Has there ever been a better pairing of songwriters and singer than the combination of Burt Bacharach/Hal David and Dionne Warwick? Time and again, the duo turned out lush, pristine pop songs that Warwick magnificently delivered.
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“Walk On By” proved to be the song that got the ball rolling with unstoppable momentum for this partnership. The 1964 hit single epitomizes just what these three individuals could do when brought together.
Dionne, Hal, and Burt
So, how did this collaboration that would help change the course of pop history begin? In 1962, the three principals were beginning their respective professional journeys. They came together thanks to an eventful recording session on the song “Mexican Divorce”.
At that time, Bacharach was gaining a reputation as a top composer and producer, known for intricate arrangements and unusual time signatures. Those songs weren’t always easy for lyricists to handle. But Hal David, whose wordplay possessed elegant flair, matched Bacharach’s musical sensibilities perfectly. The pair rarely wrote separately from one another throughout the 60s.
Warwick, the last piece of the puzzle, arrived at the session for “Mexican Divorce”, which was being recorded by The Drifters. She was only singing backup, but she caught the attention of Bacharach. Later that year, she’d have her first hit as a solo artist with the Bacharach/David track “Don’t Make Me Over”.
Taking a “Walk”
Although Warwick had the ability to handle just about anything, it quickly became clear to the two songwriters that she really soared on melancholy numbers. Her voice contained a natural quaver that she utilized to connect to the heartache inherent in those tracks.
As a result, “Walk On By” was right up her alley. The song is one of the earliest pop hits to put the narrator in the awkward situation of having to see their ex out on the street. Warwick’s performance of David’s lyrics displays a bruised dignity that somehow makes the whole thing even more heartbreaking.
Many others have covered “Walk On My” with a great deal of success over the years. After all, the bones of the structure devised by Bacharach and David are as sturdy as it gets. Most notably, Isaac Hayes stretched it out to all kinds of psychedelically soulful locations in his version in 1969. But we still hold a special fondness for Warwick’s winning original.
Behind the Lyrics of “Walk On By”
“If you see me walkin’ down the street,” Warwick begins. “And I start to cry each time we meet/Walk on by.” It’s just a perfect opening sequence. Without any waste, it establishes the situation while also letting us know how devastated the narrator is by the breakup. From there, David’s lyrics subtly expand the emotional stakes.
“Just let me grieve in private,” she pleads. “I just can’t get over losin’ you,” she admits. “So if I seem broken and blue/Walk on by.” As she clings to “foolish pride,” she begs him for a bit of mercy. “So let me hide,” Warwick sings. “The tears and the sadness you left me/When you said goodbye.”
“Walk On By” hit No. 6 on the pop charts in 1964, Warwick’s biggest hit to that point in her career. She would continue to do major damage with Bacharach/David songs throughout the decade. But it’s fair to wonder whether the trio ever topped what they did on this all-time weeper.
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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