Listen to Leroy Van Dyke’s classic country hit “Walk On By” and take a trip down memory lane!
Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk On By” is a classic country song that has stood the test of time. The tune was released in 1961 and quickly became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
The lyrics tell the story of a man who sees his former lover out with someone else. He doesn’t want to cause a scene or confront her, so he chooses to “walk on by.” This may seem like a simple concept, but it speaks to a universal human experience: the pain of seeing someone move on while you’re still stuck in the past.
The first verse sets the scene:
“If I see you tomorrow on some street in town
Pardon me if I don’t say hello
I belong to another, and it wouldn’t look so good
To know someone I’m not supposed to know”
Here we see the protagonist acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation. He’s moved on with his life and is now with someone else, so he feels like he shouldn’t acknowledge his former flame. But there’s an undercurrent of pain and regret in these lyrics – he wishes things could be different, but he knows they can’t.
The chorus drives home the message of the song:
“Just walk on by, wait on the corner
I love you but we’re strangers when we meet
Just walk on by, wait on the corner
I love you but we’re strangers when we meet”
Here, the singer is telling his ex-lover that he still loves her, but they can’t be together anymore. He’s resigned himself to the fact that they’ll never be able to recapture what they once had. The repetition of the phrase “we’re strangers when we meet” drives home the sense of loss and separation.
The second verse adds a bit more detail to the story:
“In love, sweet love, we danced in spring
Then summer came, and summer went
And if she’s gone, I can’t blame her for leaving me alone
But it’s still not easy to forget”
Here we see a glimpse of the happier times the two shared. They danced in spring, but then summer came and went – a metaphor for the passing of time and the changing of seasons. The singer acknowledges that he can’t blame his ex-lover for moving on, but he still finds it difficult to let go.
Overall, “Walk On By” is a bittersweet song about lost love and the pain of letting go. It’s a classic that has resonated with audiences for over 60 years, and it’s easy to see why. The simple melody and relatable lyrics make it a timeless piece of music that will continue to be beloved for generations to come.