Mr. Write's Page

In U.S. popular music, the first all-girl group to have a #1 song was The Shirelles.

They did it with “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” one of the top songs of 1960. Rolling Stone ranks it #125 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In those days, I was in my late teens. Far fewer songs were released, and, like most kids, I was familiar with virtually all of them.

And the truth is, the music of that era was seldom of high quality and seldom sophisticated to any degree. In fact, only a few songs from back then stand out. This is one of them.

It was written by the stellar husband-and-wife songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was sung by Shirley Owens, lead singer of The Shirelles, who has some of the best pipes ever.

Carole King did her own version of this song. So did Brenda Lee, Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Joe Walsh, Patti LaBelle, Neil Diamond, Debbie Gibson, The Bee Gees, Lorrie Morgan, Shawn Colvin, Lauryn Hill, Joni Mitchell, Lykke Li, U2, and Amy Winehouse.

Impressive. But in my book, the original is still the best.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow

By The Shirelles, 1960
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King

Tonight you’re mine completely.
You give your love so sweetly.
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes.
But will you love me tomorrow?

Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment’s pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?

Tonight with words unspoken
You said that I’m the only one.
But will my heart be broken
When the night meets the morning sun?

I’d like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of.
So tell me now, and I won’t ask again:
Will you still love me tomorrow?

(Instrumental)

So tell me now, and I won’t ask again:
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me tomorrow?