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 Load Of Hay
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the world is millions of miles away
The old grey mare will get us there
She won′t hurry and I should worry I haven't got a care
I′m o.k. on top of a load of hay
Hard at work with nothing to do all day
My only view, a sky of blue
Sun slowly sinking, wish you were with me
I'm thinking your arms around me
Oh what a thrill it would be
Every day on top of a load of hay
I'm the queen of everything I survey
The sun is bright, the world′s alright
I′m contented cause you've consented to marry me
Life is lovely because you told me you love me
I′m the queen of everything I survey
The sun is bright, the world's alright
I′m contented cause you've consented to marry me
I′m contented cause you've consented to marry me
Doris Day's "A Load of Hay" is a charming and romantic song that paints a vivid picture of the idyllic countryside, portraying a peaceful and happy Anne Marie singing to herself as she rides atop a load of hay behind an old grey mare. She is enjoying the simple pleasures of life like the bright sun, the blue sky, and the contentment that comes with being loved by someone she cares for deeply. The song’s lyrics are typical of the mid-twentieth century era, where love songs were not necessarily tale of passionate romance. Instead, they were about the comfort and security that came with being loved.
Throughout the lyrics, Anne reminisces about the joys of her everyday experience, in this case, the things she sees from atop a load of hay. As she describes the peace that she found in the countryside, she also muses over the fact that being loved makes life "lovely." The song also includes a more romantic aspect, as the sun begins to set, and Anne longs for her significant other to be with her, dreaming of his arms around her as she watches the last drops of sunlight fade away with the wind.
The song is a beautiful example of the simplicity and romanticism of life in the countryside, the joy of being loved, and the happiness that comes with an appreciation of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Lovely day on top of a load of hay
It's a beautiful day, and I am enjoying it on top of a heap of hay.
All the world is millions of miles away
I feel so distant from the rest of the world, like I'm in my own little world on this hay.
The old grey mare will get us there
Even though our horse isn't the quickest, she will still get us where we need to go.
She won't hurry and I should worry I haven't got a care
I'm not worried that our horse won't hurry because I have no worries at all.
I'm o.k. on top of a load of hay
I feel just fine sitting on this heap of hay.
Hard at work with nothing to do all day
Even though I'm not doing anything, I feel as if I'm working away.
My only view, a sky of blue
All I see when I look around is a beautiful blue sky.
Life is lovely because you told me you love me
The reason life is so wonderful is that you expressed your love for me.
Sun slowly sinking, wish you were with me
As the sun starts to set, I can't help but wish that you were here with me.
I'm thinking your arms around me
All I can think about is how nice it would feel to have your arms around me.
Oh what a thrill it would be
I would be so thrilled if you were here with me on this hay.
Every day on top of a load of hay
Every day sitting on a pile of hay is just the best.
I'm the queen of everything I survey
I feel like royalty, with everything I see in my realm.
The sun is bright, the world's alright
The sun is shining so bright, and everything in the world feels alright.
I'm contented cause you've consented to marry me
I'm happy and satisfied because you agreed to marry me.
I'm contented cause you've consented to marry me
I'm happy and satisfied because you agreed to marry me.
Writer(s): Ethelbert Nevin, Howard Barnes, Michael Feahy
Contributed by Dylan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rogergoodred2602
Born 1940 in wartorn Portsmouth evacuated to Farmer Russell's Farm Barnham Sussex. Often rode on horse drawn hay wagon, very thrilling for a child. So I always remember this song and sing it in Blackpool Royal British Legion with Terry Webster our resident Organist.
@1934polly
Takes me back to my teenage years when I had a girl friend on a farm in Busselton.
@Dayniac4324
@astralagosto It is a soothing song ... and Doris sings it so smoothly and sweetly. Just listening to it made me feel better ! So happy you enjoyed it too. Have a great week ... Toni
@maynardcat
What a nice light hearted tune. It makes you feel good just listening to the lyrics, and know one can add the meldoy to those lyrics like Doris.
@Dayniac4324
@bigeeezy One of the best !! Thanks James.
@Dayniac4324
I guess you can tell I love Doris too ! So happy you enjoyed !
@chloebatey3460
Thanks for uploading this. It was my Pa's favourite song. He died a few months ago and whenever I miss him I find this video and play it to make me feel closer to him xxx
@weeyin1155
How nice to get this wonderful video upload from you Toni. Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Thanks and warm hugs..Jan and Susan ♥
@weeyin1155
We're just fine thanks Toni. Susan is working a lot lately as a carer and was looking after someone over the weekend when they all went to Blackpool. We're like ships passing in the night. LOL I hope you're all well and happy. ♥
@Dayniac4324
@dorisdayno1 I'm with you there ... those are a few of my favorites too ! It is a sweet song ... and Doris and Gordon are so cute in those hay pictures. Hope you're having a good weekend .. take care... Toni