Day's film career began during the latter part of the Classical Hollywood Film era with the 1948 film Romance on the High Seas, and its success sparked her twenty-year career as a motion picture actress. She starred in a series of successful films, including musicals, comedies, and dramas. She played the title role in Calamity Jane (1953), and starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) with James Stewart. Her most successful films were the bedroom comedies she made co-starring Rock Hudson and James Garner, such as Pillow Talk (1959) and Move Over, Darling (1963), respectively. She also co-starred in films with such leading men as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, David Niven, and Rod Taylor. After her final film in 1968, she went on to star in the CBS sitcom The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
Day was usually one of the top ten singers between 1951 and 1966. As an actress, she became the biggest female film star in the early 1960s, and ranked sixth among the box office performers by 2012. In 2011, she released her 29th studio album, My Heart, which became a UK Top 10 album featuring new material. Among her awards, Day has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Legend Award from the Society of Singers. In 1960, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, and in 1989 was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush followed in 2011 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Career Achievement Award. She was one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Her death was announced by her charity, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, on Monday 13th May 2019.
Discography
chart hits
Year Title Chart Positions
US CB UK
1945 "Sentimental Journey" (w/ Les Brown) 1 — —
"My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" (w/ Les Brown) 1 — —
"'Tain't Me" (w/ Les Brown) 10 — —
"Till the End of Time" (w/ Les Brown) 3 — —
"Aren't You Glad You're You?" (w/ Les Brown) 11 — —
"Come to Baby Do" (w/ Les Brown) / 13 — —
1946 "You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)" (w/ Les Brown) 4 — —
"Day by Day" (w/ Les Brown) 15 — —
"I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night)" (w/ Les Brown) 10 — —
"The Whole World Is Singing My Song" (w/ Les Brown) 6 — —
1947 "The Christmas Song" (w/ Les Brown) 12 — —
"Sooner or Later" (w/ Les Brown) 13 — —
"Papa, Won't You Dance With Me" 21 — —
1948 "Thoughtless" (w/ Modernaires) 24 — —
"Love Somebody" (w/ Buddy Clark) / 1 — —
"Confess" (w/ Buddy Clark) 16 — —
"Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea" / 27 — —
"It's Magic" 2 — —
"My Darling, My Darling" (w/ Buddy Clark) 7 — —
1949 "Powder Your Face with Sunshine" (w/ Buddy Clark) 16 — —
"Again" 2 — —
"Everywhere You Go" 22 — —
"Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" (w/ Frank Sinatra) 17 — —
"Now That I Need You" 20 — —
"Canadian Capers" 15 — —
"Bluebird on Your Windowsill" 19 — —
1950 "Quicksilver" 20 — —
"I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Prayers)" 21 — —
"Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)" 24 — —
"Hoop-Dee-Doo" 17 — —
"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" 9 — —
"I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell" 19 — —
"A Bushel and a Peck" 16 — —
1951 "It's a Lovely Day Today" 30 — —
"Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)" 10 — —
"Shanghai" 7 — —
"Domino" 21 — —
1952 "A Guy Is a Guy" 1 — —
"Sugarbush" (w/ Frankie Laine) 7 12 8
"When I Fall in Love" 20 — —
"No Two People" (w/ Donald O'Connor) 25 — —
"My Love and Devotion" — 31 10
"The Cherries" — 39 —
"A Full Time Job" (w/ Johnnie Ray) / 20 21 11
"Ma Says, Pa Says" (w/ Johnnie Ray) 23 28 12
1953 "Mister Tap Toe" 10 11 —
"When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" 29 — —
"Candy Lips" (w/ Johnnie Ray) / 17 18 —
"Let's Walk That-a-Way" (w/ Johnnie Ray) — 31 4
"Kiss Me Again, Stranger" / 30 — —
"A Purple Cow" 25 — —
"Choo Choo Train (Ch-Ch-Foo) 20 — —
1954 "Secret Love" 1 1 1
"The Black Hills of Dakota" — — 7
"Lost in Loveliness" — 25 —
"I Speak to the Stars" 16 17 —
"Someone Else's Roses" — 32 —
"If I Give My Heart to You" / 3 2 4
"Anyone Can Fall in Love" 27 41 —
"Ready, Willing, and Able" / — 31 7
"Hold Me in Your Arms" — 39 —
1955 "Foolishly Yours" — 25 —
"Love Me Or Leave Me" — — 20
"I'll Never Stop Loving You" 13 14 17
"Ooh Bang Jiggily Jang" 83 — —
1956 "Let It Ring" 51 — —
"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" 2 3 1
"Julie" / 64 40 —
"Love in a Home" 79 — —
"The Party's Over" 63 47 —
1957 "Twelve O'Clock Tonight" 68 — —
1958 "Teacher's Pet" 56 36 —
"A Very Precious Love" — — 16
"Everybody Loves a Lover" 6 6 25
"Tunnel of Love" 43 53 —
1959 "Love Me in the Daytime" 100 51 —
1960 "Any Way the Wind Blows" 50 109 —
"Please Don't Eat the Daisies" 102 102 —
"A Perfect Understanding" 111 — —
1962 "Lover Come Back" 98 — —
1964 "Move Over Darling" — — 8
"Send Me No Flowers" 135 — —
1967 "Sorry" * — — —
* "Sorry" made the US AC charts at #19.
Albums
10" LP
You're My Thrill (1949)
Young Man with a Horn (1950, soundtrack with Harry James)
Tea for Two (1950, soundtrack)
Lullaby of Broadway (1951, soundtrack)
On Moonlight Bay (1951, soundtrack)
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951, soundtrack)
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953, soundtrack)
Calamity Jane (1953, soundtrack)
Young at Heart (1954, soundtrack with Frank Sinatra)
12" LPs
Love Me or Leave Me (1955, soundtrack)
Day Dreams (1955, expanded re-issue of You're My Thrill)
Day By Day (1956)
The Pajama Game (1957, soundtrack)
Day by Night (1957)
Hooray for Hollywood (2 volumes, 1958)
Cuttin' Capers (1959)
What Every Girl Should Know (1960)
Show Time (1960)
Listen to Day (1960)
Bright and Shiny (1961)
I Have Dreamed (1961)
Duet (with André Previn, 1962)
You'll Never Walk Alone (1962)
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962, soundtrack with film cast)
Annie Get Your Gun (1963, with Robert Goulet)
Love Him (1963)
The Doris Day Christmas Album (1964)
With a Smile and a Song (1964)
Latin for Lovers (1965)
Doris Day's Sentimental Journey (1965)
The Love Album (recorded in 1967, released in 1994)
My Heart (2011)
Singles
Hit records:
(with Les Brown's Band of Renown)
"Sentimental Journey"
5,000,000+ sales
"My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time"
1,000,000+ sales
(As a solo performer)
"It's Magic"
1,000,000+ sales
"Again"
"Love Somebody" (duet with Buddy Clark)
1,000,000+ sales
"Confess" (duet with Buddy Clark) (also done by Patti Page)
"Bewitched"
1,000,000+ sales
"Shanghai"
"Sugarbush" (duet with Frankie Laine)
1,000,000+ sales
"Mister Tap Toe"
"Secret Love"
1,000,000+ sales
"If I Give My Heart to You" (also done by Denise Lor)
"I'll Never Stop Loving You"
1,000,000+ sales
"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" ("Que Sera, Sera")
1,000,000+ sales
"Everybody Loves a Lover"
"Move Over Darling"
A Guy Ia a Guy
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He followed me down the street like I knew he would
Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be
So listen and I'll tell you what this fella did to me
I walked to my house like a good girl should
He followed me to my house like I knew he would
Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be
I never saw the boy before
So nothin' could be sillier
At closer range his face was strange
But his manner was familiar
So I walked up the stairs like a good girl should
He followed me up the stairs like I knew he would
Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be
So listen and I'll tell you what this fella did to me
I stepped to my door like a good girl should
He stopped at my door like I knew he would
Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be
So listen while I tell you what this fella did to me
He asked me for a good night kiss
I said, it's still good day
I would have told him more except
His lips got in the way
So I talked to my ma like a good girl should
And ma talked to pa like I knew she would
And they all agreed on a married life for me
The guy is my guy wherever he may be
So I walked down the aisle like a good girl should
He followed me down the aisle like I knew he would
Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be
And now you've heard the story of what someone did to me
And that's what he did to me
The lyrics in the song “A Guy Is a Guy” by Doris Day are playful and light-hearted as they convey the message that men will be men and women can expect certain behaviors from them regardless of where they are or who they are with. The first verse sets the scene of a girl walking down the street and being followed by a guy as she anticipates his actions. The repetition of the line “Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be,” emphasizes the idea that men are predictable creatures.
The second verse continues the story as they both make their way to the girl’s house. The girl remarks that the guy is a stranger to her, but there is something familiar about his mannerisms that she can’t quite place. In the third verse, they both end up climbing the stairs to the girl’s apartment, and the guy stops at her door. He asks for a goodnight kiss, but the girl tells him it’s still good day, indicating she is not interested. However, the guy’s lips get in the way, emphasizing the persistence of men.
The final verse jumps ahead to the girl in discussion with her parents, who all agree that the guy is a good match for her. The song ends with the girl walking down the aisle and the guy following her, reinforcing the idea that they are both playing out their expected roles. Overall, the lyrics suggest that men’s behaviors are predictable, and women are expected to follow a certain path, whether they want to or not.
Line by Line Meaning
I walked down the street like a good girl should
I behaved myself properly while walking down the street
He followed me down the street like I knew he would
A man followed me as I walked down the street and I expected him to do so
Because a guy is a guy wherever he may be
Men behave the same no matter where they are
So listen and I'll tell you what this fella did to me
I will recount my encounter with this man
I walked to my house like a good girl should
I conducted myself respectfully while walking to my home
He followed me to my house like I knew he would
He followed me all the way to my home, as I anticipated
I never saw the boy before
I had never seen this young man before
So nothin' could be sillier
Thus, it would be silly to pursue him
At closer range his face was strange
Upon closer inspection, I realized his face was unfamiliar to me
But his manner was familiar
However, his behavior was similar to other men I had encountered before
So I walked up the stairs like a good girl should
I proceeded up the stairs with decorum and propriety
He followed me up the stairs like I knew he would
As expected, he followed me up the stairs to my dwelling
He stopped at my door like I knew he would
He accompanied me all the way to my door and stopped there
He asked me for a good night kiss
The man requested a kiss goodnight
I said, it's still good day
I rebuffed his request, pointing out that it was still daytime
I would have told him more except
I would have explained further, but
His lips got in the way
He cut me off by attempting to kiss me, preventing me from saying anything else
So I talked to my ma like a good girl should
I behaved respectably and told my mother what had occurred
And ma talked to pa like I knew she would
My mother then relayed the incident to my father
And they all agreed on a married life for me
My parents decided that I should marry this man
The guy is my guy wherever he may be
This man is now mine, no matter where he goes
So I walked down the aisle like a good girl should
I proceeded down the aisle with appropriate behavior
He followed me down the aisle like I knew he would
He accompanied me down the aisle, as I anticipated he would
And now you've heard the story of what someone did to me
And that is what this man did to me
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: OSCAR BRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cliffhammond474
@@forest_green I don't know where you were then, but certainly not where I was.
It was commonplace to go downtown AT NIGHT and alone and not feel in danger. The parks were full of kids playing and families enjoying themselves. The drive home in the "rush hour" on regular streets at 30 MPH was a little longer _ there might be 7 or 8 cars at each traffic light. People actually drove at or under the speed limit! And most unbelievable - were courteous!
School kids were clean and courteous, neatly dressed and clean, walked, rode bikes or took a city bus or streetcar to school and never felt in danger.
And never heard of a drive by shooting.
Movies were under 25 cents for kids, and parents did not fear what they were seeing.
Streets were clean, maintained and mowed.
83 year old city boy
@indraniganguli8073
Difficult to hear this song now. It sent shivers down my spine at the most inappropriate behaviour of the man. And the breezy " a guy is a guy" excuse.
@maestroCanuck
LOL
@alanbishop9737
One assumes you'd have constant tremors when listening to much of the current lyrical offerings !.
@wilc4036
You're joking right? Look up the lyrics to any Sexxy Red song lol
@wednesdaya.5780
As a wee lass who spoke more Chinese than English I sang this song a LOT without realizing any of the implications. Now I am thoroughly horrified (though admittedly slightly amused) at how much I still enjoy the song despite its themes
@ginabrockway2084
An upbeat song about marrying a guy who stalked and assaulted you. The 50’s were weird.
@donadavs
intentional misinterpretation
@jolexhopealfanta7658
Because people back then doesn't have a dirty way of thinking about life.
@s.a.adams-ford1216
At least in the 50s people were sane enough to realize "A GUY IS A GUY!"
@wampuscat1340
Try singing to people in the 1950s about a girl’s Only Fans account and serial promiscuity. They would be aghast.