Walk On By

Song Meaning of Walk On By from Dionne Warwick

Early in her career, Warwick worked as a backing singer and recorded demos for Burt Bacharach and Hal David, two songwriters.

This dejected classic, which concluded a string of recordings in which she portrayed the beseeching lover, cemented her fame. It was originally consigned to the B side of "Any Old Time of the Day," but New York DJ Murray the K encouraged listeners to vote on the single's two sides.

The result was a depressing ballad with a bossa nova tempo. The winning version rose to the top of the charts during the euphoric Beatlemania, which unintentionally served as a counterbalance for "Walk on By's" quiet tenacity. "I didn't get the guy very often in those days," Warwick remarked.

Walk On By lyrics by Dionne Warwick

If you see me walking down the street

And I start to cry each time we meet

Walk on by, walk on by

Make believe

That you don't see the tears

Just let me grieve

In private 'cause each time I see you

I break down and cry

Walk on by (don't stop)

Walk on by (don't stop)

Walk on by

I just can't get over losing you

And so if I seem broken and blue

Walk on by, walk on by

Foolish pride

That's all that I have left

So let me hide

The tears and the sadness you gave me

When you said goodbye

Walk on by (don't stop)

Walk on by (don't stop)

Walk on by (don't stop)

Walk on

Walk on by, walk on by

Foolish pride

Is all that I have left

So let me hide

The tears and the sadness you gave me

When you said goodbye

Walk on by (don't stop)

Walk on by (don't stop)

Now you really gotta walk on by (don't stop)

Baby never even see the tears I cry (don't stop)

Now you really gotta walk on by (don't stop)