Doonican started performing in his home town and featured in the first ever television broadcast from Waterford. He then joined a band which toured Ireland playing the drums. In 1951 he moved to England to join another group, The Four Ramblers who toured and performed on BBC Radio shows broadcast from factories.
He eventually went solo and had a radio show as well as performing concerts and cabaret. In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. As a result of this performance, he was offered his own show on BBC television, lasting for over twenty years and moving to Saturday as its popularity grew. It featured his relaxed crooner style performance sitting in a rocking chair, as well as a number of comic Irish songs, notably "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey", and "Rafferty's Motor Car", on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. He often wore a cardigan which became a trade mark, and was sometimes compared to American singer Perry Como though Doonican has claimed his main influence was Bing Crosby. As a variety show, there were a number of other acts featured and performers such as Dave Allen had early exposure on the show.
The Palladium performance also kick-started his recording career. Between 1964 and 1973 he was rarely out of the UK Singles Chart, his greatest successes including the singles "Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "What Would I Be", "If The Whole World Stopped Loving", and "Morning"; and the albums 13 Lucky Shades of Val Doonican, and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently. He also sang the theme song to the film, Ring of Bright Water.
He stopped performing in 2009 and spent a lot of his free time in Spain (where he had a second home).
Doonican's daughter wrote two books entitled Wired to the Moon and Fear of Custard under the name Sarah Kavanagh. Both stories are related to the performance entertainment world.
Two Streets
Val Doonican Lyrics
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Because I don't know what to do.
Cos' the break that I have worked and waited for.
Has come knocking, on my front door.
Two Streets, One of them leads to a world I love.
And the other! The street that leads me home.
Two Streets, Which one will I take I do not know.
Love is so strange.
Since meeting her, my life changed.
I always thought, I knew what I wanted from life.
In my plans, was not a wife.
Two Streets, One of them leads to a world I love.
And the other! The street that leads me home.
Two Streets, Which one will I take I do not know.
If I take the first one, I'll be on my own! On my own.
When she kisses me.
I know where I want to be.
Cos' this new job, that I found takes me away.
'Should be leaving this place today.
Two Streets, One of them leads to a world I love.
And the other! The street that leads me home.
Two Streets, Which one will I take I do not know.
If I take the first one, I'll be on my own! On my own.
Val Doonican's Two Streets is a song about a man who is caught up in a dilemma between his desire for a new job and his love for his partner. The song starts with the singer expressing his confusion about the decision he has to take. He has worked hard for a break towards success, which has finally arrived at his doorstep, yet he is unsure of what to do. The two streets he refers to depict two opposing paths he could take. One is a path to a world he loves, which most likely means the job he has wanted, while the other street leads him back home where his partner resides.
As the lyrics progress, he confesses his confusion, and he muses about the changes that love brings. He never planned for a wife, but since meeting her, everything has changed. His indecision is further fueled by the fact that he would have to leave his partner behind if he chooses the path to success. He acknowledges his love for her and states that when he is with her, he knows where he wants to be, implying that his real home is in her arms.
Finally, the last verse indicates that the decision has been made. He knows he has to take the new job, but it does not make the decision an easy one. He should be leaving that day, implying his urgency to start a new life. The song's central theme is one of choice, and it captures the indecisiveness and the difficulty faced when one has to choose between two admittedly good options.
Line by Line Meaning
I am so confused.
I am unsure about my future.
Because I don't know what to do.
I am facing a decision and have no clear direction.
Cos' the break that I have worked and waited for.
I have finally achieved success after much effort and anticipation.
Has come knocking, on my front door.
My opportunity is presenting itself and is easily accessible.
Two Streets, One of them leads to a world I love.
I have two paths to choose from, one that leads me to a place I desire.
And the other! The street that leads me home.
The other path leads me back to familiar territory, where I feel comfortable.
Two Streets, Which one will I take I do not know.
I am uncertain about my decision.
If I take the first one, I'll be on my own! On my own.
If I choose the path to the unknown, I will be alone in my journey.
Love is so strange.
The feeling of love is complex and mysterious.
Since meeting her, my life changed.
I have experienced a significant shift in my life since falling in love.
I always thought, I knew what I wanted from life.
I previously had a clear idea of my goals and desires in life.
In my plans, was not a wife.
My plans and goals did not initially include a romantic partner.
When she kisses me.
The physical affection I experience with my partner is powerful.
I know where I want to be.
Through this physical connection, I feel a sense of direction and purpose.
Cos' this new job, that I found takes me away.
My new job opportunity will require me to move away from my current location.
'Should be leaving this place today.
I am preparing to depart from my current location in pursuit of my new job opportunity.
Writer(s): Christopher Frederick Andrews
Contributed by Andrew S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.