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Never Say Yes

Rating:
3.6 / 5

Words & Music: Doc Pomus Mort Shuman

Look out now I'm runnin' wild
There ain't no holding back this child
I guess you'd say I'm a son of a gun
Livin' just for a life of fun
Here's the secret of my success
Never say yes. No, no, never say yes

Life has taught me one big lesson
Always keep the girlies guessin'
Tell 'em that you love them so
You hate to leave but you gotta go
That's the secret of my success
Never say yes. No, no, never say yes

It's the oldest scheme in the world
And you gotta know how to play it
Tell her yes in so many ways
And never ever say it
That's how I keep goin' on
Here today tomorrow gone
That's the kind of life for me
Being free like I want to be
Here's the secret of my success
Never say yes. No, no, never say yes

It's the oldest scheme in the world
And you gotta know how to play it
Tell her yes in so many ways
And never ever say it
That's how I keep goin' on
Here today tomorrow gone
That's the kind of life for me
Being free like I want to be
Here's the secret of my success
Never say yes. No, no, never say yes
No, no, never say yes

Recordingdate: 1966/02/17, first released on: Spinout (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Never Say Yes:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)

Availability

Find available albums with Never Say Yes.

OtisBlue22 wrote on January 24, 2009
Propelled by a raunchy Bo Diddley-beat, this is actually really good. I'm beginning to think his 60's soundtracks have been overlooked.
TBG wrote on March 24, 2009
No other artist than Elvis could make this mediocre song sound good. The Spinout-album I think is one of the better soundtracks. But like many of the 60's albums the sound is terrible, Frankie and Johnny and Double Trouble are perfect examples of albums that could have been more enjoyable if they hadn't recorded the soundtrack on the soundstage. Songs I enjoy from Spinout is I'll Be Back, Spinout (check it out!) and Beach Shack (only wish the lyrics wasn't so silly ;-)
Pedro Nuno wrote on March 24, 2009
The bottom line from a fantastic team of songwriters. Even Pomus and Shumam were affected by the less than mediocre level of soundtracks! Miles away from Little Sister, His Latest Flame, Viva Las Vegas etc. Where Elvis and RCA were thinking they would go with crap like this in 1966????
dgirl wrote on March 24, 2009
one of the better movie songs of the mid-60's from one of the better soundtracks, but still that is not saying much. after kissin cousins, harum scarum, etc this album sounded like a breath of air, but over all just mediocre compare to what else was going on in music at the time.
old shep wrote on March 24, 2009
Rubbish! Pomus and Shuman could'nt even get Elvis to record their gems in the mid to late 60s. But submit crap and your in!
Steve V wrote on March 24, 2009
Not that bad, not great. Spinout was a bit better than some of the 60's soundtracks and miles better than others. Viva Las Vegas was the best of them all. Still these songs are just ok and pretty much forgotten except by Elvis fans. The songs got better by 1968 as did the movies.
Deano1 wrote on February 21, 2010
A better than average rock and roll movie song. The LP "Spinout" was a good album (minus "Beach Shack) and this is one of the songs that helped make it better than some of the other soundtrack LPs released around the same time.
Gorse wrote on December 06, 2012
Probably just about my favourite upbeat song along with the title number from Spinout. I like the Bo Diddley beat, and the fact that Elvis seems to enjoy singing this one with his old gusto. -4 stars from me.
sugartummy wrote on April 18, 2013
A funny version can be heard on Today, tomorrow and forever. Not great, not that bad. Average stuff.
ElvisSacramento wrote on March 23, 2014
I've always liked this movie song immensely and I've never skipped it. It's from one of the best Elvis movie soundtrack albums from the 1960's.
Lou A wrote on March 24, 2014
I like ths song - one ot he highlights of the "sountrack " portion of this album. As someone mentioned it has an infectious Bo Didley syled beat and fuzz guitar.
JerryNodak wrote on March 25, 2014
Typical situational soundtrack tune. Certainly not great, but I've always it and the Spinout soundtrack. 3 stars.
Great Dane wrote on March 25, 2014
Like this as well as the soundtrack. I've just played my vinyl record and i don't think the sound is bad at all, much better than the sound on F&J. 31/2 stars.
bajo wrote on April 03, 2016
At the time, the Spinout album was a fresh breeze compared to the previous three soundtracks. And the bonus songs also made it even better. It is one of the best "after 65" soundtrack albums. I've always enjoyed it and the up-tempo tracks, including Never Say Yes was actually fun to listen to. I spin this album now and then remembering the good times I had playing it!
atomic powered poste wrote on June 02, 2018
An acceptable movie song / album filler, but nothing great or memorable by any means. Overall a forgettable tune that at least you don't have to skip.
Cruiser621 wrote on June 02, 2018
More like say no to this garbage; never say yes.
Miknik7077 wrote on October 27, 2020
Actually I think one if the weaker songs off the Spinout soundtrack. Just a run of the mill filler that Elvis doesn't seem into.
The Poor Hawaiian Beach Boy wrote on October 08, 2021
I think this is a great song. Elvis Presley goes Bo Diddley-styled garage rock. Really, Spinout is one of his better '60s soundtrack releases. Apart from the silly "Beach Shack" number, this is pretty accessible stuff. I know some don't care for "Smorgasbord," but if you actually take a look at the lyrics, it's actually a well-written tune as not quite as silly as the title of it implies. 5 stars for the song, 4.5 stars for the soundtrack as a whole.
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