
Known as the artist who "bridged the gap," Warwick's soulful blend of pop, gospel and R&B music transcended racial, cultural, national, and musical boundaries.
Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, Warwick collaborated with many of her musical peers, including Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osbourne, Kashif and Stevie Wonder. Warwick was also host of the hit television music show, "Solid Gold." In addition, she recorded several theme songs, including "Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams," for the popular television series "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous," and "The Love Boat," for the hit series from Aaron Spelling. More recently, Warwick recorded her first Christmas album entitled "My Favorite Time of the Year" featured jazzy interpretations of many holiday classics. In 2007, Rhino Records re-released the CD with new cover art, a critically acclaimed Gospel album, "Why We Sing," for Rhino/Warner Records, and a new jazz album, "Only Trust Your Heart," a collection of standards, celebrating the music of legendary composer Sammy Cahn for Sony Red/MPCA Records.
Dionne Warwick has won 5 Grammy Awards during her music career:
• 1969: "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for the single, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"
• 1971: "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for the single, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
• 1979: "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" for the single, "Déjà Vu"
• 1979: "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for the single, "I'll Never Love This Way Again"
• 1986: "Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal" for the single, "That's What Friends Are For"
Dionne Warwick was born in a musical family of which numerous superstars arose.
Warwick's sister Dee Dee Warwick had a successful singing career, Warwick's aunt is gospel singer Cissy Houston, and one of Warwick's cousins is Whitney Houston.
Do You Know The Way To San José
Dionne Warwick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way
Do you know the way to San Jose?
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose
L.A. is a great big freeway
Put a hundred down and buy a car
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas
You can really breathe in San Jose
They've got a lot of space. There'll be a place where I can stay
I was born and raised in San Jose
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose
Fame and fortune is a magnet
It can pull you far away from home
With a dream in your heart you're never alone
Dreams turn into dust and blow away
And there you are without a friend
You pack your car and ride away
I've got lots of friends in San Jose
Do you know the way to San Jose?
L.A. is a great big freeway
Put a hundred down and buy a car
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
Weeks turn into years. How quick they pass
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas
I've got lots of friends in San Jose
Do you know the way to San Jose?
Can't wait to get back to San Jose
In "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" Dionne Warwick sings about the disillusionment of fame and fortune in Los Angeles and the desire to return to her hometown of San Jose, California. Throughout the song, Warwick reminisces about her roots and the simple life that she had before success. She acknowledges the transitory nature of life in LA, where dreams can turn into ashes and opportunities dry up as quickly as they come. The imagery of parking cars and pumping gasoline is used to contrast the superficial allure of fame with the grounded reality of working-class life.
The song fits into the overarching theme of homesickness and nostalgia that has been present in many other songs that Warwick sang in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It speaks to the universal human desire for a sense of place and belonging, regardless of how far one might travel from home. In its essence, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" is a poignant reminder that, as much as we may search for success and happiness elsewhere, there is nothing quite like the comfort and familiarity of our hometowns.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know the way to San Jose?
Asking if the listener knows the directions to San Jose.
I've been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way
Been away from home for so long that there is a possibility of getting lost.
Do you know the way to San Jose?
Asking again if the listener knows the way to San Jose.
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose
Returning home to find inner peace and relaxation.
L.A. is a great big freeway
Los Angeles is famous for its freeway system.
Put a hundred down and buy a car
It is easy to buy a car in Los Angeles with just a small deposit.
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
It is possible to become famous in Los Angeles quickly.
Weeks turn into years. How quick they pass
Time seems to go by quickly in Los Angeles.
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas
Many people who hoped to become famous end up working low-paying jobs instead.
You can really breathe in San Jose
San Jose is a peaceful and relaxing city where it is easy to breathe.
They've got a lot of space. There'll be a place where I can stay
San Jose has plenty of space and housing options.
I was born and raised in San Jose
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose
The singer was born and raised in San Jose and wants to return home to find inner peace.
Fame and fortune is a magnet
It can pull you far away from home
Being famous and wealthy can draw a person away from their hometown.
With a dream in your heart you're never alone
Dreams turn into dust and blow away
Having a dream can make a person feel less alone, but dreams can also fade away.
And there you are without a friend
You pack your car and ride away
Without friends, a person may decide to leave the city and start over somewhere else.
I've got lots of friends in San Jose
Do you know the way to San Jose?
The singer has many friends in San Jose and is asking the listener once again if they know the way to the city.
L.A. is a great big freeway
Put a hundred down and buy a car
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
Weeks turn into years. How quick they pass
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas
Repeating the fact that Los Angeles is a city of dreams that often does not come to fruition.
I've got lots of friends in San Jose
Do you know the way to San Jose?
Can't wait to get back to San Jose
Reiterating that the singer has many friends in San Jose and is excited to return home.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Hal David, Burt Bacharach, Burt F. Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@122746heels
I lived in San Jose
in '66 and '67.
I was running away
from the racism &
bigotry of the South. I found a
home in Willow Glen,
off Meridian Ave in
San Jose & a college, SJSC, that was very diverse & progressive com-pared TO my experiences
back in NC.
Uncle Sam got me
when I came up one
credit hour short
to keep my deferment.
So off to the
battle field of
Vietnam I went.
I am thankful for
my time in SJ. It
was a time of growth & discovery
for a young Southern boy need-
ing a new direction.
AND yes...I know the way to San Jose
and I found some
piece of mind there!!!
////////////////
@BikeVermont71
Can you believe it, I was a 15 y/o white boy buying Dionne Warwick albums in the 60s. I still love her.
@brittanib242
Great taste👌❤
@rl2552
Too bad you didn’t hook up with my mom who was exactly the same age because then you would have had a kid who wasn’t me bc I suck
@peterGu895
R L ???
@Sunshine-hb3pl
@@rl2552 wtfffff
@paulk9985
I can believe it. Why would you have to ask? You are not alone. There are MANY MANY of us out there. Classics live forever.
@gdmofo
I'm 63 years old in 2024 I remember hearing this on the radio when I was a kid growing up such happy times
@Michael-ii9gy
Happy Times Indeed 💯 I am also 63
@Russeaman
It's club 63 here. I'm also 63. 1961 was such a great year to be born. You can turn it upside down and it's still 1961. I am a white boy myself and loved the song and still do!!!
@MrTPain
REMEMBER EITHER WALKING TO OR GETTING READY TO GO TO SCHOOL ? I'm 66 ! and we ALL HAD A FREIND IN SAN. JOSE!!😆