Mr. Dieingly Sad by The Critters

Album: Younger Girl (1966)

Charted: 17

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Songfacts®:

"Mr. Dieingly Sad" is a tender, pretty song with a mystical ambience.

The lyrics discuss a walk along the beach with a woman whose "mystifying" happiness confounds the singer (Don Ciccone), who calls himself with each chorus "Mr. Dieingly Sad."

It's never explicitly stated, but the feeling is that the couple is either breaking up or the woman simply doesn't share Ciccone's love. In the end, he makes his final plea:

Then the tide rolls up to shore
I whisper low, 'I love you more
More than even you could know'
Adore me do so I could show
I'm so mystifyingly glad
Not Mr. Dieingly Sad
This was written by the group's leader, Don Ciccone, who passed away in 2016 at age 70. Speaking with Goldmine, he explained that the song was inspired by a real relationship, but it was not a love gone bad. He and the girl were in love, but the Vietnam War was raging and Ciccone knew that he would get pulled into it. His sadness is because he knew he would have to leave her.

Ciccone ended up joining the Air Force, where he was a mechanic. In the '70s, he joined Frankie Valli's Four Seasons, and later did time in Tommy James' Shondells.
The title should be "Mr. Dyingly Sad," but the record company released it as "Mr. Dieingly Sad," making many wonder how to pronounce it when they saw it (deign-ly? ding-ly?). "Dyingly" is the correct spelling and is a real word - it means "in a manner of dying."
The Critters specialized in soft rock with rich harmonies. "Mr. Dieingly Sad" was their biggest hit, but they troubled the charts with a few more singles in 1966 and 1967:

"Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me" (#39)
"Younger Girl" (#42)
"Bad Misunderstanding" (#55)
"Marryin' Kind Of Love" (#111)
"Little Girl" (#113)
The song was produced by Artie Ripp, who also produced Doris Troy's "Just One Look."

Comments: 5

Lynn from NjI always heard it as “blue, dar and dim it may seem , you are the glint of moonbeam”
Dc from DcI think the lyric is "you are the grin" because she's always happy in spite of any trouble. When it's dim, she's the grin -- a moonbeam brightens her smile. It makes sense and that's what it sounds like to me.
Joseph from Miami I hate to be contrary but the I have slowed it down, filtered it and played it over and over and I believe the lyrics are correct as written. This song was my summer of 1966 fave. Hadn’t heard it in years but the Mrs. bought me the mp3. Been playing the song a lot.
Rodney from TorontoI'm now sure it's "You part the grim"--which would make sense AND actually be an exact rhyme.
Rodney from TorontoI have wondered for years: What are the next few words in the line after "Blue, dark and dim it may seem"?

It does NOT sound like (as many websites would have it) "You part a grin." Also, that doesn't make as much sense as the rest of the song--even given that the lyric was written by a very young person.

Someone with access to the sheet music might be able to help, but I have found that even published lyrics on scores can contain big mistakes as they are sometimes prepared without author input and/or approval.

But then I finally got an idea. I’m now sure it's "You part the grim"--which would make sense AND actually be an exact rhyme.

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