Walk On By
Burt Bacharach & His Orchestra Lyrics

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If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by

Make believe
That you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve
In private 'cause each time I see you

I break down and cry
And walk on by (don't stop)
And walk on by (don't stop)
And walk on by

I just can't get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by

Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
When you said goodbye
Walk on by
And walk on by
I just can't get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by

Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
When you said goodbye
Walk on by

And walk on by
Walk on by (don't stop)
Walk on by (don't stop)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's "Walk on By" tell the story of a brokenhearted individual who cannot bear to be in the company of their former love interest without breaking down in tears. The opening line of the song, "If you see me walking down the street," implies that this is an unexpected encounter, and the singer is caught off guard. The singer acknowledges their vulnerability and weakness, urging their former love to "walk on by" and ignore their tears.

The second verse delves deeper into the singer's feelings of sorrow and loss. The phrase "foolish pride" suggests that the singer is ashamed of their inability to move on and hide their feelings. The tears and sadness that the former love interest gave the singer are still present, and the wounds are fresh. The repetition of "walk on by" throughout the song echoes the singer's plea for their former love to ignore their pain.

Overall, the lyrics of "Walk on By" are a poignant plea to a former love interest to let the singer grieve in private. The singer acknowledges their vulnerability and would rather suffer quietly than be pitied by their former love interest. The song captures the theme of unrequited love and heartache, and it is a powerful testament to the complex emotions of a broken heart.

Line by Line Meaning

If you see me walking down the street
If you happen to see me walking on the street...

And I start to cry each time we meet
...and if I start crying every time we come across each other...

Walk on by, walk on by
...please keep walking and don't stop for me.

Make believe
Just pretend or act as though...

That you don't see the tears
...you didn't notice my tears.

Just let me grieve
Please let me mourn or suffer for a while...

In private 'cause each time I see you
...without anyone watching because every time I see you...

I break down and cry
...I can't help but fall apart and cry.

And walk on by (don't stop)
And please continue on your way without pausing or halting.

And walk on by (don't stop)
Again, please don't linger or stop on my account.

I just can't get over losing you
I simply can't move past losing you...