James Taylor - American Standard Album Lyrics

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My Blue Heaven

(originally by Gene Austin)

Day is ending
Some birds are wending
Back to the shelter of
Each little nest they love
Night shades falling
Love birds are calling
What makes this world go round?
Nothing but love

When whippoorwills cry
And evening is nigh
I hurry to my blue heaven
I turn to the right
A little white light
That leads you to my blue heaven

You'll see a smiling face, a fireplace, a cozy room
A little love that's nestled where the roses bloom
Just Molly and me
And baby makes three
We're happy in my blue heaven

My blue heaven

You'll see a smiling face, a fireplace, a cozy room
Just a little love that's nestled where the roses bloom
Just Molly and me
And baby makes three
We're happy in my blue heaven

My blue heaven

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Moon River

(originally by Audrey Hepburn)

Moon River
Wider than a mile
I'm crossin' you in style
Some day
Old dream maker
You heart breaker
Wherever your goin'
I'm goin' your way
Two drifters
Off to see the world
There's such a lot of world
To see
We're after the same
Rainbow's end
Waitin' round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon River
And me

Two drifters
Off to see the world
There's such a lot of world
To see
We're after the same
Rainbow's end
Waitin' round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon River
And me

It's you and me

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Teach Me Tonight

Do me wrong, do me right
Tell me lies, but hold me tight
Save your good-byes for the morning light
But don't let me be lonely tonight

Say good-bye and say hello
Sure 'nough good to see you
But it's time to go
Don't say yes, but please
Don't say no
I don't want to be lonely tonight

Go away then, damn you
Go on and do as you please, yeah
You ain't gonna see me getting down on my knees
I'm undecided and your heart's been divided
You've been turning my world upside down

Do me wrong, do me right, right now baby
Go on and tell me lies, but hold me tight
Save your good-byes for the morning light, morning light
But don't let me be lonely tonight
I don't want to be lonely tonight
No, no, I don't want to be lonely tonight
I don't want to be lonely tonight

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As Easy As Rolling Off A Log

"As Easy As Rolling Off A Log"
(originally by Johnnie Davis & Mabel Todd)

As easy as rolling off a log
I found it easy, baby, to fall in love with you
It was as easy as rolling cigarettes
If that ain't easy, maybe there's simpler things to do

For instance, let's cuddle
I love to cuddle
Get in a huddle
It's easy with you

As easy as rolling off a log
I really tumbled, baby, but what else could I do?
It's so easy to fall in love with you

I know that it's as easy as rolling off a log
It must be easy, baby, to say the sweet things you do
As easy as rolling off a log
I must be crazy, baby, but you make me think it's true

'Cause if I do say
I've heard a few say
The things that you say
So help me, it's true

This love has stuff has got me in a fog
The guys all say they love you
No wonder that they do
It's so easy to fall in love with you

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Almost Like Being In Love

(originally by David Brooks)

Like being in love
Like being in love

What a day this has been
What a rare mood I'm in
Why it's almost like being in love
And there's a smile on my face
For the whole human race
Well it's almost like being in love

All the music of life seems to be
Like a bell that is ringing for me
From the way that I feel
When that bell starts to peel
I could swear I was falling
It feels like I'm falling
It's almost like being in love
Like being in love

When we walked out that day
Not a word did we say
It was almost like being in love
But your hand there in mine
Made this world kind of fine
I could swear I was falling in love

All the music of life seems to be
Like a bell that is ringing just for me
And from the way that I feel
When that bell starts to peel
I could swear I was falling
It feels just like falling
It's almost like being in love
Like being in love
Like being in love
Like being in love

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Sit Down Youre Rockin the Boat

(originally by Stubby Kaye)

I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven
And by some chance I had brought my dice along
And there I stood and I hollered "Somebody fade me"
But the passengers all knew right from wrong

For the people all said sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat
People all said sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat
And the devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapel of your checkered coat
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat

I sailed away on that little boat to heaven
And by some chance found a bottle in my fist
And there I stood, nicely passin' out the whisky
But the passengers were bound to resist

For the people all said beware
You're on a heavenly trip
People all said beware
Beware, you'll scuttle the ship
And the devil will drag you under
By the fancy tie 'round your wicked throat
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat

And as I laughed at those passengers to heaven
A great big wave came and knocked me over board
And as I sank and I hollered "Someone save me!"
That's the moment I woke up, thank the lord

And I said to myself, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat
I said to myself sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' this boat
And the devil will drag you under
With a soul so heavy you'd never float
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down, stop rockin' the boat

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The Nearness Of You

Its not the pale moon that excites me
That thrills and delights me, oh no
Its just the nearness of you

It isn't your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
Its just the nearness of you

When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me
All my wildest dreams come true

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me the right
To hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night the nearness of you

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You've Got To Be Carefully Taught

(originally by William Tabbert)

You've got to be taught to hate and fear
You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade
You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught before it's too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be carefully taught

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God Bless The Child

(originally by Billie Holiday)

Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
God bless the child that's got his own

So the strong get more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't seem to make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

You've got money, you've got lots of friends
Hanging all around the door
When it's all gone, and the spending ends
No they don't come around no more

Rich relations bring
Crusts of bread and such
You can help yourself
Just don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Rich relations bring
Crusts of bread and such
You can help yourself
Just don't take too much, no
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that can stand up and say
I've got my own

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Pennies From Heaven

(originally by Bing Crosby)

Back a long long time ago
A million years BC
All the best things in this life
Were absolutely free
But no one appreciated
A sky that was always blue
And no one anticipated
A moon that was always new

So it was planned that they would vanish now and then
And you must pay before you get them back again
That's what storms were made for
And you shouldn't be afraid for

Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven

You'll find your fortune falling all over town
Make sure that your umbrella is upside down

Will you trade it for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, well you must have showers
So when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and for me

Pennies from heaven
Pennies from heaven

You'll find your fortune falling all over town
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down

Won't ya trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, child you must have showers
So when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and for me

Pennies from heaven

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My Heart Stood Still

(originally by Charles Cochran)

I laughed at sweethearts I met at schools
All indiscreet hearts seemed romantic fools
A house in Iceland it was my heart's domain
I see your eyes, now castles rise in Spain

I took one look at you
That's all I meant to do
And then my heart stood still
My feet could step and walk
My lips could move and talk
And yet my heart stood still

Though not a single word was spoken, I could tell you knew
That secret touch of hands told me so well you knew
I never lived at all
Until the thrill of that moment when my heart stood still

Though not a single word was spoken, I could tell you knew
That secret touch of hands told me so well you knew
I never lived at all
Until the thrill of that moment when my heart stood still
Oh that moment when my heart stood still

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Ol Man River

(originally by Jules Bledsoe)

There's an old man called the Mississippi
Now that's the old man that I long to be
What does he care if the world's got troubles?
What does he care if the land's not free?

Old man river
That old man river
Well he must know something
But he don't say nothin'
He keeps on rollin'
He just keeps rollin' along

Man don't plant taters
And he don't plant cotton
Yes and them that plants 'em
Is soon forgotten
He keeps on rollin'
He just keeps rollin' along

Oh, you and me, we just the same
Body's all achin' and racked with pain
Tote that barge, better lift that bale
You get a little drunk and you land in jail

I get weary and sick of tryin'
Till I'm tired of livin' and I'm scared of dyin'
But old man river keeps on rolling
But old man river it just keeps on rolling
I said that old man river keeps on rolling along

Old man river

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It's Only a Paper Moon

Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

It's phony it's plain to see
How happy I would be
If you believed in me

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The Surrey With The Fringe On Top

(originally by Alfred Drake, Joan Roberts & Betty Garde)

When I take you out tonight with me
Honey, here's the way it's gonna be
You will sit behind a team of snow-white horses
In the slickest gig you'll ever see

Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry
When I take you out in the surrey
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top
Watch that fringe an' see how it flutters
When I drive them high-steppin' strutters
Nosy pokes will peek through their shutters and their eyes will pop!

The wheels are yellow, the upholstery's brown
The dashboard's genuine leather
With isinglass curtains you can roll right down
In case there's a change in the weather

Two bright sidelights winkin' and blinkin'
Ain't no finer rig I'm a thinkin'
You can keep yer rig if yer thinkin' that I'd care to swap
For that shiny little surrey with the fringe on the top

Now would you say the fringe was made of silk?
I wouldn't have no other kind but silk
Has it really got a team of snow-white horses?
One's like snow, the other's more like milk

I can see the stars gettin' blurry
When we ride back home in the surrey
Ridin' slowly home in the surrey with the fringe on top
I can feel the day gettin' older
Feel a sleepy head near my shoulder
Noddin', droopin', close to my shoulder 'til it falls-kerplop

The sun is swimmin' on the rim of the hill
The moon is takin' a header
And just when I'm thinkin' all the earth is still
A lark wakes up in the meadow

Hush, you bird, my baby's a-sleepin'
Maybe got a dream worth a-keepin'
Whoa, you team, just keep on a-creepin'
At a slow clip clop
Don't you hurry little surrey with the fringe on the top