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"
As Long As He Needs Me
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, yes, he does need me
In spite of what you see
I'm sure that he needs me
Who else would love him still
When they've been used so ill?
He knows I always will
I miss him so much when he is gone
But when he's near me
I don't let on
The way I feel inside
The love I have to hide
The hell! I've got my pride
As long as he needs me
He doesn't say the things he should
He acts the way he thinks he should
But all the same
I'll play this game
His way...
As long as he needs me
I know where I must be
I'll cling on steadfastly
As long as he needs me
As long as life is long
I'll love him right or wrong
And somehow I'll be strong
As long as he needs me
If you are lonely
Then you will know
When someone needs you
You love them so
I won't betray his trust
Though people say I must
I've got to stay true, just
As long as he needs me
Doris Day's song "As Long as He Needs Me" is a beautiful expression of a woman's unwavering devotion and loyalty to her lover, despite his flaws and the disapproval of others. The lyrics convey the woman's deep love and understanding for her partner, and her willingness to stand by him "as long as he needs [her]."
The opening lines of the song, "As long as he needs me, oh, yes, he does need me," set the tone for the woman's commitment. She believes that her partner needs her, regardless of any outward appearances or negative opinions from others. The next line, "In spite of what you see, I'm sure that he needs me," solidifies her belief in their relationship and her willingness to overlook any negative aspects that others may see.
The woman's devotion is further emphasized in the lines, "Who else would love him still when they've been used so ill? He knows I always will, as long as he needs me." Despite any mistreatment or negativity he may bring into their relationship, she is willing to love him unconditionally.
The song also portrays the woman's inner struggles, particularly with hiding her true feelings and maintaining her sense of pride. She admits to "miss[ing] him so much when he is gone," but conceals her emotions when he is near in order to maintain her outward composure. However, she also acknowledges that the love she has for him is something she must "hide" and never betray, despite any pressure from others to do so.
Overall, "As Long as He Needs Me" is a powerful testament to the strength of love and commitment, and the willingness to stand by a loved one even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
As long as he needs me
The singer will stay with her partner as long as they need her.
Oh, yes, he does need me
The singer believes that her partner needs her, despite what others might think.
In spite of what you see
The singer's partner appears to not need her, but the singer knows otherwise.
I'm sure that he needs me
The artist is confident in her belief that her partner needs her.
Who else would love him still
Despite how poorly her partner has been treated, the artist still loves him.
When they've been used so ill?
The singer's partner has been mistreated, yet she still loves him.
He knows I always will
The singer's partner is aware that she will always love him, despite his flaws.
I miss him so much when he is gone
When the artist's partner is not with her, she feels a strong sense of longing.
But when he's near me
When the artist's partner is with her, she doesn't show how much she misses him.
I don't let on
The artist hides her feelings when her partner is around.
The way I feel inside
The singer's innermost feelings are a secret even from her partner.
The love I have to hide
The artist's love for her partner is something she keeps to herself.
The hell! I've got my pride
The singer will not let her pride suffer because of her love for her partner.
He doesn't say the things he should
The singer's partner does not express himself as he should.
He acts the way he thinks he should
The singer's partner behaves the way he thinks is appropriate, not necessarily the way he feels.
But all the same
Despite this, the artist will still stay by her partner's side.
I'll play this game
The artist is willing to play along and follow her partner's lead.
His way...
The singer will comply with her partner's wishes.
I know where I must be
The singer knows that she belongs by her partner's side.
I'll cling on steadfastly
The artist will hold on tightly to her partner and their relationship.
As long as life is long
The artist will love her partner forever, no matter what happens.
I'll love him right or wrong
The artist's love for her partner is unconditional, regardless of his behavior.
And somehow I'll be strong
The singer will find the strength to endure anything for her partner's sake.
If you are lonely
The artist addresses the listener directly, suggesting that they might relate to her situation.
Then you will know
Only those who have experienced loneliness can truly understand.
When someone needs you
The singer's partner needs her, and this need gives her purpose.
You love them so
The singer loves her partner deeply because he needs her.
I won't betray his trust
The artist is loyal to her partner and will not deceive him.
Though people say I must
Others might tell the artist to leave her partner, but she will not.
I've got to stay true, just
The singer will remain devoted to her partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lionel Bart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind