Les Brown and Ben Homer, “Sentimental Journey,” made famous by Doris Day

This song was the number-one hit in 1945, when it became the unofficial homecoming song for WWII veterans. The lyrics speak of a metaphorical “journey” back to a loved one from the past. The chromatic descents of the A section, which describes the journey to the past, contrast with the chromatic ascents of the B section, a reflection of the singer’s anticipation for “seven” when she will be “waiting up for heaven.” This excerpt employs the quatrain form, first introduced in Chapter 14. Consider listening to Doris Day’s original recording, focusing on the sung 32-measure portion as a single statement of the form.