Jay & The Americans
Jay and the Americans were a pop rock group most popular in the 60s and 70s, known for romantic pop hits such as 1969's "This Magic Moment" and 1970's "Walkin' In The Rain". Their initial lineup consisted of Howard Kane (born Kirschenbaum), John (J.T.) Traynor, Kenny Vance (born Rosenberg), and Sandy Yaguda. They were discovered while performing in student venues at New York University in the late 50s.
The guys auditioned for the seminal music team of Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name in 1960. Read Full BioJay and the Americans were a pop rock group most popular in the 60s and 70s, known for romantic pop hits such as 1969's "This Magic Moment" and 1970's "Walkin' In The Rain". Their initial lineup consisted of Howard Kane (born Kirschenbaum), John (J.T.) Traynor, Kenny Vance (born Rosenberg), and Sandy Yaguda. They were discovered while performing in student venues at New York University in the late 50s.
The guys auditioned for the seminal music team of Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name in 1960. In the manner of the time, Leiber and Stoller wanted to extend this to "Binky Jones and the Americans", but Traynor declined to be known as "Binky Jones" his whole career. He instead offered up "Jay", a family nickname, and it suited everyone.
They first hit the Billboard charts in 1962 with the tune "She Cried". Later covered by several other artists, the track's highest charting was #5, inspiring the group. The next two singles didn't fare nearly as well, however, and John Traynor left the band. David Black (né David Blatt) of The Empires took his place (after first agreeing to adopt the name Jay Black), and Empires guitarist Marty Sanders also joined. Black sang lead for the rest of the group's existence.
They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America", a song originally meant for The Drifters. Other notable hits for the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia" in 1965, which hit #4. The Americans also recorded a commercial for H.I.S. Slacks, and a public service announcement for the Ad Council, featuring a backing track by Brian Wilson and Phil Spector.
In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies remade fresh, called Sands of Time, and its single was "This Magic Moment", which also came through the Drifters. That track proved to be the last Top Ten record for the group. However, the band's follow-up album, titled 'Wax Museum', yielded the #19 hit "Walkin' In The Rain". First recorded by The Ronettes, the emotive love song has remained a classic on oldies themed stations along with the group's earlier work.
Their next singles failed to chart, nonetheless, and the band grew apart. The demand for live appearances remained. While the other members moved on to solo musical careers in 1973, Jay Black continued to perform as "Jay and the Americans" or "Jay Black and the Americans" until the 1980s, with a variety of musicians, including Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who would later found Steely Dan. ."
The group reunited in the 1990s for special performances, most notably the 45 Years of Motown special on PBS.
in 2006, Jay Black filed for bankruptcy due to gambling debts, and his ownership of the name "Jay & The Americans" was sold by the bankruptcy trustee to Sandy Deanne (Yaguda), Black's former band mate and original member of Jay & The Americans for $100,000 to pay Black's debts. With the name purchase, former members Deanne, Howard Kane, and Marty Sanders reunited, and recruited a sound-alike singer from Chicago, coincidentally nicknamed "Jay." Thus, John "Jay" Reincke became the third "Jay" and the band returned to playing both national and international music venues. Their show covers the history of Jay and The Americans, acknowledging all three Jays and featuring all of the top hits in their original arrangements.
David Blatt still tours under his stage name, "Jay Black". Kenny Vance is currently the lead singer of Kenny Vance and the Planotones, a neo-doo wop band that he formed in the 1970s. After leaving the group, John Traynor recorded a handful of songs on the Coral label, including "I Rise, I Fall" in 1964. None were hits, but "I Rise, I Fall" became a minor hit for Johnny Tillotson. The label billed Traynor as "JAY formerly of Jay and the Americans." Traynor now tours with Jay Siegel's Tokens.
The guys auditioned for the seminal music team of Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name in 1960. Read Full BioJay and the Americans were a pop rock group most popular in the 60s and 70s, known for romantic pop hits such as 1969's "This Magic Moment" and 1970's "Walkin' In The Rain". Their initial lineup consisted of Howard Kane (born Kirschenbaum), John (J.T.) Traynor, Kenny Vance (born Rosenberg), and Sandy Yaguda. They were discovered while performing in student venues at New York University in the late 50s.
The guys auditioned for the seminal music team of Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name in 1960. In the manner of the time, Leiber and Stoller wanted to extend this to "Binky Jones and the Americans", but Traynor declined to be known as "Binky Jones" his whole career. He instead offered up "Jay", a family nickname, and it suited everyone.
They first hit the Billboard charts in 1962 with the tune "She Cried". Later covered by several other artists, the track's highest charting was #5, inspiring the group. The next two singles didn't fare nearly as well, however, and John Traynor left the band. David Black (né David Blatt) of The Empires took his place (after first agreeing to adopt the name Jay Black), and Empires guitarist Marty Sanders also joined. Black sang lead for the rest of the group's existence.
They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America", a song originally meant for The Drifters. Other notable hits for the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia" in 1965, which hit #4. The Americans also recorded a commercial for H.I.S. Slacks, and a public service announcement for the Ad Council, featuring a backing track by Brian Wilson and Phil Spector.
In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies remade fresh, called Sands of Time, and its single was "This Magic Moment", which also came through the Drifters. That track proved to be the last Top Ten record for the group. However, the band's follow-up album, titled 'Wax Museum', yielded the #19 hit "Walkin' In The Rain". First recorded by The Ronettes, the emotive love song has remained a classic on oldies themed stations along with the group's earlier work.
Their next singles failed to chart, nonetheless, and the band grew apart. The demand for live appearances remained. While the other members moved on to solo musical careers in 1973, Jay Black continued to perform as "Jay and the Americans" or "Jay Black and the Americans" until the 1980s, with a variety of musicians, including Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who would later found Steely Dan. ."
The group reunited in the 1990s for special performances, most notably the 45 Years of Motown special on PBS.
in 2006, Jay Black filed for bankruptcy due to gambling debts, and his ownership of the name "Jay & The Americans" was sold by the bankruptcy trustee to Sandy Deanne (Yaguda), Black's former band mate and original member of Jay & The Americans for $100,000 to pay Black's debts. With the name purchase, former members Deanne, Howard Kane, and Marty Sanders reunited, and recruited a sound-alike singer from Chicago, coincidentally nicknamed "Jay." Thus, John "Jay" Reincke became the third "Jay" and the band returned to playing both national and international music venues. Their show covers the history of Jay and The Americans, acknowledging all three Jays and featuring all of the top hits in their original arrangements.
David Blatt still tours under his stage name, "Jay Black". Kenny Vance is currently the lead singer of Kenny Vance and the Planotones, a neo-doo wop band that he formed in the 1970s. After leaving the group, John Traynor recorded a handful of songs on the Coral label, including "I Rise, I Fall" in 1964. None were hits, but "I Rise, I Fall" became a minor hit for Johnny Tillotson. The label billed Traynor as "JAY formerly of Jay and the Americans." Traynor now tours with Jay Siegel's Tokens.
More Genres
More Albums
Load All
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Come A Little Bit Closer
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
In a little cafe
Just the other side of the border
She was just sitting there givin' me looks
That made my mouth water
So I started walking her way
She belonged to bad man Jose
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave
When I heard her say, yeah
"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"
So we started to dance
In my arms, she felt so inviting
And I just couldn't resist
Just one little kiss, so exciting
Then I heard the guitar player say
"Vamos, Jose's on his way"
Then I knew, yes I knew I should run
But then I heard her say, yeah
"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"
Then the music stopped
When I looked the cafe was empty
Then I heard Jose say
"Man, you know you're in trouble plenty"
So I dropped my drink from my hand
And out through the window I ran
And as I rode away
I could hear her say to Jose, yeah
"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"
Lyrics © MORRIS MUSIC, INC.
Written by: Tommy Boyce, Wes Farrell, Bobby Hart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Cerph
"Come A Little Bit Closer"
In a little café just the other side of the border
She was just sitting there giving me looks that made my mouth water
So I started walking her way
She belonged to bad man José
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave
When I heard her say
Come a little bit closer, you're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer, I'm all alone
And the night is so long
So we started to dance, in my arms she felt so inviting
That I just couldn't resist just one little kiss so exciting
Then I heard the guitar player say
Vamoose, José's on his way
And I knew, yes I knew I should run
But then I heard her say
Come a little bit closer, you're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer, I'm all alone
And the night is so long
Then the music stopped, when I looked the café was empty
Then I heard José say, "Man, you know you're in trouble plenty"
So I dropped my drink from my hand
And through the window I ran
And as I rode away I could hear
Her say to José
Come a little bit closer, you're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer, I'm all alone
And the night is so long
Adam Milette
In a super cafe
Just the other side of the galaxy
He was just sittin' there a grinnin'
With red fin that made him look sinisterly
This man had just been betrayed
The crew had all turned away
So this man that was blue's white blew
And I heard him say
Watch out, here comes my arrow
It flies super fast
And kills everyone
Watch out, here comes my arrow
Legolas sucks
And Yondu is the one!
So the ravagers ran
But the arrow was way too fast for them
They couldn't escape
The arrow quickly did chase
And it killed them
Then I heard a ravager say
"Down there!" giving his spot away
Then it flew, yes it flew
Straight right through
Blowing them all away, yeah
Watch out, here comes my arrow
It flies super fast
And kills everyone
Watch out, here comes my arrow
Legolas sucks
And Yondu is the one!
And the arrow stopped
Now the ship was practically empty
Then I heard taserface scream in a rage
Out to the gold lady
So kraglin flipped the switch
With his hands
Their ship broke apart and they ran
And as they flew away
I could hear Yondu taunt taserface
Watch out, here comes my arrow
It flies super fast
And kills everyone
Watch out here comes my arrow
Legolas sucks
And Yondu is the one!
Watch out, here comes my arrow
It flies super fast
And kills everyone
Watch out, here comes my arrow
Legolas sucks
And Yondu is the one!
Alex Stefanov
[Verse 1]
In a little cafe
Just the other side of the border
She was just sitting there givin' me looks
That made my mouth water
[Verse 2]
So I started walking her way
She belonged to bad man Jose
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave
When I heard her say, yeah
[Chorus]
"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"
[Verse 3]
So we started to dance
In my arms, she felt so inviting
And I just couldn't resist
Just one little kiss, so exciting
[Verse 4]
Then I heard the guitar player say
"Vamos, Jose's on his way"
Then I knew, yes I knew I should run
But then I heard her say, yeah
[Chorus]
"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"
[Verse 5]
Then the music stopped
When I looked the cafe was empty
Then I heard Jose say
"Man, you know you're in trouble plenty"
[Verse 6]
So I dropped my drink from my hand
And out through the window I ran
And as I rode away
I could hear her say to Jose, yeah
[Chorus]
"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"
Alissa Reminiec
cajun,, how do you like my taek onthis song?
In a little cantina
On the other side of the border
She was giving him looks that made his mouth water.
So he started walking her way
But she belonged to that Bad Man José
And he knew,yes,he knew that he should leave
When he heard her say,yeah
Come Just A little Bit Closer
You're my kind of man
Very big and so strong
Come Just A Little Bit Closer
I'm all alone and the night is very long.
So they started to dance
In his arms she felt so inviting
And he couldn't resist
Only one little kiss, So exciting
Then he heard the gutiar player say
¡ Vamos,José est? en camino!
Then he knew ,yes, he knew that he should run
But then he heard her say,yeah
(Chorus)
Then the music suddenly stopped
When he looked the cantina was empty
Then he heard José say
"¡ Hombré est?s en mucha paciencia!"
So he dropped the drink from his hand
And through the window he ran
As he rode away ,
He could hear her say to José,yeah
(Chorus)
Opal Haymond
In a little café
Just the other side of the border
She was a-sitting there a-givin' me
Looks that made my mouth water
So I started walking her way
She belonged to bad man, José
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave
When I heard her say, yeah
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long
So we started to dance
In my arms, she felt so inviting
And I just couldn't resist
Just one little kiss, so exciting
Then I heard the guitar player say
"Vamoos, José's on his way!"
And I knew, yes I knew I should run
But then I heard her say, yeah
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long
Then the music stopped
When I looked the café was empty
Then I heard José say
"Man, you know you're in trouble plenty"
So I dropped my drink from my hand
And through the window, I ran
And as I rode away
I could hear her say to José, yeah
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long
La-la-la-la la-la-la-la (Come a little bit closer)
La-la-la-la la-la-la-la (Come a little bit closer)
Woah woah (Come a little bit closer)
I can still hear her say (Come a little bit closer)
La-la-la-la la-la-la-la (Come a little bit closer)
Skip Miller
I'll be glad when a song like this is rediscovered by our younger generation. How can you possibly not move when you hear this tune? A classic.
Adrian Cz
Grew up on 50s-90s anything passed that is garbage in my opinion
James Trout
It's in "Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2."
Vincenté Sanches sr
@fugate fam I made a silly video with this song recently. Love it. Memories
fugate fam
I'm only a teen and the first time I heard this I now can't get it off loop lol 😂
Cuatro Jones
We all saw Guardians of the Galaxy
KCJ506
Looking through the comments, it really astonishes me how people get so bent out of shape because others point out a movie being the first time they heard a song. It's not our fault that we weren't born when these songs first came out. As a matter of fact, they're a lot of great songs from before my time that I probably never would have heard if not for them being featured in a movie.
Ann Marie DeSanto
i wasn't born when this came out, but i listened to it because my parents did.
Barbi Bimbo
Not to mention that without a doubt, some of the older people first heard some songs in films in the 1950's that actually came out years before like in the 30's.
Walter
Back in my day... 👴🏻