Secret Love

By Sammy Fain & Paul Francis Webster
1953

An Academy Award-winner from the closing years of classic pop era, it was written for and introduced by the lovely Doris Day in her starring role in Calamity Jane. Ms. Day also recorded a commercial version of the song the year after the movie came out. It remains one of the most beautiful tunes to ever snare an Oscar, from an age when winning the award for a song actually meant something.

Lyrics:

Once I had a secret love
That lived within the heart of me.
All too soon my secret love
Became impatient to be free.

So I told a friendly star
The way that dreamers often do.
Just how wonderful you are
And why I'm so in love with you.

Now I shout it from the highest hills.
Even told the golden daffodils.
At last my heart's an open door,
And my secret love's no secret anymore.

Recorded By:

Mandy Moore
Frank Sinatra
Sinead O'Connor
George Michael
Anne Murray

When I Fall in Love

By Victor Young & Edward Heyman
1952

The Robert Mitchum war picture One Minute to Zero yielded this timeless classic, in which Young's melody was included in the score. That same year, Doris Day fully introduced it using Heyman's lyric, and one of the most popular wedding songs of all time was born (my own in-laws used it in 1967!).

Lyrics:

When I fall in love,
It will be forever,
Or I'll never fall in love.

In a restless world like this is,
Love is ended before its begun.
And too many moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun.

When I give my heart,
It will be completely,
Or I'll never give my heart.

And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too,
Is when I fall in love with you.

Recorded By:

Johnny Mathis
Nat King Cole
Chris Botti
Chet Baker
Tony Bennett

It's Magic

By Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn
1947

The lovely Doris Day introduced this tune, written for her to perform in her debut motion picture, Romance on the High Seas. Ms. Day was one of five people to subsequently record the song the following year, and her version was the most successful, rising to #2 on the Billboard charts.

Lyrics:

You sigh, the song begins,
You speak and I hear violins.
It's magic.

The stars desert the skies,
And rush to nestle in your eyes.
It's magic.

Without a golden wand or mystic charms.
Fantastic things begin when I am in your arms.

When we walk hand-in-hand,
The world becomes a wonderland.
It's magic.

How else can I explain
Those rainbows when there isn't rain?
It's magic.

Why do I tell me myself
These things that happen are all really true,
When in my heart I know
The magic is my love for you?

Recorded By:

Jerry Vale
Tony Martin
Dick Haymes
Sarah Vaughan
Keeley Smith

Sentimental Journey

By Les Brown, Ben Homer & Bud Green
1944

A big hit toward the end of World War II, this song was first recorded by Brown's orchestra with Doris Day on lead vocal. It soon became Day's first number-one hit, and lasted a total of 23 weeks on the charts. The mellow number has long been a favorite of jazz musicians.

Lyrics:

Gonna take a sentimental journey,
Gonna set my heart at ease.
Gonna make a sentimental journey,
To renew old memories.

Got my bags, got my reservations,
Spent each dime I could afford.
Like a child in wild anticipation,
I long to hear that, "All aboard!"

Seven...that's the time we leave, at seven.
I'll be waitin' up at heaven,
Countin' every mile of railroad track
That takes me back.

Never thought my heart could be so yearny.
Why did I decide to roam?
Gotta take that sentimental journey,
Sentimental journey home.

Recorded By:

Woody Herman
Frank Sinatra
Rosemary Clooney
Esquivel
Julie London