This one was written, as were many of Dionne Warwick’s songs, by the prolific songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The upbeat melody belies the melancholy lyrics about giving up on a dream and going back home. The juxtaposition was a common technique with Hal David, who says …

“The idea of doing a lyric that is essentially kind of sad to a very up and optimistic melody is something I’ve done a lot, and I’ve always thought it was an effective way of writing a song. Burt played this melody for me, and music says things to me and should say things to me.

I heard the phrase do you know the way to San Jose, and from that I began to create the storyline that became the person who comes to Los Angeles to make his or her career in the entertainment business and has dreams…