The songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal Davis wrote this. Bacharach came up with the music, and David wrote the lyrics about a woman asking her former lover to leave her alone. This was released as the B-side to Warwick's single "Any Old Time Of The Day." She'd had several releases that went nowhere, and her latest tune was, in the opinion of her label, her manager, and herself, her last shot at making the Top 40. Murray the K, whose show on radio station WINS was the top-rated program in New York, wouldn't play it. No matter how many people called and pleaded with him, he played the B-side instead because he knew that was the tune with potential. Warwick's record company wasn't happy with this, but listeners agreed with Murray and "Walk On By" became the hit. Isaac Hayes did a 12-minute version on his album Hot Buttered Soul. A punk band called The Stranglers also recorded it. Other artists who have covered this song include the Carnival, D Train, the Four Seasons, Connie Francis, Aretha Franklin, Gabrielle, Gloria Gaynor, Kool & the Gang, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Lawrence, The Lettermen, Little Anthony And The Imperials, Johnny Mathis, The Miracles, Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels, Helen Shapiro, and Mel Torme. Burt Bacharach (from Record Collector magazine): "'Walk On By' was the first time that I tried putting two grand pianos on a record in the studio. I can't remember if I played and Artie Butler played or if Paul Griffin and Artie Butler played but here were two grand pianos going on. I knew the song had something. It was a great date. I walked out of that studio and we had done two tunes in a three-hour session, 'Walk On By' and 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.' I felt very good leaving knowing that I had two monster hits on my hands. You never know for sure but you feel a great satisfaction."On May 12, 2002 Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport after baggage screeners found marijuana inside a lipstick container she was carrying. The UK publication The Sun reported the story with the headline: “Walk on high, Dionne.” This was given the Q Classic Song honor at the 2012 Q Awards. Presenting the gong to Dionne Warwick, Tim Burgess (frontman of The Charlatans UK) said: “The song involves tears in the street, unrequited love and Groundhog Day-style heartbreak. If you listen properly it’s everything but easy listening. It’s utter devastation, given dignity by Dionne’s rich, beautiful voice – one of the most soulful performances ever given.”