Only In America

Album: Only In America (1963)
Charted: 25
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  • Only in America
    Can a guy from anywhere
    Go to sleep a pauper and wake up a millionaire

    Only in America
    Can a kid without a cent
    Get a break and maybe grow up to be President

    Only in America
    Land of opportunity, yeah
    Would a classy girl like you fall for a poor boy like me

    Only in America
    Can a kid who's washin' cars
    Take a giant step and reach right up and touch the stars

    Only in America
    Could a dream like this come true
    Could a guy like me start with nothing and end up with you

    Only in America
    Land of opportunity, yeah
    Would a classy girl like you fall for a poor boy like me

    Only in America (poor boy like me)
    Only in America (only in America)
    Only in America (only in America)
    Only in America (only in America)
    Only in America (only in America)
    Only in America Writer/s: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, DYAD Music Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Bruce G from NycLieberman and Stoller were in the Brill building by Mann & Weil were not they were from Aldon music across the street from the Brill building at 1650 Broadway
  • Howard L Solomon from United StatesI always thought that the Drifters were NOT allowed to record the song because of the original lyric Grow up to be President which back then you could not have a black group sing.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyJohn 'Jay' Traynor passed away on January 2nd, 2014 at the age of 70.
    He was the original 'Jay' of the group Jay & the Americans...
    He sang lead on the group's first Top 10 record, "She Cried", which entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart on March 11th, 1962, and on May 13th it peaked at #5 (for 1 week) and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Don Hertel from Dover, NjI believe the original lyrics were written by Cynthia Weil alone, but she and hubby Barry Mann (composer) took it to Leiber & Stoller for help making the lyrics "playable" by radio stations. The Drifters refused to record it because the new lyrics were not part of THEIR America.
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