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"
Why Don
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just what we're doin' tonight
Gee, but it's great to get together again
Why does it only happen now and then
We oughtta do this more often
Don't you agree that I'm right
We make each other laugh
We make each other sing
Over-do a good thing
So why don't we do this more often
Just what we're doin' tonight
Why don't we do this more often
Just what we're doin' tonight
Oh gee, but it's great to get together again
Why does it only happen now and then
We oughtta do it more often
Don't you agree that I'm right
We make each other laugh
We make each other sing
And you can never ever
Overdo a good thing
Why don't we do it more often
Just what we're doin' tonight
Doris Day's song "Why Don't We Do This More Often?" is a plea for more intimacy and connection in a relationship. The singer expresses how great it is to finally be together again, and wonders why it only happens sporadically. She asks why they don't spend more time together, delighting in their mutual laughter and songs. The song implies that the relationship may have gone through some rough patches, but they have come back together, and wants this to be a regular occurrence.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and touching. The singer is attempting to share her feelings with her lover, begging them to recognize the importance of intimacy and shared experiences. The song is a reminder that relationships require time, effort, and presence. In an era where it's easy to become distracted by technology and new experiences, the song is a gentle nudge to cherish those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't we do this more often
Expressing a desire to engage in this same activity more frequently
Just what we're doin' tonight
Referring to the specific activity they are participating in currently
Gee, but it's great to get together again
Expressing joy and excitement at being in the company of the other person again
Why does it only happen now and then
Questioning why these enjoyable moments are not more frequent
We oughtta do this more often
Suggesting that they should engage in this activity more frequently
Don't you agree that I'm right
Asking for affirmation or agreement from the other person
We make each other laugh
Acknowledging that the other person brings joy and humor to their interactions
We make each other sing
Acknowledging that the other person brings music and harmony to their interactions
And you can never ever Over-do a good thing
Stating that it is impossible to engage in something enjoyable too frequently
So why don't we do this more often
Reiterating the desire to engage in this activity more frequently
Just what we're doin' tonight
Referring to the specific activity they are participating in currently
Why don't we do this more often
Expressing a desire to engage in this same activity more frequently
Oh gee, but it's great to get together again
Expressing joy and excitement at being in the company of the other person again
Why does it only happen now and then
Questioning why these enjoyable moments are not more frequent
We oughtta do it more often
Suggesting that they should engage in this activity more frequently
Don't you agree that I'm right
Asking for affirmation or agreement from the other person
We make each other laugh
Acknowledging that the other person brings joy and humor to their interactions
We make each other sing
Acknowledging that the other person brings music and harmony to their interactions
And you can never ever Overdo a good thing
Stating that it is impossible to engage in something enjoyable too frequently
Why don't we do it more often
Expressing a desire to engage in this same activity more frequently
Just what we're doin' tonight
Referring to the specific activity they are participating in currently
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: ALLIE WRUBEL, CHARLES NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Theresa Perry
This gal was the biggest and best talent in Hollywood and sadly, in my opinion, the most under-rated by Hollywood, but not her adoring public. xoxo Doris!
Isabel Cordero
Doris sings with her heart !! She lives the song and she makes you live through her feelings. What a wonderful voice!!!
Muirmaiden
I love her dreamy voice, so sweet, so romantic. I love hearing these rare recordings. Danyiac, you have such great taste, thanks for sharing!
Dayniac4324
Thank you Colleen - muirmaiden - She does have a dreamy voice. I'm so glad you're enjoying these great Doris songs. She recorded around 600 so there are sooooo many !!
Dayniac4324
Thanks Jan and Susan -- Her voice is definitely one of a kind ! Glad you enjoyed - hope you're all having a great week... Take care... Toni
Dayniac4324
Thank you Claudia - yes her singing was so effortless - could be the reason she doesn't get as much credit as she should. Glad you enjoyed !!!
Ms. Prisha
As always, fantastic clip with a wonderful Doris Day. Thank you Toni!
Dayniac4324
Thank you sactogranny -- When I was a kid my Mom had 3 Doris albums - I listened to them constantly and probably drove my parent crazy ! I'm so glad you're enjoying these little trips down memory lane !!
manfreadstraw
Great clip! Great song, & great memories! 5*****!!!
Dayniac4324
Thank you Emily --- this is a great song. Glad you got to hear it...and that is brought you a smile ! Take care, Toni