The Turtles
20 Greatest Hits

Click on a song title to view lyrics

1. It Ain't Me Babe
2. Let Me Be
3. Eve Of Destruction
4. You Baby
5. Grim Reaper of Love
6. Can I Get To Know You Better
7. Outside Chance
8. Happy Together
9. She'd Rather Be With Me
10. Me About You
11. Guide For The Married Man
12. She's My Girl
13. You Know What I Mean
14. Sound Asleep
15. Elenor
16. You Showed Me
17. The Story Of Rock & Roll
18. You Don't Have To Walk In The Rain
19. Love In The City
20. Lady-O

Other Items of Interest:

Go away from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who's never weak but always strong
To protect you and defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door

Chorus:
But it ain't me babe
A-no, no, no it ain't me babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for babe

Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'll only lead you down
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who'll promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes to you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more

[repeat chorus]

No it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me babe [repeat to fade]

Please don't mistake me or try to make me
The shadow of anybody else
I ain't the him or her you think I am
I'm just trying hard to be myself
Though society's goal is to be part of the whole
That may sound good to you, not to me

Chorus:
Let me be, let me be
To think like I want to
Let me be, let me be
That's all I ask of you
I am what I am and that's all I ever can be

Don't try to plan me or understand me
I can't stand to be understood
I could never give in to or ever live up to
Being like you think I should
I've got some inner need that I'm tryin' to heed
I can't take hand-me-down destiny

[repeat chorus]

Don't try to change me or rearrange me
To satisfy the selfishness in you
I'm not a piece of clay to mold to your moves each day
And I'm not a pawn to be told how to move
I'm sorry I ain't the fool you thought would play by your rules
A to-each-is-own philosophy

[repeat chorus]

(...be)
I said that's all I ever can be [repeat to fade

The eastern world it is explodin',
violence flarin', bullets loadin'.
Your old enough to kill, but not for votin'.
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun your totin'.
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'.

And you tell me over and over and over again, my friend,
you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say,
and can't you feel the fears that I'm feeling today.
If the button is pushed there's no runnin' away,
there'll be no one to save with the world in a grave.
Take a look around you boy, it's bound to scare you, boy.

And you tell me over and over and over again, my friend,
you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in red China,
and take a look around to Selma, Alabama.
You may leave here for four days in space,
but when you return it's the same old place.
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace.
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace.
Hate your next door neighbour, but don't forget to say grace.

And tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend,
you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
No, no, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

From the time I fall asleep
'Til the morning comes I dream about
You baby
And I feel all right
'Cause I know tonight I'll be with
You baby
And who makes me feel like smiling
When the weary day is through

Chorus:
You baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but you [2X]

They say candy is sweet
But it just can't compete with
You baby
You've got everything I need
And nobody can please like
You do, baby
And who believes all my wildest dreams
And my craziest schemes will come true

[repeat chorus]

A little ray of sunshine
A little bit of soul
Add just a touch of magic
You got the greatest thing since rock 'n' roll

(chanting)

Movin' on slowly, sittin' forlornly
Looks through her window, clouds hide the sun
She thinks of her love, gone like the wild ones
She knows he'll never return

CHORUS:
Grim reaper of love, grim reaper of love
Grim reaper of love, grim reaper of love
Killing the living & living to kill
Grim reaper of love thrives on pain; people, beware

(instrumental)

Missed her sadness of the loss of his loaning
But in his past thinking, love can't last
We were so happy, peaceful & dear
But now his life's a little miser

(chorus)

Everybody says "Be strong" but I just can't take it
Every time I look at you, I feel funny inside, yeah
I've been meaning to ask you this for such a long long time

CHORUS:
Can I get to know you better?
Got to get to know you better
Can I get to know you better tonight?

I know that you think of me as just a friend
But you don't know how friendly I can be, yeah
I want so much to prove my love; baby, give me half a chance

(chorus)

Now I don't think I can go another day without you (Without tou)
One little kiss will tell me what I wanna know 'bout you
It ain't gonna hurt you; come on baby

(repeat chorus & fade)

You can try to please me
But it won't be easy
Stone walls surround me
I'm surprised that you even found me

Chorus:
And you don't stand an outside chance
(you don't stand an outside chance)
You don't stand an outside chance
But you can try

Whatever you do girl
You know you can't get through girl
Can't bring me down
Hang me up or even hang around

[repeat chorus]

Bridge:
I know you think you'll get me
I'm only flesh and bone
But you may as well forget me
'Cause my heart is stone
You better leave me alone

[repeat verse 1]

[repeat chorus]

Stand an outside chance [rant to fade

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night
It's only right
To think about the girl you love
And hold her tight
So happy together
If I should call you up
Invest a dime
And you say you belong to me
And ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be
So very fine
So happy together

{Refrain}
I can't see me loving nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me
Baby the skies will be blue
For all my life
Me and you
And you and me
No matter how they tossed the dice
It had to be
The only one for me is you
And you for me
So happy together

{Refrain}

Me and you
And you and me
No matter how they tossed the dice
It had to be
The only one for me is you
And you for me
So happy together
So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together...

Some girls like to run around, like to handle everything they see
But my girl has more fun around and ya know she'd rather be with me

Me-oh my lucky guy is what I am
Tell you why you'll understand
She don't fly although she can.

Some boys like to run around, they don't think about the things they do
But this boy wants to settle down, and you know he'd rather be with you

Me-oh my lucky guy is what I am
Tell you why you'll understand
She don't fly although she can.

baba ba ba bada ba

Some girls like to run around, like to handle everything they see
But my girl has more fun around and ya know she'd rather be with,
yeah she'd rather be with, ya know she'd rather be with me

AHHya know she'd rather be with me

Perhaps another time or maybe 'nother place
Could've eased my mind, would've never seen your face
Or heard about you
But now you call my name & your reality
Though it's hard to explain, I know I'll never be
Without you
I know nothing about you
But I know I don't doubt your love & I know that it's real
By God above I know I feel about you

Got a handful of gold & a pocketful of dreams
But a heart full of love & I know what it means
To be without you
Just sit by my side & share with me
All the feelings inside & the things you see
About you
I know Miss Lonely will be here today
Waiting for me; now the time is right, so hear me say
The from now on I'll stay about you

(instrumental)

I know Miss Lonely will be here today
Waiting for me; now the time is right, so hear me say
The from now on I'll stay about you
About you, about you, about

 What we need in the world today
Is a guide for the married man
Some simple thing that in every way
Would provide for the married man
Help him not to worry
Assist him to relax
Help him slow his heart rate
And spare him cardiacs

Such a guide would in many ways
Turn the tide for the married man
Enable husbands to fill their days
As only the married can
Every man would praise it
It's such a splendid plan
Someday soon we shall point with pride
To the guide for the married man

By the side of the married man
'Tis the lady who shares his life
You help the bride of the married man
By removing the husband's strife
Every wife who's truthful
Who treasures married bliss
Must keep her husband youthful
What better way than this?

Each and every device we know
Must be tried for the married man
But who can question the debt he'll owe
To the guide for the married man
List things universal
From Pittsburgh to Japan
Every man can be satisfied
By the guide for the married man

Mornin', mornin' glory
If you'd like to know where was I last night
Well I saw a girl with a boy in her eye
And she's so out of sight
She's my girl, and that's where I was last night
Off in a dream

Chorus:
She's my girl I took her away last night
We went for a ride
Off in the sky that's where I was last night

I just come back to tell you
There's a little bit of heaven underneath the apple tree
And every time I see you with that smile on your face
There's a little bit there for me and

She's my girl, and that's where I was last night
Went for a ride

She's my girl, I took her away last night
We went for a ride
My girl and that's where I was last night
Off in the sky

She's my girl, I took her away last night
Off in the sky
My girl and that's where I was last night
Gettin' so high
Off in the sky that's where I was last night

She's my girl, I took her away last night
We went for a ride
My girl and that's where I was last night
Gettin' so high
My girl, I took her away last night
Off in the sky
My girl and that's where I was last night
Gettin' so high

Shouldn't we two be together
You know what I mean
To be with you is something like a dream (you know what I mean)
And if you want me to
I'll bring sunshine to you only

You better stop, take a look about
You know what I mean
If only you could see the dreams that seem to mean so much to me
Then you'd know the reason why
I would rather say "I do" than say
Goodbye and let you go forever
Wouldn't we two be together

Can't you see that I want you
For me forever
Wouldn't we two be together

Do you know what I mean, can't you read in between the lines
Sometimes I'm talking and it doesn't seem too clear
But if you have to know
I'm in love if only you know what I mean

Ba da da da da da da
Daytime dreamin', gettin' involved only halfway deeo
Nighttime schemin', seemin' to be like I'm sound asleep

CHORUS:
Sound asleep, spendin' my time on a dream that I'm about to see come
Sound asleep, keepin' my mind on you

Children singing, something for all little yous & mes
Winter springing, summer or fall
Drifting away day by day, farther away (far away)
The better I feel

Ba da da da da da da
Ba da da da da da da, da da da da
(chorus)

(horns & scat singing, fading out)

"You’ve got a thing about you
I just can’t live without you
I really want you Elenore near me

Your looks intoxicate me
Even though your folks hate me
There’s no one like you Elenore really

Elenore gee I think you’re swell
And you really do me well
You’re my pride and joy etcetera

Elenore can I take the time
To ask you to speak your mind
Tell me that you love me better

I really think you’re groovy
Let’s go out to a movie
What do you say now Elenore can we?

They’ll turn the lights way down low
Maybe we won’t watch the show
I think I love you Elenore love me

Elenore gee I think you’re swell
And you really do me well
You’re my pride and joy etcetera

Elenore can I take the time
To ask you to speak your mind
Tell me that you love me better

Elenore gee I think you’re swell ah ha
Elenore gee I think you’re swell ah ha a a a…"

You showed me how to do
Exactly what you do
How I fell in love with you
Oh, oh, oh, it's true
Oh, oh, I love you

You showed me how to say
Exactly what you say
In that very special way
Oh, oh, oh, it's true
You fell for me too

And when I tried it
I could see you fall
And I decided
It's not a trip at all

You taught it to me too
Exactly what you do
And now you love me too
Oh, oh, oh, it's true
We're in love we too

Na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Oh oh oh oh oh
We're in love we two
We two

You showed me how to do
Exactly what you do
How I fell in love with you
(You...)

Showed me how to say
Exactly what you say
In that very special way
(You...)

Taught it to me too
Exactly what you do
And now you love me too

Now you love me too

Well, it started out way down south
Took a left & headed on out
It was movin' 'long very slowly
'Cause it was travelin' by word of mouth
Made a short stop in New Orleans
Then it headed for the New York scene
& the people there, they dug on air
'Cause they found out just what it means, yeah to have...

CHORUS:
Rock & roll music, sweet groovy music
Well, it's the only kind of music
That reaches right to your soul

Here come a guitar-pickin' fella
& he took them by the hand
He said "Now, listen to me, everybody
I got a message that you gotta understand"
& then he took that brand-new music
& he let it cross the U.S. of A.
& now some folks laughed when they heard that sound
But it looks like it's here to stay, & they call it rock

(chorus)

Rock & roll music (x3)
Talkin' 'bout rock & roll, I like rock & roll, yeah
Long live rock & roll, yeah, talkin' 'bout rock & roll
Rock & roll, sweet groovy music
...& fade

I looked at your face; is that the face I love?
It's been a long time since I've seen you
You've got a lovely place; the kids must send their love
We stood there lonely, baby, without you

CHORUS:
& girl, you don't have to walk in the rain
'Cause baby, I know things can be just the same as before
When you walk through my door, you'll be home, girl
When you walk through my door, you'll be home

I was so afraid I almost turned away
But you know I need somebody to cling to
I looked at your face; I love you anyway
It's been a long time since I've seen you

(chorus twice, then repeat its 1st line & fade)

We walked hand in hand from the patch
Playing in the middle of the city
Down the street we walked westerly
Wind breezin' through her hair pretty
My love in the city is good, so good

When things around me slow down, slow down
I think about my love in the city, in the city
I think about my love

(instrumental, then scat singing)

I know she waits for me nervously
Trying to keep busy in the city
Sleeping in her bed patiently
Waiting for me, come home with love to me
My love in the city is good, so good

When things around me slow down, slow down
I think about my love in the city, in the city
I think about my love in the city, in the city
I think about my love in the city

While you sit and seek a crescent moon is laying
At your feet
With hope that's made of sand
It don't think you can
But you have held it all in your hands

I've been trying hard to keep from needing you
But from the start
My heart just rolled and flowed
I've seen where it goes
Still somehow my love for you grows, Lady-o

So on my heels I'll grow wings
Gonna ride silver strings
But I'll see you in my holiest dreams, Lady-o