You didn't have to be so nicethe lovin' spoonful- written by john sebastian and steve boone- as recorded by the lovin' spoonful (released november 27, 1965)- entered the billboard top 40 the week of dec 11, 1965, and stayed for 9 weeks, peaking at #10 the week of january 22, 1966.you didn't have to be so nicei would have liked you anywayif you had just looked once or twiceand gone upon your quiet way today i said the time was right for me to follow you i knew i'd find you in a day or two and it's trueyou came upon a quiet dayyou simply seemed to take your placei knew that it would be that waythe minute that i saw your faceand when we've had a few more days (when we've had a few more days)i wonder if i'll get to say (wonder if i'll get to say)you didn't have to be so nice (be so nice)i would have liked you anyway (would have liked)today i said the time was right for me to follow you (today said that the time was right to follow you)i knew i'd find you in a day or two (i knew that i would find you in a day or two)and it's trueyou didn't have to be so nice (didn't have to be so nice)i would have liked you anyway (would have liked you anyway)if you had just looked once or twice (once or twice)and gone upon your quiet way (quiet way)