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"
It Might as Well Be Spring
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I'd say that I had Spring fever
But I know it isn't Spring
I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
I keep wishing I were somewhere else
Walking down a strange new street
Hearing words that I have never heard
From a girl I've yet to meet
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
That it might as well be Spring
It might as well be Spring
Doris Day's song "It Might As Well Be Springtime" is a classic that describes the restlessness and yearning of someone who is ready for change. The opening lyrics, "I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm, I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string," speak to the singer's internal turmoil and need for excitement. It's almost like they are anticipating the coming of Spring, even though it hasn't arrived yet.
The next set of lyrics, "I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented, Like a nightingale without a song to sing," continues the theme of restlessness and unfulfilled longing. The singer doesn't have a specific reason to feel this way - they just do. They want something more, something exciting and new, and they are "jumpy" and "giddy" in their desire for it.
The final set of lyrics, "I keep wishing I were somewhere else, Walking down a strange new street, Hearing words that I have never heard, From a girl I've yet to meet," speak to the singer's desire for adventure and new experiences. They want to experience something outside of their own life, meet new people, and hear new things. The song concludes with the singer acknowledging that, even though it's not Spring yet, they feel like it might as well be because of their intense longing for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm
I am unsettled and anxious, similar to a willow tree that sways uncontrollably during a strong gust of wind.
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I am nervous and uneasy, like a puppet that to jumps around according to the movements of its strings.
I'd say that I had Spring fever
I might describe my current state as having Spring fever, a feeling of restlessness and excitement that is often associated with the spring season.
But I know it isn't Spring
However, I am aware that it cannot be Spring since the characteristics of the season are absent.
I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
I have a hopeful yet dissatisfied outlook towards my current situation, reminiscent of a starry-eyed person who is not entirely satisfied with what they have.
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
I feel unfulfilled and lacking purpose, similar to a nightingale that cannot express its emotions through song.
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
I question why I am experiencing Spring fever when it is not even the appropriate season.
When it isn't even Spring?
Considering that there are no indications of the season, it is difficult to understand why I feel this way.
I keep wishing I were somewhere else
I continuously desire to be someplace different than where I currently am.
Walking down a strange new street
I envision myself walking along an unfamiliar path.
Hearing words that I have never heard
I imagine hearing new vocabulary that is foreign to me.
From a girl I've yet to meet
I picture having a conversation with someone I have not yet had the chance to meet.
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
My mind is active and imaginative, similar to a spider who is constantly having daydreams in between constructing its web.
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I am light-hearted and gleeful, like a baby happily swinging on a swing set.
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
Despite the absence of signs of the spring season, such as crocuses, rosebuds, and robins flying, my mood remains jubilant.
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
Although I am inexplicably cheerful, this feeling is subdued by a sense of sadness or desolation.
That it might as well be Spring
I am so absorbed in my Spring-like mood that it might as well be the actual Spring season, even though it is not.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dayniac4324
Thank you Rod - Doris has a huge music catalog ( I guess we're not sure about the number of songs) and you can tell I love her music - I'm having fun getting some of it out there. Thank you for watching - I know its not quite your cup of tea !! lol I hope you and your lovely family have a great week - take care - Toni
Dayniac4324
Well, you said it Manfread !! I think she'll be around for a very long time. It amazes me to see the number of cd's on amazon - with new ones all the time. I think she still receives as much fan as she did when she was making movies ! Rather amazing !! Thank you - hope you have a wonderful week !!
Патриция 'Patty' Кувшин
I only knew about this song because of the Stacey Kent version (which I love). Now I like to search for different versions, and this one is awesome, Doris Day's voice is an incredible smooth jazz instrument.
A. Madison
Doris used to be known as the white Ella Fitzgerald. Listen to early recordings of Ella, and you can see how Doris' sound is very similar.
William L Robinson
Outstanding song sung by the one and only Doris Day.
Pax Son
It has to be the best rendition ever! Thank you very much for posting it. There will always be a special place in my heart for Doris, I owe her so many wonderful and happy memories.
comeacross9
"I am starry eyed and vaguely discontented,like a nightingale without a song to sing...."
I not sure there is a lyricist alive today capable of writing as beautiful a phrase.
Doris is one of the most underrated singers ever. She had impeccable chops but I believe she is always viewed through the lens of her Rock Hudson comedy fluff roles.
Thanks for posting this.
patapon
comeacross9 it was actually Oscar Hammerstein who wrote the song, but I agree! Also though it was two years ago that you said this 😂😂🤣👍
Thomas Donio
She's on my list of top five singers, the others being Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Judy Garland.
Ashkan
Really well said, she was truly gift. And fortunately we are now in an era where we have acces to all these masterpieces at our fingertips.