Born Joan Drost in Buffalo, New York, as a child growing up Sommers would often sing to herself as a way of dealing with her difficult upbringing. Though having not received any musical training, Sommers began her career as a jazz singer in Los Angeles, California. In 1960, she recorded a demo with composer/arranger Tommy Oliver, earning her a recording contract with Warner Bros. Sommers. Her debut single, "One Boy" from the musical Bye Bye Birdie, reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Throughout the 60s, she also maintained a byline as a singer of jingles for Pepsi-Cola (specifically, "It's Pepsi, for Those Who Think Young" and "Come Alive! You're in the Pepsi Generation"), earning her the nickname of "The Pepsi Girl." Years later, she also recorded a jingle for Diet Pepsi, though her work was uncredited. Fittingly, two of her albums -- For Those Who Think Young and Come Alive! -- were named after her classic jingles.
Despite being a hit single,"One Boy" was passed over for inclusion on her debut album, Positively the Most!, whose cover touted the teenaged Sommers as "the greatest discovery in singing talent in the last fifteen years." This marked the beginning of a continuing trend for Sommers: alternating between commercial pop singles and more artistically challenging and varied albums, more often than not keeping the two completely disparate.
In 1962, "Johnny Get Angry" (co-written by legendary songwriter and lyricist Hal David) became Sommers' biggest hit, driven by an anachronistic dark bass line and unusual instrumentation such as kazoos. However, the song drew noted criticism aimed at its lyrical content, perceived by some as having sexist or masochistic overtones. The follow-up single was "When the Boys Get Together", which reached #94 on the charts, becoming her final Hot 100 single, though she would later have two songs on the Adult Contemporary charts.
In 1970, Sommers temporarily retired as a singer to focus on raising a family, making only one recording during the following decade, a soundtrack single for scrapped animation film The Peppermint Choo Choo. She resumed her career at the turn of the decade, recording the album Dream in 1980. She has maintained a sporadic career of recording and performing ever since, continuing to experiment with a variety of musical styles.
Watching the World Go By
Joanie Sommers Lyrics
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Under a sunny sky (sunny sky)
Strolling 'round the park on a Sunday afternoon (Sunday afternoon)
Oh how the moments fly (oh how the moments fly)
Watching the world go by (the world go by)
When you're with your love
Life is a beautiful tune (life is a beautiful tune)
Way up above
For us the day is always fair cuz we're in love
Others may have some tears, others may cry
Darling not you and I (not you and I)
We'll spend years and years and years
Watching the world go by
(Watching the world go by) Some day Sunday
(Under a sunny sky) When church is through love
(Strolling round the park on Sunday afternoon) Hand and hand 'neath a crimson sky
We will dream as the world goes by
(Oh how the moments fly) One day one day,
(Watching the world go by ) Dreams will come true love
(When you're with your love ) They'll be beautiful days to see
(Life is a beautiful tune) In the future with me
(Even if clouds are there) Each tomorrow
(Way up above) We'll be fair
(For us the day is always fair 'cause we're in love) Free from sorrow just as long as you care
Others may have some tears (others may have some tears)
Darling not you and I (not you and I)
We'll spend years and years and years
Watching the world go by
The song "Watching the World Go By" by Joanie Sommers is a nostalgic tune about love and the beauty of life. The opening lines paint a picture of the perfect day, with the sun shining and the singer strolling through the park on a Sunday afternoon. The moments fly by, but when you're with your love, life is a beautiful tune. Even if there are clouds in the sky, for those who are in love, the day is always fair. While others may cry, the singer and her lover will spend years watching the world go by.
The second stanza is a dream of what is to come, when the couple will walk hand in hand, dreaming as the world goes by. The future is bright, even if there are clouds in the sky. The days ahead will be beautiful as long as the couple cares for each other. The song ends with the promise that the couple will spend years watching the world go by, free from sorrow as long as they have each other.
Overall, the song is a reminder to live in the moment and appreciate the beauty of life, especially when sharing it with someone you love. The lyrics convey a sense of calm and contentment, making it a popular choice for weddings and other romantic occasions.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching the world go by
Taking in the passing of time, observing the world as it changes
Under a sunny sky
Beneath the warmth and light of the sun
Strolling 'round the park on a Sunday afternoon
Walking leisurely through a green space, enjoying a day of rest
Oh how the moments fly
How quickly time seems to pass
When you're with your love
Being in the presence of one's significant other
Life is a beautiful tune
Life is a melody, with ups and downs that all come together to form a beautiful whole
Even if clouds are there
Despite any obstacles or challenges one may face
Way up above
In the sky, at a distance
For us the day is always fair cuz we're in love
Because of our love, we choose to see the good in every day
Others may have some tears, others may cry
Although others may experience pain or suffering
Darling not you and I
But not us; we are not affected by such hardships
We'll spend years and years and years watching the world go by
We will continue to observe and appreciate the beauty of life for many years to come
Some day Sunday
One day in the future
When church is through love
After a church service, when we have time to spend together
Strolling round the park on Sunday afternoon hand and hand 'neath a crimson sky
Walking through a park as the sun sets, holding hands under a red sky
We will dream as the world goes by
We will allow ourselves to imagine great things as we continue to observe the movement of the world
One day one day
At a future time
Dreams will come true love
Our desired wishes will someday become our reality
They'll be beautiful days to see
There will be many wonderful days to come
In the future with me
You will continue to enjoy beautiful experiences with me
Each tomorrow
Every future day
We'll be fair
Life will be equitable and just
Free from sorrow just as long as you care
As long as we care about each other, we will be happy and free from sorrow
Others may have some tears
Others may still struggle and experience difficulties
Darling not you and I
But we will not experience such struggles, because we have each other
We'll spend years and years and years watching the world go by
We will continue to observe and appreciate the beauty of life for many years to come
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: J. SENN, S. SKYLAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind