Doris Day (Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., April 3, 1922… Read Full Bio ↴Doris Day (Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and animal welfare activist. After she began her career as a big band singer in 1939, her popularity increased with her first hit recording "Sentimental Journey" (1945). After leaving Les Brown & His Band of Renown to embark on a solo career, she recorded more than 650 songs from 1947 to 1967, which made her one of the most popular and acclaimed singers of the 20th century.

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"

Ol
Doris Day Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're the one
We jump for joy whenever
Oh so jolly
Ol' Saint Nicholas passes by
Spreadin' spirit with a twinklin' eye

Ol' Saint Nicholas
Over head

You hang a twig of merry mistletoe and
Ol' Saint Nicholas gay are we
Catching kisses by the yuletide tree

How does it feel to be such a mr. big?
King of the party each year
How does it feel to be so full of
Captivating Christmas cheer?

So, Ol' Saint Nicholas
Here's to you
A toast for bringin' goodies to the young and
Ol' Saint Nicholas hip-hooray
Have a merry Christmas day!

There's a merry little man we know
And to everybody's home he'll go
When the weather's at a cold degree
Can't you guess who it can be?

Ol' Saint Nicholas
You're the one
We jump for joy whenever
Oh so jolly
Ol' Saint Nicholas passes by
Spreadin' spirit with a twinklin' eye

Ol' Saint Nicholas
Over head
You hang a twig of merry mistletoe and
Ol' Saint Nicholas gay are we
Catching kisses by the yuletide tree

Wouldn't you know that you'd be responsible
For all the holiday noise?
Wouldn't you know that we'd be just like
Other little girls and boys?

So, Ol' Saint Nicholas
Here's to you
A toast for bringin' goodies to the young and

Ol' Saint Nicholas hip-hooray
Have a merry Christmas day!

Overall Meaning

The song "Ol' Saint Nicholas" by Doris Day is a cheerful ode to the legendary figure who brings joy to children during the holiday season. The lyrics express the excitement and anticipation of children as they await the arrival of Ol' Saint Nicholas, who is described as jolly, twinkling-eyed and always bringing goodies. The song is full of merriment and playful imagery, such as catching kisses under the mistletoe and jumping for joy whenever he passes by.

The second verse of the song further emphasizes the joy and happiness that Ol' Saint Nicholas brings to homes during the chilly winter season. He is described as a "merry little man" who visits everybody's home, spreading the Christmas cheer everywhere he goes. The final verse of the song is a toast to Ol' Saint Nicholas, thanking him for bringing joy, and wishing him a merry Christmas day.

Overall, the song captures the magic and innocence of childhood during the festive season, and highlights the joy that Ol' Saint Nicholas brings to homes and children.

Line by Line Meaning

You're the one
Addressing Ol' Saint Nicholas as the one and only Christmas icon.

We jump for joy whenever
The excitement and anticipation of Ol' Saint Nicholas' arrival during the holidays.

Oh so jolly
Describing the happy, festive demeanor of Ol' Saint Nicholas.

Ol' Saint Nicholas passes by
Referring to Ol' Saint Nicholas' annual visit to bring joy and presents to the children.

Spreadin' spirit with a twinklin' eye
Describing the magical aura and twinkling eyes of Ol' Saint Nicholas that creates a joyous atmosphere.

Ol' Saint Nicholas
Repeating the name of the character as the main focus of the song.

Over head
Where the tradition of hanging up a twig of mistletoe is known to be hung.

You hang a twig of merry mistletoe and
Highlighting another tradition that Ol' Saint Nicholas is known for doing during the holiday season.

Ol' Saint Nicholas gay are we
Expressing the joy and happiness everyone feels during the arrival of Ol' Saint Nicholas.

Catching kisses by the yuletide tree
Describing a tradition of catching a kiss under the mistletoe, usually found by the Christmas tree.

How does it feel to be such a mr. big?
Posing a rhetorical question to emphasize the importance of Ol' Saint Nicholas during the holiday season.

King of the party each year
Metaphorically referring to Ol' Saint Nicholas as the host of the Christmas celebration.

How does it feel to be so full of
Rhetorically asking how it must feel to be so full of Christmas joy and cheer.

Captivating Christmas cheer?
Emphasizing the contagious nature of the holiday spirit and how Ol' Saint Nicholas embodies it.

So, Ol' Saint Nicholas
Addressing Ol' Saint Nicholas directly once more.

Here's to you
A toast to Ol' Saint Nicholas for all he brings to the holiday season.

A toast for bringin' goodies to the young and
Acknowledging the tradition of gifting, mainly for the children, during the holiday season.

Ol' Saint Nicholas hip-hooray
A cheer for Ol' Saint Nicholas.

Have a merry Christmas day!
A well-wishing message of good cheer for the rest of the holiday season.

There's a merry little man we know
Introducing Ol' Saint Nicholas in a Christmassy, familiar way.

And to everybody's home he'll go
Referencing the tradition of Ol' Saint Nicholas delivering presents to all the children's homes.

When the weather's at a cold degree
Implying that Ol' Saint Nicholas only appears during the holiday season when it's cold.

Can't you guess who it can be?
A teasing rhetorical question, emphasizing the well-known identity of Ol' Saint Nicholas.

Wouldn't you know that you'd be responsible
Rhetorically asking if we all know that Ol' Saint Nicholas is responsible for the Christmas festivities.

For all the holiday noise?
Referring to the happy noise of the holidays, set in motion by the arrival of Ol' Saint Nicholas.

Wouldn't you know that we'd be just like
Rhetorically stating that of course, like children, we are all excited for the arrival of Ol' Saint Nicholas.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Buddy Pepper, Inez James

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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