Only In America

Album: Only In America (1963)
Charted: 25
Play Video
  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
    Publisher: DYAD Music Ltd.

Comments: 5

  • Tim Jackson from BostonUpdated Lyric for a troubled democracy:

    Only in America
    Can a guy from anywhere
    Make himself turn front page
    With make-up and orange hair
    Only in America
    Can this clown without a clue
    Get the mob so riled up they
    Elect him for President

    Only in America
    Desperate for unity, yea-a-a-a
    Would a childish rich boy
    Destroy all the dreams of the free

    Only in America
    Could a chump rise up this far
    To take his tiny hands and ignite a new Culture War

    Only in America, acting with impunity
    when he says believe me
    We believe
    We will say adieu

    Only in America
    When Trump speaks up for unity, yea-a-a-
    We can rise - strong again
    And still be the land of the free.

    Only in America, only in America
    Only in America, only in America
  • 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.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.