♫ Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I used to be a very organized person.  No honest … I did!  Not so today, though.  I find that at this stage in my life, my mind has become somewhat cluttered and, while I may not like it, I cannot seem to get things put back where they belong.  For example, every time one of you suggests a song you’d like to hear, I make note of it in a file of “To Be Played” songs, and usually … sometimes … I put the name of the person who requested it next to the song.  Then again, more often than not I think, “Oh, no need to note that … I’ll remember!”  🤣🤣  Anyway, I was at somewhat of a loss for a song to play tonight, so I drug out the ol’ list … for the first time in probably six months or more!  Makes me wonder why I bother to keep a list that I don’t even look at!  And I was … overwhelmed!  I have a list of at least 50 songs you guys have requested and I see that I’ve played a few, but by no means have I played most of them.  So … I’m starting off with one that John Howell requested somewhere along the line, probably a few years ago!

This one is by The Lovin’ Spoonful and was released in 1965 on their debut album Do You Believe In Magic. It was the second single released from the album and the most successful, reaching #2 on the American Billboard charts for the week of June 11, 1966.  It also reached #2 in Canada, but did not chart at all in the UK, though it was covered by a British band, The Knack, also in 1966.

The song was written by John Sebastian even before the band’s founding in 1964.  In this song, John Sebastian asks if you’ve ever had to decide between two beautiful girls, in this case, one with beautiful blue eyes and lots of money, and the other kind of mousy but very appealing. In the last verse, we learn that they are sisters.

The song was actually inspired by a pair of sisters he met at a summer camp where he was a counselor. The song’s question was fantasy – neither sister was interested in Sebastian, even though he taught himself the autoharp in an attempt to impress them.

This one’s for you, John!!!

Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind

The Lovin’ Spoonful

Did you ever have to make up your mind?
Pick up on one and leave the other one behind
It’s not often easy, and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Did you ever have to finally decide?
Say yes to one and let the other one ride
There’s so many changes, and tears you must hide
Did you ever have to finally decide?

Sometimes there’s one with deep blue eyes, cute as a bunny
With hair down to here, and plenty of money
And just when you think she’s that one in the world
Your heart gets stolen by some mousy little girl
And then you know you better make up your mind
Pick up on one and leave the other one behind
It’s not often easy, and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Sometimes you really dig a girl the moment you kiss her
And then you get distracted by her older sister
When in walks her father and takes you in line
And says “Better go home, son, and make up your mind”
Then you bet you’d better finally decide!
And say yes to one and let the other one ride
There’s so many changes, and tears you must hide
Did you ever have to finally decide?

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: John Sebastian

Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? lyrics © Trio Music Company

42 thoughts on “♫ Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind ♫”

  1. Great song from a great band, who were undervalued here. I had a ‘best of’ album, which was released on a budget price label and included all their best songs. It cost 12s 6d, less than two singles: best bargain ever!

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  2. Pingback: DID YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND. jilldennison.com | | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

  3. I had this one on a ‘ Best of’ album, and learnt to appreciate the ‘Country’ side to Lovin’ Spoonful, thus when ‘Nashville Cats’ and ‘Darlin ‘ Companion’ came out they fitted perfectly into the band’s repertoire.
    A real toe-tapper.

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  4. Jill, it is one of many good ones by The Lovin’ Spoonful.” John Sebastian’s show we saw about three years ago was seasoned by his telling stories about the song and band. It was indeed a treat. Keith

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  6. I had actually written a poem, long lost now, about loving two girls in two different cities. I met them both in Winnipeg, but they were from elsewhere and returned home before we had a real chance to explore our feelings. As one left I met the other, so the 2nd may have been a rebound love but it felt just the same to me. Once the 2nd left I did some real hard thinking about which direction to take. Fate played a nasty role in the outcome. I was arrested and sent to jail, and I had neither address on me at the time — probably a good thing for them, but I could not write to either. I saw one once, years later. By that time she was married, so what happened cannot be talked about. But for one night all our feelings for each other exploded back into our hearts. It was like we had never been apart. I took her to the airpirt the next day to send her back to her husband, but it was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life.
    I loved this song when it came out, the Luvin’ Spoonful’s music was almost magical, back when I still believed in magical love. The idea to have two girls to have to decide between was fantastical at the time, but when it happened it became heart-wrenching. Had I not been arrested I would have followed one of them, but I could not tell you which one. I certainly did not know.

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      • You’re the one who jogs the memories. Mind you, almost every 60s or 70s song jogs a different memory, those were memorable times for me.
        Between puberty and adulthood is when we are discovering who we are, and can be. Life seems to be more vivid in those years because we are busy creating ourselves from almost nothing into something entirely unique.

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          • Exactly. Though we take so long to mature compared to almost every other species, our developing years go by way too fast for most people. And if we try to maintain our sense of wonder we are ridivuled by people who were not allowed to do that. If they grew up toonsoon or too fast, they want everyone to grow up too soon or too fast. Human nature: If I cannot enjoy myself, no one can!

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            • Yep. That seems to be a basic trait of many.
              At 71 (and smidge) I have reached a stage of ‘Oh my. There’s still so much to learn and do (For instance, I’ve just discovered Role Playing Games- on a board- Not so much Dungeons and Dragons- more wandering about the place style; doing ‘stuff’ type)

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              • I have not found that yet, guess I’m “too” old — almost 73 now. But really I don’t have time yet. I have projects to finish, but no energy to get them done. Lack of energy is the bane of my existence.

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                  • I wush is was j7st our hotter than usual summer, but It is actually due to medical conditions, OR the interplay of medications I am on for those medical conditions. My dioctor, who is now semi-retired, has not figured out the direct cause yet. Last time I counted I had 42 medical issues of varying degrees of complexity, about 10 which I am on medication for.
                    I stopped counting at 42 because that is the answer to life, the universe, and everything!

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                    • Not to worry, my friend. Most of these issues have been around over 10 years, so I am used to them. I’m on my 2nd pacemaker/defibrillator and may need a third in the next couple years. The orthopaedic surgeons won’t give me any spare parts (knees, hips) because they say I get too many infections so the parts won’t last long before they would have to replace them. (They didn’t like me having healthier hair than they had, They were both going bald in their 40s!) My diabetes is under control. All-in-all I am as healthy as can be for a guy who mistreated his body as a youth. I chain-smoked for 16 years. I lived hand-to-mouth for 10 years, not the healthiest way to eat. I often pushed my body to its limits, so, what I got is what I deserved to get! But I am cancer-free as in never had it that I know of, so to me I am ahead of the game. I have lost 5 brothers to various diseases (ALS, lung cancer, colon cancer, dementia) so I figure I’m doing okay!
                      Don’t cry for me, Argentina!

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                    • I admire that courage and resolve good friend.
                      ‘so, what I got is what I deserved to get! ‘
                      Reads to me more like ‘I took what Life threw at me, did the best I could to get, and I am still damn’ standing!’

                      That sir, is true steel.
                      Take care and keep on keeping on.
                      Roger

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                    • More like stooping than standing, but yes, still on my feet. As I hope are you, and all our friends! 😀😃😁😆😆😅🤣😂🙂🙃😉😊😇🥰😍🤩😘😗☺😚😙🥲😋😛😜🤪🤗🤭🤔🤐🤨😐😑😶😏😒🙄😬🤥😌😔😪😴😷🤒🤕🥴😵

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