Description

Sentimental Journey tab with practice MP3

Les Brown and His Band of Renown had been performing the song, but were unable to record it because of the 1942–44 musicians’ strike. When the strike ended, the band, with Doris Day as vocalist, had a hit record with the song, Day’s first #1 hit, in 1945.^[1] The song’s release coincided with the end of WWII in Europe and became the unofficial homecoming theme for many veterans.^[1] The recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36769, with the flip side “Twilight Time“.^[2] The record first reached the Billboard charts on March 29, 1945 and lasted 23 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.^[3] The song actually reached the charts after the later-recorded “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time“.

The song describes someone about to take a train to a place to which they have a great emotional attachment. It describes their mounting anticipation while wondering why they ever roamed away.

Its memorable opening verse is: