This was written by group members Felix Cavaliere (keyboard and lead vocals on this track) and Eddie Brigati (percussion and vocals). It was released in 1967 and topped the US charts. It reached No 8 in Britain.
Here is a word I have just learned: mondegreen. As in the phrase from this song ‘you and me endlessly’ which was often misheard as the mondegreen ‘you and me and Leslie’. Another example is the Jimi Hendrix line in Purple Haze ‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky’, often misheard as ‘Scuse me while I kiss this guy’.
Here is a brilliant advert featuring Desmond Dekker’s Israelites.
Nothing to do with lyrics but here is another great Maxell advert.
For an explanation of the origin of ‘mondegreen’ and more examples, see here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen
Thank you posting this and reminding me what an evocative track it is. It takes me back to my days at University (66-69). It was released in 67 and was one of the psychedelic sounds of the Summer of Love but not for me as my girlfriend of the time had just left me so. The backing of the track is wonderful.
Another track, of the less-young The Rascals worth a listen is Little Dove from their 71 Peaceful World album. It starts off quietly and slowly builds up.
Listen here https://youtu.be/OIrWJdUagEQ