Walk On By

Album

That's How Heartaches Are Made

Label

Scepter Records

Genre

Soul

Composer(s)

Burt Bacharach;Hal David

Entered Chart

Apr 25, 1964

Peak Date

Jun 13, 1964

Released

April 26, 1964

Recorded

November/December 1963[1] Studio Bell Sound, New York City

Catalog #

Scepter 1274

B-Side

Any Old Time Of Day

The songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote this song. Bacharach came up with the music, and David wrote the lyrics about a woman asking her former lover to leave her alone. This was released as the B-side to Warwick's single "Any Old Time Of The Day." She'd had several releases that went nowhere, and her latest tune was, in the opinion of her label, her manager, and herself, her last shot at making the Top 40. Murray the K, whose show on radio station WINS was the top-rated program in New York, wouldn't play it. No matter how many people called and pleaded with him, he played the B-side instead because he knew that was the tune with potential. Warwick's record company wasn't happy with this, but listeners agreed with Murray and "Walk On By" became the hit. Isaac Hayes did a 12-minute version on his album Hot Buttered Soul. A punk band called The Stranglers also recorded it. Other artists who have covered this song include the Carnival, D Train, the Four Seasons, Connie Francis, Aretha Franklin, Gabrielle, Gloria Gaynor, Kool & the Gang, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Lawrence, The Lettermen, Little Anthony And The Imperials, Johnny Mathis, The Miracles, Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels, Helen Shapiro, and Mel Torme. >> Burt Bacharach (from Record Collector magazine): "'Walk On By' was the first time that I tried putting two grand pianos on a record in the studio. I can't remember if I played and Artie Butler played or if Paul Griffin and Artie Butler played but here were two grand pianos going on. I knew the song had something. It was a great date. I walked out of that studio and we had done two tunes in a three-hour session, 'Walk On By' and 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.' I felt very good leaving knowing that I had two monster hits on my hands. You never know for sure but you feel a great satisfaction." Report this ad On May 12, 2002 Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport after baggage screeners found marijuana inside a lipstick container she was carrying. The UK publication The Sun reported the story with the headline: "Walk on high, Dionne." >> This was given the Q Classic Song honor at the 2012 Q Awards. Presenting the gong to Dionne Warwick, Tim Burgess (frontman of The Charlatans UK) said: "The song involves tears in the street, unrequited love and Groundhog Day-style heartbreak. If you listen properly it's everything but easy listening. It's utter devastation, given dignity by Dionne's rich, beautiful voice - one of the most soulful performances ever given." Doja Cat sampled the instrumental of Dionne Warwick's 1964 hit song "Walk on By" for her 2023 single "Paint The Town Red." The sample is used throughout the song, providing a lush and atmospheric backdrop for Doja Cat's vocals. "Paint The Town" was a big hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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

And walk on by (don't stop)
And walk on by (don't stop)
And 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
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)
Now you really gotta go, so walk on by (don't, don't stop)
Baby, leave, you'll never see the tears I cry (don't, don't stop)