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"
Disney Girls
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I see your smile
Darkness goes and softness shows
A changing style
Just in time words that rhyme
Well bless your soul
Now I'll fill your hands
Oh reality, it's not for me
And it makes me laugh
Oh, fantasy world and Disney girls
I'm coming back
Patti Page and summer days
On old Cape Cod
Happy times making wine
In my garage
Country shade and lemonade
Guess I'm slowing down
It's a turned back world
With a local girl
In a smaller town
Open cars and clearer stars
That's what I've lacked
But fantasy world and Disney girls
I'm coming back
Love, hi Rick and Dave
Hi Pop, well good morning mom
Love, get up guess what
I'm in love with a girl I found
She's really swell
Cause she likes
Church, bingo chances and old time dances
All my life I spent the night
With dreams of you
And the warmth I missed
And for the things I wished
They're all coming true
I've got my love to give
And a place to live
Guess I'm gonna stay
It'd be a peaceful life
With a forever wife
And a kid someday
It's earlier nights
And pillow fights
And your soft laugh
Fantasy world and Disney girls
I'm coming back
The song "Disney Girls" by Doris Day is a tribute to a simpler time of nostalgia and childhood. The lyrics start with the image of clearing skies and drying eyes, hinting at the emotional journey the singer is about to embark on. The opening lines signify the end of a dark period and the beginning of a new era in the singer's life.
The song's theme centers on the search for fantasy and escapism from the harsh realities of life. The verse "Oh reality, it's not for me, and it makes me laugh" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer longs for a world filled with happy-go-lucky times, such as summers spent making wine and enjoying lemonade. The lyrics are dominated by nostalgia for the classic American youth culture of the 1950s and early 60s.
The singer reflects on the joy of finding someone they like, who shares their interests, like old-time dances and bingo. The sentimentality of the song peaks in the chorus where she sings, "Fantasy world and Disney girls, I'm coming back." The song serves as a reminder of the simpler days when people could rely on their imagination to escape the harshness of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Clearing skies and drying eyes
The bad times are gone and my sadness has turned into happiness.
Now I see your smile
Your smile fills me with joy.
Darkness goes and softness shows
The darkness in my life has been replaced with soft, comforting things.
A changing style
My style is different now; I've grown and changed.
Just in time words that rhyme
At the perfect moment, I say something that rhymes.
Well bless your soul
I'm grateful for you and all that you do.
Now I'll fill your hands
I want to express my love and gratitude by giving you kisses and candy.
With kisses and a Tootsie Roll
I'm expressing my love and gratitude with little things that make you happy.
Oh reality, it's not for me
Real life is hard and I don't like it.
And it makes me laugh
I laugh at how tough real life can be.
Oh, fantasy world and Disney girls
I'd rather escape to a world of fantasy and Disney girls.
I'm coming back
I'm returning to that world of fantasy and Disney girls.
Patti Page and summer days
I remember listening to Patti Page and enjoying summer days.
On old Cape Cod
I spent time on Cape Cod when I was younger.
Happy times making wine
I have fond memories of making wine and having a good time.
In my garage
The garage was a place where we made wine and had fun.
Country shade and lemonade
I miss the peacefulness of the country and drinking lemonade on a hot day.
Guess I'm slowing down
I'm getting older and it's starting to show.
It's a turned back world
The world is changing quickly and I'm having trouble keeping up.
With a local girl
I'm happy to have found someone who is from my hometown.
In a smaller town
I prefer the simplicity of living in a smaller town.
Open cars and clearer stars
I miss driving around in open cars and being able to see the stars clearly at night.
That's what I've lacked
I've been missing these simple pleasures.
Love, hi Rick and Dave
I'm sending love to people named Rick and Dave.
Hi Pop, well good morning mom
I'm saying hi to my dad and greeting my mom in the morning.
Love, get up guess what
I have something exciting to tell you.
I'm in love with a girl I found
I've found someone special and I'm in love with her.
She's really swell
She's amazing and I'm lucky to have her.
Cause she likes
I love her even more because she enjoys
Church, bingo chances and old time dances
The things that I enjoy, like church, playing bingo, and attending dances with older music.
All my life I spent the night
I've spent my life dreaming about
With dreams of you
Having dreams about the girl I'm in love with.
And the warmth I missed
The warmth and love that I've been needing in my life.
And for the things I wished
All the things I've wished and hoped for are coming true.
They're all coming true
My dreams and wishes are coming true because of the girl I'm in love with.
I've got my love to give
I have so much love to share.
And a place to live
I have a home and a place to live.
Guess I'm gonna stay
I'm settling down and staying here.
It'd be a peaceful life
Life would be peaceful and calm.
With a forever wife
If I get married, it'd be for life.
And a kid someday
I want to have children someday.
It's earlier nights
I'm going to bed earlier now.
And pillow fights
I'm having fun with pillow fights and other simple things.
And your soft laugh
I love hearing you laugh and it warms my heart.
Fantasy world and Disney girls
I'm still dreaming about my fantasy world and Disney girls.
I'm coming back
I'm returning to that world of fantasy and Disney girls.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRUCE JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Natalie Taylor
I love the original but this cover has such a beautiful melancholy. It's one of my favourite songs to play when I'm sad. Doris Day's voice is so beautiful. She truly was a legend <3
Jennifer Donlin
RIP, Doris Day! You were the greatest!
Phillip Avalon
Written by Beach Boy band member Bruce Johnston, brilliant song writer & Doris, what a beautiful rendition.
Sandra Harris
This is absolutely the best version of this song ! Doris Day you are a legend ! Would loved to have met you !
mbullo
Always liked this song. Day does a nice spin on it. Also sung beautifully by Cass Elliot and Toni Tennille respectively.
mbullo
Also good!
Jodi Sachs1111
Beach Boys version 1971, the best
Jan Lundquist
I did meet you ! You gave me a kiss and it at that point, my bucket list was over flowed . Thank for the many gifts and talents you shared with yesterday
D C
I’m loving this song, right now
Roland Jr Escalante
I love this song!