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"
Let’s Take An Old-Fashioned Walk
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
DORIS: Gee, I'm glad you came over tonight
FRANK: Yeah! It'll be nice riding with the top down
DORIS: Oh, but I've spent the afternoon fixing my hair
FRANK: Oh, Oh!
DORIS: How about a movie, huh?
FRANK: No, it's too late for that, they'll be sold out of popcorn.
Say, I know!
FRANK:
Let's take an old fashioned walk
I'm just bursting with talk
What a tale could be told
If we went for an old fashioned walk
DORIS:
Let's take a stroll through the park
Down a lane where it's dark
And a heart that's controlled
May relax on an old fashioned walk
I know for a couple who seem to be miles apart
FRANK:
There's nothing like walking and having a heart-to-heart
BOTH:
I know a girl who declined
Couldn't make up her mind
FRANK:
She was wrapped up and sold
DORIS:
Coming home
BOTH:
From an old fashioned walk
DORIS:
Some couples go for a buggy ride
When they start caring a lot
FRANK:
Others will bicycle side by side
Way out to some romantic spot
(But when you haven't a sou)
(There's only one thing to do)
BOTH:
Let's take an old fashioned walk
I'm just bursting with talk
FRANK:
What a tale could be told
DORIS:
If we went for
BOTH:
An old fashioned walk
BOTH:
Let's take a stroll through the park
Down a lane where it's dark
FRANK:
And a heart that's controlled
DORIS:
Can relax on
BOTH:
An old fashioned walk
DORIS:
I know for a couple who seem to be miles apart
FRANK:
There's nothing like walking and having a heart-to-heart
(Walking and talking)
BOTH:
I know a girl who declined
Couldn't make up her mind
FRANK:
She was wrapped up and sold
DORIS:
Coming home from
BOTH:
An old fashioned walk
FRANK:
If your girl has declined
DORIS:
And won't make up her mind
BOTH:
What you need is a heart-to-heart talk
DORIS:
Take a stroll through the park
FRANK:
Down a lane where it's dark
BOTH:
And go for an old fashioned walk
Doris Day's Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk recalls the romanticism of the past, and the simple pleasure of spending time with someone you love. The song begins with a proposal for a leisurely walk, with the singer insisting that they have so much to say to each other. The mood is lighthearted and hopeful, with the suggestion that an old-fashioned walk could bring them closer together.
The lyrics paint a picture of a stroll through a park or down a dark lane, and the potential for an intimate conversation. The idea of a heart that's controlled relaxing on this kind of walk suggests that the singer is hoping to break down some barriers and connect more deeply with their companion. The line "there's nothing like walking and having a 'heart to heart'" reinforces this idea, with the implication being that the simplicity of a walk might allow for a more honest conversation than a grander or more formal setting.
Finally, the song tells the story of a girl who ultimately regrets declining an invitation for an old fashioned walk. This is a cautionary tale for the listener, highlighting the importance of taking chances and not letting opportunities for connection slip away.
Overall, Let's Take An Old-Fashioned Walk is a charming and nostalgic song that celebrates the value of human connection and the power of simple moments spent with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's take an old fashioned walk, I'm just bursting with talk.
I want to take a nostalgic walk with you and have a lively conversation about anything and everything.
What a tale could be told if we went for an old fashioned walk.
If we take a walk together, we can create memories and potentially have surprising and entertaining experiences.
Let's take a stroll through the park, down a lane where it's dark
Let's take a leisurely walk through a peaceful place such as a park, and even venture down a dimly lit path to enjoy the scenery.
And a heart that's controlled, may relax on an old fashioned walk.
Walking in a calm and serene environment provides a peaceful atmosphere that can help ease worries, tension, and stress.
I know for a couple who seem to be miles apart,
Even for individuals who are struggling in their relationship, taking a walk together can be an opportunity for genuine connection and open communication.
There's nothing like walking and having a "heart to heart."
Having a deep and meaningful conversation while walking is one of the best ways to connect with others, especially in a quiet and pleasant setting.
I know a girl who declined, couldn't make up her mind.
I once knew a girl who hesitated and couldn't commit to going on a walk.
She was wrapped up and sold, coming home from an old fashioned walk.
After actually going on a walk, she came back feeling happy, content, and fulfilled.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LotteDecraene
Let's take an old-fashioned walk
I'm just bursting with talk
What a tale could be told
If we went for an old-fashioned walk
Let's take a stroll through the park
Down a lane where it's dark
And a heart that's controlled
May relax on an old-fashioned walk
I know for a couple
Who seem to be miles apart
There's nothing like walking
And having a heart to heart
I know a girl who declined
Couldn't make up her mind
She was wrapped up and sold
Coming home from an old-fashioned walk
Some couples go for a buggy ride
When they start caring a lot
Others will bicycle side by side
Way out to some romantic spot
But when you haven't to sew
There's only one thing to do
Let's take an old fashioned walk
I'm just bursting with talk
What a tale could be told
If we went for an old-fashioned walk
Let's take a stroll through the park
Down a lane where it's dark
And a heart that's controlled
May relax on an old-fashioned walk
I know for a couple
Who seem to be miles apart
There's nothing like walking
And having a heart to heart
I know a girl who declined
Couldn't make up her mind
She was wrapped up and sold
Coming home from an old-fashioned walk
If your girl has declined
And won't make up her mind
What you need is a heart to heart talk
Take a stroll through a park
Down a lane where it's dark
And go for an old fashioned walk
@lindaeasley4336
I love all these classic songs from the early American song composers like Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer. What talent ! 👍
@andyguy0610
Drop dead pretty and a fantastic voice, Doris Day was one in a million. I never tire of hearing her sing, RIP Doris
@jackiemcmeekin6551
Irving Berlin wrote so many great songs. This one, Easter Parade, White Christmas, God Bless America, to name a few! Doris and Frank harmonize so well singing this romantic song!!! I would have liked to take an “old fashioned walk” with Frank Sinatra! Thank you so much, ‘little hours’, for this great upload! 🥰👍☺️
@Geo408
Classic, especially when your in Love. Thanks Frank & Doris.
@strew8
Thanks for giving me a little view in my past music listening. These two sure went together great. Thanks for posting!!!!
@johngordon2933
Irving Berlin could really write a song....
And Sinatra and Day are letter perfect.
@kennethfreund123
This 1949 duet with Doris outshines any from Frank's Duets albums from 1993-94.. Just perfect for the times. Wonderful orchestration with Great harmonic touches from the vocalists. As Frank once opined on another subject: "You can wait around and hope, but you're not going to hear the likes of this again".
@1918voixdesonmaitre
Good stuff!
@dchern
perfection
@leonchildsjr8690
in memory of Doris Day (1922-2019)