, he also rethought the musical elements.] I was working with structures that werent like a normal song, ... no vocal starting at the top and going to the end.”

“Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn.”

“I always wanted to write a song with him, ... and we got a chance.”

“Austin Powers.”

“This Is the Night.”

“I had to express myself, not only musically but lyrically. It was time for me to ask, Who are these people who are taking control of our lives and how do we stop the violence? Ive got two little kids and a 19-year-old son and I wonder what theyre going to do with their lives. Its so personal to me that I even decided to do some of the singing.”

“I feel it is the most important album I have made and I am very proud of it. Im pleased that Columbia is joining me in this journey, because these times require passion and emotion.”

I have notes in my bathroom, yellow notes, and I stick em on the mirror, things that happened that were uplifting boosters for me. Notes that say, Today is special, make today count. And then I have one note on the mirror in the middle that says, Look at the other notes.

I never liked hearing anyone say I was the new George Gershwin, because I knew I could have never even carried that mans music case. If George Gershwin hadnt died when he was thirty-nine years old, there is no knowing how much more great music he would have written.