♫ You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice ♫

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

Wow, I can’t believe it’s already day #6 of Lovin’ Spoonful Week!  Tomorrow will be the big ‘wrap-up’ of all the ones I haven’t yet gotten to.  You guys haven’t given me any requests or suggestions, so … c’mon folks … throw me some ideas here!  Today I’m giving in to my own desires and playing what is one of my favourites by the Lovin’ Spoonful …

According to Wikipedia …

Written by John Sebastian and Steve Boone, it was issued on a non-album single in November 1965. The song was the Lovin’ Spoonful’s second-consecutive single to enter the top ten in the United States, peaking at number ten. It was later included on the band’s second album, Daydream, released in March 1966.

Boone’s initial inspiration for the song was a remark he made on a date with Nurit Wilde. He began the piece as a basic melodic figure on the piano, but he appealed to Sebastian for help in finishing the song, marking the first of several compositions on which the pair collaborated. The finished recording employs a complex vocal arrangement devised by Jerry Yester, which later inspired Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys in composing his 1966 song “God Only Knows”.

The song charted at #2 in Canada and #10 in the U.S., but did not chart in the UK … I’m not sure if they didn’t like it or what …

Pye International Records, which held U.K. distribution rights to Kama Sutra product, issued the single there in January 1966. The band remained generally unknown in the U.K. until April, when their follow-up single “Daydream” made to number two in the British charts in conjunction with a ten-day promotional tour.

I’m playing the live version, because I’m in the mood to do so, and because I enjoy watching them … they’re cute!

You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice

The Lovin’ Spoonful

You didn’t have to be so nice
I would have liked you anyway
If you had just looked once or twice
And gone upon your quiet way

Today I said the time was right for me to follow you
I knew I’d find you in a day or two
And it’s true

You came upon a quiet day (ooh)
You simply seemed to take your place (ooh)
I knew that it would be that way (ooh)
The minute that I saw your face (ooh)

And when we’ve had a few more days (when we’ve had a few more days)
I wonder if I’ll get to say (wonder if I’ll get to say)
You didn’t have to be so nice (be so nice)
I would have liked you anyway (would have liked)

Today I said the time was right for me to follow you
I knew I’d find you in a day or two
And it’s true

You didn’t have to be so nice (didn’t have to be so nice)
I would have liked you anyway (would have liked you anyway)
If you had just looked once or twice (once or twice)
And gone upon your quiet way (quiet way)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Sebastian / Steve Boone

You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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37 thoughts on “♫ You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice ♫”

  1. All these songs make me remember an affair I had back in the 80s with a crazy Vietnam vet biker named John … he really loved the Lovin Spoonful. He made me a tape (remember doing that?) & most of these songs were on that tape, along with stuff by the Eagles, Chris Hillman, JD Souther & others. He used to leave songs on my answering machine! The first time I heard “The End of the Innocence” was on my answering machine. He died in 1993 of a heart attack. My best friend Jim, who also knew him (he has some REALLY good stories about John, crazy-ass shit) said he was surprised that he wasn’t shot by some husband. I know that my husband at the time wanted to shoot him LOL

    Yeah, my life used to be a real soap opera. With great tunes.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I have always so liked this song. It flows so smoothly, and says such nice things. It’s nice for a slow dance, but a person can jam a little bit on it if in the car singing, too. Thanks, Jill!

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    • Agreed … one of my favourites of theirs! Heh heh … I’m picturing you cruisin’ down the highway at 75 mph and jamming to this one, singin’ along, when suddenly in the rear view mirror, there appear flashing blue lights … uh-oh. 🚔

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      • This one’s a little mellow to drive that fast to, but I’ve been known, in younger days, to drive fast during fun songs, for sure! I’m fortunate to have chosen unpopulated roads with decent maintenance when I did that… 😉

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  4. Good pick, Jill. As I was listening today, I thought of an old television show that was around when I was in high school called Welcome Back, Kotter. It was a comedy about a teacher who worked with a group of “troubled” students. Though they may not have said it in the show, I think they were looked at as dropouts, and Mr. Kotter was trying to provide them with life lessons. Most episodes were comedy based with embedded morals.

    I’m telling you all this because John Sebastian sang the theme song for the show. Though I wouldn’t describe it as one of my favorites, his voice is instantly recognizable. Oh—John Travolta plays one of the high school kids in the class.

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    • OH YES!!! I well remember Welcome Back, Kotter!!! It was one of my favourite shows back in the day. I did not realize that John Sebastian sang the theme song. Ahhhhh .. the memories. Thanks, Pete!!! You were in high school, I was raising a family and going to college! Thanks for the memories!

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  7. In my comment on Rain on the Roof, I gave you 6 suggestions. In my comment on Summer in the City I told you what my favoutite Spoonful song is.
    You said we haven’t given you any suggestions?
    You have played Daydream and now You Didn’t Have to be So Nice. The others are:
    Jug Band Music
    Did You Ever Have to Make UpYour Mind
    A Younger Girl
    Nashville Cats
    Darling Companion
    I hope I will be hearing all 5 tomorrow.
    LuL..

    Liked by 3 people

  8. You didn’t have to be so nice, I would have liked you anyway.🤔

    Maybe if we sand off some of the rougher edges you could fit?🤣🤣🤣😘

    Liked by 2 people

      • Dust to dust.😘

        Nothing which is at all times and in every way agreeable to us can have objective reality. It is of the very nature of the real that it should have sharp corners and rough edges, that it should be resistant, should be itself. Dream-furniture is the only kind on which you never stub your toes or bang your knee.

        C. S. Lewis

        Liked by 1 person

    • Since it’s summertime now, you can take all these new songs you’ve learned and play them in the backyard for the neighbors! I’m glad you enjoyed this one, and I’m always happy to introduce you to ones you didn’t know before. Yep, a lovely stress-free weekend so far! xx

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  10. Pingback: ♫ You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice ♫ | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

    • Now THAT is my kind of music!!! Love it!! Thanks, Kamchak … I’ll keep it in mind for a future post, but for this week, I have to stick with Lovin’ Spoonful …

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