According to Billboard ratings, GET CLOSER was ranked #52 among all albums charted during 1976.
Produced by Louie Shelton; Recorded at Dawnbreaker Studio; Engineering By Joseph Bogan; Sound Consultant – Michael Fraser; Cover Photography – Norman Seeff; Photography of Musicians on Sleeve – Louie Lizarraga; Art Direction & Design – Lockart; Guitar – James Seals, Larry Carlton, Louie Shelton, Ray Parker and Lee Ritenour; Mandolin – Dash Crofts; Keyboards – David Paich; Bass – David Hungate and Wilton Felder; Drums – Jeff Porcaro and Ed Greene; Tablas – Milt Holland; Electric Piano – Jope Sample; Alto Sax – Jim Horn; Background Vocals – Carolyn Willis, Merna Matthews, Shirley Matthews, Carl Carmichel and Donnie Shelton; Arrangement of “Get Closer” by Gene Page; Strings Arrangements on “Red Long Ago” and “Don’t Fail” by David Paich.
01. Sweet Green Fields
02. Get Closer
03. Red Long Ago
04. Goodbye Old Buddies
05. Baby Blue
06. Million Dollar Horse
07. Don't Fail
08. Passing Thing
SWEET GREEN FIELDS
(lyrics and music by James Seals, 1967
Released by The Knickerbockers on the album, Lloyd Thaxton Presents the Knickerbockers.
Also recorded 2/21/67 and released on Sundazed Record's cd, "The Knickerbockers."
From the S & C album GET CLOSER (1976)
Sampled on the 1997 rap hit by Busta Rhymes, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See."
Lookin' up the sleeve of confidence, I jump down from the fence.
Been a long time since I've felt this way, let the feeling stay.
Reaching for the arms of love, livin', dreamin', thinkin' of
The moment I slip on the glove, my fear is gone. The grain of hope has grown.
Starin' at the face of happiness, this time it answers yes.
In aging peace my doubts will rest away, let the feeling stay.
Looking through the eyes of truth, I see faith and love and youth.
And all else dries up like the dew, my fear is gone. The grain of hope has grown.
And I'll be running, laughing, playing in the sweet green fields of belonging to someone.
The distant feeling's gone, and I can make it from now on.
My world has something new. It's all because of you.
The sweet green fields growing in my life will never die.
Lookin' up the sleeve of confidence, I jump down from the fence.
Been a long time since I've felt this way, let the feeling stay.
Walking up the road of togetherness, this time I must confess
This day's the very best. My fear is gone. The grain of hope has grown.
And I'll be running, laughing, playing in the sweet green fields of belonging to someone.
Now I'll be running, laughing, playing in the sweet green fields of belonging to someone.
Well I'll be running, laughing, playing in the sweet green fields of belonging to someone.
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GET CLOSER
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1976)
From the albums GET CLOSER (1976), SUPERGROUPS (1976)
, THE SEALS & CROFTS COLLECTION (1979) and TRACES (2004).
Chorus: Darlin' if you want me to be closer to you, get closer to me.
Darlin' if you want me to be closer to you, get closer to me.
Darlin' if you want me to love, love only you, then love only me.
Darlin' if you want me to see, see only you, then see only me.
Boy: There's a line, I can't cross over. It's no good for me and it's no good for you.
Girl: And there's a feelin', deep down inside me. I can't explain it and you're wondering why.
You say we've been like strangers, but I'm not the others you can wrap 'round your fingers.
(chorus)
Boy: There's a time, I when I would come runnin'. I'd drop everything for the touch of your hand in mine.
Girl: You were blind and now you regret it, 'cause I can't forget it. It's locked in my mind.
And I can't go on livin' day to day wondering if we'll be here tomorrow.
People change and you're changin'. And I've given you my all, there's no more to borrow.
(chorus)
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RED LONG AGO
(lyrics by James Seals, Bob Gundry and Kelley McKinney; music by James Seals and Bob Gundry, 1976)
From the album GET CLOSER (1976).
Sand, the ocean breezes blow. Red in the sun, red so long ago.
Torn by the waves, blown by the wind.
Gone like the tide, until we meet again, again, again.
We are a dream, a vision, a story yet to be told.
We are a theme, love was the writer, red long ago.
You were the sea and I was the river, flowing to you.
Hoping that you might still remember, red long ago.
You were my wings for I was, just learning to fly.
Red was the sky, love was the reason we went too high.
We shared the joy now but, we feel the pain.
Love was the valley we lost our way in, red long ago.
Sand, the ocean breezes blow. Red in the sun, red so long ago.
Memories of silver, heartaches of gold.
These are the treasures of red long ago, long ago, long ago.
Ooooo, you were the sea and I was the river, flowing to you.
Knowing that you might still remember, red long ago.
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GOODBYE OLD BUDDIES
(lyrics and music by Parker McGee, 1975)
From the albums GET CLOSER (1976) and THE SEALS & CROFTS COLLECTION (1979).
Where it started, can't even remember, just one day you were there.
Funny little girl in your tied-dyes and cutoffs, wondering who you were.
Well I was gonna blow you clear down to Miami with my cool and social art.
But I ended up awkward and I guess in the struggle I must have lost my heart.
So goodbye old buddies, and goodbye runnin' wild.
I'm makin' some room for a certain young lady, and I guess she's gonna stay awhile.
Walks in the country, sleepin' bag weekends, and fumblin' in the night.
Now look at me plannin' my life 'round this stranger, such a sorry sight.
So goodbye old buddies, and goodbye runnin' wild.
I'm makin' some room for a certain young lady, and I guess she's gonna stay awhile.
Now here we sit in our only night bedroom, all legal and settled down.
Talkin' 'bout light bills and diapers and t.v., and watchin' this world spin around.
So goodbye old buddies, and goodbye runnin' wild.
I'm makin' some room for a certain young lady, and I guess she's gonna stay,
I guess she's gonna stay. She's gotten all moved in, for awhile.
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BABY BLUE
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1976)
From the album GET CLOSER (1976).
Ever try to give it up? It's so hard to do.
'Cause every time we live it up, I'm so in love with you.
You're all over my mind, you're takin' up a lot of my time.
And so I'm gonna give it up, goodbye Baby Blue.
You're a real fine woman, I want you to know.
Leavin' you ain't easy but I got to go.
There's an old friend in me, tellin' me I gotta be free.
And so I've gonna give it up, goodbye Baby Blue.
Sometimes in the morning the tears in your eyes.
Make me feel like stayin' and I sympathize.
But there's a myst'ry in the night, and people a-passin' by.
Makes me want to give it up, goodbye Baby Blue.
Bye, bye, bye my Baby Blue; bye bye my Baby Blue.
Bye, bye, bye my Baby Blue; bye bye my Baby Blue.
Oh, baby, oh. It's so hard to do.
'Cause I can't imagine a day without you.
There'll be some long and lonesome nights. You'll wake up and turn on the lights.
And realize it's over, goodbye baby blue.
Bye, bye, bye my Baby Blue; bye bye my Baby Blue.
Bye, bye, bye my Baby Blue; goodbye my Baby Blue.
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MILLION DOLLAR HORSE
(lyrics and music by James Seals and Walter Heath, 1972)
From the album GET CLOSER (1976).
Spend my day just runnin' 'round. Lookin' for some solid ground.
Too many people everywhere. They don't know and they don't care. No.
How I spend my lonely hours, lookin' for some Eiffel Tower.
I'm gonna climb up, oh, so I can see.
Oh, someday and I'll be free. I'll be free.
Chorus: Give me a million dollar horse, that I can ride for free.
I'm gonna ride him all the way, no matter where he might lead.
Give me a million dollar love (give me love), that I can love for free.
I'm gonna love her every day, no matter who she might be.
You may not see me hangin' round. I may not stay in this old town.
Too many doorways have been closed. In my face, now where's my place.
I need someone to hold my hand. Just someone who understands.
They don't have to love me, no, just be my friend.
Open up and let me in. Won't you let me in.
(chorus)
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DON'T FAIL
(lyrics and music by James Seals, 1969)
From the album GET CLOSER (1976).
Why do birds fly in the summer sky, hidden from the eyes of men. Where have I been?
Why do things hinge on certain things, and nothing is for sure.
Only pure uninterrupted acts prevail. Don't fail.
Chorus: Sun, don't fail to greet the morning. Moon, don't fail to meet the night.
Girl, don't fail to get your learnin'. Boy, don't fail to see the light.
See the light. Don't fail, don't fail, don't fail.
Why do leaves blow in the summer wind, torn from their end. Where have I been?
Why do times learn from certain times, and nothing is for sure.
Only pure uninterrupted acts prevail. Don't fail.
(chorus)
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PASSING THING
(lyrics and music by James Seals and Dash Crofts; French trans. by Susan Spitzer, 1969)
From the album GET CLOSER (1976).
She's not just another girl, she is from another world.
Bringing tidings of love and joy, not to just another boy.
She has got an angel's face, she is in, not out of place.
In this winter she was spring. Mom, you're not a passing thing.
Ce n'est pas une fille quelconque, elle arrive d'un otre monde.
Apportant la belle saison, amour et joi a ce garcon.
Elle a un visage d'ange, avec elle tout s'arrange.
En printemps elle change l'hiver. Maman, tu n'est pas ephemere.
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