...::: The Critters :::...

Keep America Dancing

KEEP AMERICA DANCING
Words & Music by: L. Schiavi

"The song came to me very easy. I had the feeling people in America needed to be awakened and brought back to the dance floor. What better way than telling them to get up and---KEEP AMERICA DANCING!" - Lenny Rocco

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Come on and get on the floor

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

I just can't stand no more

Come on people get on the floor

We'll keep it tight, one two, three, four

Now you can do it I know you can

Listen to The Critters cause you know we're the band

Clap your hands and don't be shy

Feel the beat you can really fly

Jump and shout, come on kick it out

Can't you hear what we're talking about now

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Come on and get up and dance

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

We're not looking for romance

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

I'll give you one more chance

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Come on people and don't be shy

We'll keep it up and flying high

Don't look now it's everlasting

It sure looks like America's Dancing

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Come on and get on the floor

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Before I show you to the door

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

I just can't stand no more

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Look up on the stage

We're really not strange

We got a job to do

We do it all for you, you, you, you

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

You're looking good

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Like I knew you would

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Get that kick around

KEEP AMERICA DANCING

Children And Flowers

CHILDREN AND FLOWERS
Music and lyrics: Jackie DeShannon

The Critters' producer, Artie Ripp (at Kama Sutra Productions in NYC) suggested that they do this piece penned by Jackie DeShannon ("When You Walk In The Room", "Put A Little Love In Your Heart", et al). It became The Critters' first release.

You came in riding on a white dove's wings

Lost in your beauty, You never felt the sting

Of wanting, needing, 'cause you've always had

You think that nothing means, Nothing's ever bad

Here's to the, Children and Flowers

Who, Play by the hour and never have to win

Because when, No one is choosing

Well , No one is losing and

Everyone plays in the wind

And now you're feeling things you don't understand

Your tears are falling, in the palms of your hands

Your little white dove she is crying too

She knows that you're in love

And I'm in love with you

Here's to the, Children and Flowers

Who, Play by the hour and never have to win

Because when, No one is choosing

Well, No one is losing and

Everyone plays in the wind

EMI Unart Cataloge

Younger Girl

YOUNGER GIRL
Music & lyric: John Sebastian

"The inspiration for younger girl was pretty much the same as for Magic...The Spoonful had been playing for chess players at the Night Owl Cafe until one night the scene changed . A teenage girl showed up among the beatniks to sway in the shadows. We took one look and knew our audience had finally arrived!" - John Sebastian

A Younger Girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

She's one of those girls who seems to come in the spring

One look in her eyes and you forget everything

You had ready to say … and I saw her today

A Younger Girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

No matter how hard I try I can't seem to leave a mem'ry behind

I remember her eyes … soft, dark and brown

'said she'd never been in trouble or even in town

A Younger Girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

And should I hang around actin' like her brother

In a few more years they'd call us "right" for each other

But, why? … … If I wait I'll just die, yeah…

A Younger Girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

No matter how hard I try I can't seem to leave a mem'ry behind

I remember her eyes … soft, dark and brown

'said she'd never been in trouble or even in town

A Younger Girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

Oh… A Younger Girl keeps a-rollin' across my mind

Oh, yes she does

Alley Music Corp.

Mr Dyingly Sad

MR. DYINGLY SAD / Mr. Dieingly Sad
Music & Lyric: Don Ciccone

"It was January of 1966. I had fallen in love with a girl I met at a Critters gig in Westfield, NJ. The girl was beautiful ... I wanted to marry her ... that's the way a young man thinks, isn't it? But the Vietnam war was raging and I figured I'd be drafted. I was sad about the war and that I'd have to be away from her." - Don Ciccone

Just a breeze will muss your hair

But you smile away each little care

And if the rain should make you blue

You say tomorrow is anew

Blue be you eyes, blonde your hair

You realize beyond a care

Life's in a hurry, but

You've got no worry, you're

So mystifyingly glad

I'm MR. DYINGLY SAD

And when the leaves begin to fall

Answering old winter's call

I feel my tears, they fall like rain

Weeping forth a sad refrain

Blue, dark, and dim it may seem

You mark a grin, a moonbeam

Brightens your smile, pray tell me

How all the while you can be

So mystifying glad

I'm MR. DYINGLY SAD

You say,

Take my hand and walk with me

Wake this land and stalk the sea

Show me love, unlock

All doors I'm yours

Then the tide rolls up to shore

I whisper low, I love you more

More than even you could know

Adore me to so I could show

I'm so mystifyingly glad

Not MR. DYINGLY SAD

MR. DYINGLY SAD

Colgems-EMI Music Inc.

(Baby) I Can't Stop It Now

(Baby) I Can't Stop It Now
Words and music: Albert Miller

"It is difficult to place yourself in someone else's shoes, but it must be done in order write about it effectively. I have never been hurt or fooled by someone I have loved. (If I was, I was too young to be devastated by it) Over the years I have seen several close friends completely "played" by someone they were head over heels in love with. I believe the lyric conveys a very convincing story."
- Albert Miller

There's a piece of my heart

Right where you left it

Right where you tore me apart

And all that remains

Is heartache and pain

And maybe a few of your scars

I don't know what I believe anymore

one thing I do know for sure

I can't stop believing your lies

And maybe you're laughing out loud

love won't let go, believe me I've tried

Baby I can't stop it now

There's a little hotel

With our favorite room

Baby we know it so well

So many plans

Slipped right through my hands

If I'm a fool, I couldn't tell

And I'm still here, still hanging on

Wondering where I went wrong

I can't stop begging for more

I can't break away from this cloud

There's rain in my heart, like never before

Baby I can't stop it now

Ooh, La, Ooh

OOH-LA-OOH
Music & Lyric: Don Ciccone

"Looking out into the audience can become a great inspiration for writing a song about someone you never met ... especially when that someone was that striking." - Don Ciccone

I love the way you walk…

I love the way you talk…

I love the way you smile…

I love your sexy style…

I love the way you do the things you do

I love the way you do the OOH, LA, OOH

I love the way you dance…

I love you sweet romance…

I love the things you say

I love you night and day

I love the way you do the things you do

I love the way you do the OOH, LA, OOH

I love the way you stare

I really love your hair

I love the way you dress

Don't matter more or less

I love the way you look

I love the way you cook

I love the way you think

I love the way you drink

I love the way you do the things you do

I love the way you do the OOH, LA, OOH

I love the way you stare

I really love your hair

I love the way you dress

Don't matter more or less

I love the way you look

I love the way you cook

I love the way you think

I love the way you drink

I love the way you do the things you do

I love the way you do the OOH, LA, OOH

Don Ciccone Productions BMI

Help

HELP
Words and music: Lennon / McCartney

"I had the very good fortune of meeting John Lennon. During my conversation with him I asked of all the songs he had written, which were most personal. "Help" was the very first song he mentioned. Later, I sat at my piano and "stripped down" the song. The process revealed a very intense lyric, almost a prayer. I added some chord choices of my own but retained the simplicity of the beautiful melody so the lyrics would stand out, as they should." - Albert Miller

When I was younger, so much younger than today,

I never needed anybody's help in any way.

But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,

Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down

And I do appreciate you being round.

Help me, get my feet back on the ground,

Won't you please, please help me?

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,

My independence seems to vanish in the haze.

But every now and then I feel so insecure,

I know that I just need you like I've never done before.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down

And I do appreciate you being round.

Help me, get my feet back on the ground,

Won't you please, please help me.

Sony / ATV tunes LLC DBA ATV OBO ATV

A Roll Of The Dice

A ROLL OF THE DICE
(That's Just the Way It Is)
Music and Lyric: Don Ciccone

"I had finished the melody and chord accompaniment in 2007 and went on to complete the lyrics three different times, each time scrapping the one before. I wanted to write a song about something other than boy-meet-girl, I-love-you, etc.. The song lyric is now controversial, but it's the story I wanted to tell." - Don Ciccone

It's all she ever wanted – Obsessed with her desire

She only had to find a man who'd light love's tender fire.

The rest would be so easy – Or so she did believe

What she was not aware of

Was, she could not conceive

The wedding was so pretty - The honeymoon went fine

They bought a house outside the city, and went to bed by nine.

She was Hoping for a daughter, he was hoping for a son

They'd try and try as the years went by

'Til her chances all were done.

It's all A Roll Of The Dice … and a price … can be paid

You either win or you lose, you can't choose, how you're made

Can't get ahead of your fate … It's too late, from the start

And she was going insane from the pain in her heart

That's just The Way It Is

'Tho she could not be a mother, she still could be a wife

Too small a prize, that compromise –

And so she took her life.

It's all A Roll Of The Dice … and a price … can be paid

You either win or you lose, you can't choose, how you're made

Can't get ahead of your fate … It's too late, from the start

And she was going insane from the pain in her heart

That's just The Way It Is

A Roll Of The Dice

That's just The Way It Is

A Roll Of The Dice

Don Ciccone Productions BMI

Marryin' Kind Of Love

MARRYIN' KIND OF LOVE
Music & Lyric: P. Andreoli (aka: Pete Anders) & V. Poncia

"This lyric came from my heart. When I looked around at the world that surrounded me it seemed that the meaning of love was shallow for most people I knew than for me. It was the 1960s, we were so innocent. Free love was one kind of love but I wanted to write a song about the kind of love that lasts longer than a nighttime – the marrying kind." - P. Andreoli

Most people I know … Got nothin' to show

For all the changes that they've been through

But it won't happen to me and you ..no..

Not me and you, baby

We're not gonna be … like others I see

Just empty faces markin' time

Waitin' for somethin' to blow their mind .. no

Not me and you, baby

We've got The Marryin' Kind of Love

And I'm proud … Don't you know I'm proud

I'm proud of what you made of me, girl

I'm twice the guy I used to be

No more livin' from day to day

I've thrown that kind of life away for you

For you… my baby

We've got The Marryin' Kind of Love

And I'm proud … … …

We've got The Marryin' Kind of Love

EMI Unart

Mystery Lane

MYSTERY LANE
Words and Music by Albert Miller

"As I was getting ready to leave a songwriters meeting, people asked me why I was going so early. I responded by saying "It's a long walk if I miss the train". While on the train I knew that was a good line for a song. I just did not know what to do with it. The music was easy, but developing the lyric took the better part of ten years. I wanted to say something about doing something with your life and not simply being a bystander. The train would represent opportunity, and it's destination, Mystery Lane." - Albert Miller

I've lived a life of lost opportunity

Lady Luck never shined her light on me

She threw the away the key

But, wheels spin and chips go down

It don't take much to turn your world around

Just keep it moving when you hit the ground

'Cause it's a long walk if I miss this train

If I don't get on board it may not come again

Oh, take me down that MYSTERY LANE

I've burned some bridges in my life before

I closed a lot of open doors

Got to find me some more

It aint easy breaking out of the past

Standing still, your life goes by so fast

Grab on a take a chance

I'm getting on a brand new track

Holding on and don't look back

I'm letting go. Release the pain

Take me down,

Take me down that MYSTERY LANE

Take me down now

'Cause it's a long walk if I miss this train

If I don't get on board it may not come again

Oh, take me down that MYSTERY LANE

You're The Everything I Need

YOU'RE THE EVERYTHING I NEED
Words and Music By: Albert Miller

"I was watching the Grammy's one night and was inspired by the songs that were winning. So I took a break and went into my studio and began writing the first thoughts that came to mind. It only took me about twenty minutes to complete the song, and it remains relatively unchanged from its inception." - Albert Miller

Baby look at me now

I feel like I'm in heaven

You know I won't let you down

Our love is just beginning

All I ever want to know

is that you are with me

with me everywhere I go

Say you'll never leave me

Don't you know that

YOU'RE THE EVERYTHING I NEED

More than anyone or anything I've ever seen

YOU'RE THE EVERYTHING I NEED

There'll never be someone else

I'm through with competition

I want you all for myself

My heart and soul addition

Ever since I saw your face

Oh, my eyes are filled with

images I can't erase

Won't you open up and

let me show you

YOU'RE THE EVERYTHING I NEED

More than anyone or anything I've ever seen

YOU'RE THE EVERYTHING I NEED

So baby look at me now

Baby don't you let me down

Ever since I saw your face

Oh, my eyes are filled with

images I can't erase

won't you open up and

let me show you

Pledge Of Allegiance

THE PLEDGE (Of Allegiance)

Music and Lyric Treatment: Don Ciccone "It's the words to our Pledge Of Allegiance with added lyrics from other anthems of our great country. I'm proud (and grateful) to have served my country in war time and wrote this as a tribute to my Armed Forces brothers and sisters of yesterday and today." - Don Ciccone

I pledge allegiance to the flag

Of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag

One nation … Under God

United so we never will fall

Indivisible … with liberty and

Justice for all

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag

Of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag

I pledge allegiance to the flag

Of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag

Oh … America! America!

God shed his loving grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

I pledge allegiance to the flag

Of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag

Don Ciccone Productions BMI