Songs About Walking

Just a few songs about walking, selected lyrics and my commentary. Take a walk!


1.These Boots are Made for Walking - Nancy Sinatra

“You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you”
Comment: This was the beginning of “power walking”.

2. Walk a Mile in My Shoes- Joe South 1970

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Oh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes.
Comment: Great song, only #12 in the charts, perhaps a bit preachy.


3. Walk Like a Man - Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons

Oh how you tried to cut me down to size
Telling dirty lies to my friends
But my own father
said give her up don't bother
The world isn't coming to an end

(he said just)
Walk like a man
Talk like a man
Walk like a man my son
No woman's worth
Crawling on the earth
Just walk like a man my son
Comment: Ya, and you can take your crummy Blackberry too - no, wait!

4 The Walk of Life - Dire Straits

Here comes johnny and hell tell you the story
Hand me down my walkin shoes
Here come johnny with the power and the glory
Backbeat the talkin blues
He got the action, he got the motion
Oh yeah, the boy can play
Dedication devotion
Turning all the night time into the day
He do the song about the sweet lovin woman
He do the song about the knife
He do the walk, he do the walk of life

Comment; And he run with scissors too.

5. I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
Want the words? - see the movie. Really.

6. Walk on by - Dionne Warwick
When you see me walking down the street
and I start to cry each time we meet
walk on by, walk on by...
Comment: And if you can, run.

7 Just Walk On By - Jimmy Reeves,1950
Just walk on by,
wait on the corner
I love you but we're strangers when we meet.”
I love you but we're strangers when we meet.
Comment:Further instructions included hiding behind a potted plant.

8. Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers

Walk right in, sit right down
Daddy, let your mind roll on
Walk right in, sit right down
Daddy, let your mind roll on
Everybody's talkin' 'bout a new way of walkin'
Do you want to lose your mind?
Walk right in, sit right down
Daddy, let your mind roll on
Daddy, let your mind roll on

Comment: This early 60s folk song was part of the ‘happenings’ scene. A “new way of walking” involved sitting.


9. Walking to New Orleans - Fats Domino

“You used to be my honey
Till you spent all my money
No use for you to cry
I'll see you bye and bye
Cause I'm walkin' to New Orleans”

Fats Domino. Walking.

10. You Never Walk Alone - From the musical 'A Caroussel'

Hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark.
Walk on,
walk on, with hope in your heart
and you'll never walk alone...

Comment: Schizophrenia theme song.