Released in May of 1967, number 8 on the Billboard Top 100
When I think of all the worries
People seem to find
And how they're in a hurry
To complicate their minds
By chasing after money
And dreams that can't come true
I'm glad that we are different
We've better things to do
May others plan their future
I'm busy loving you
One, two, three, four
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow hey, hey, hey
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
Live for today
We were never meant to worry
The way that people do
And I don't need to hurry
As long as I'm with you
We'll take it nice and easy
And use my simple plan
You'll be my lovin' woman
I'll be your lovin' man
We'll take the most from living
Have pleasure while we can
Two, three, four
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow hey, hey, hey
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
Live for today
Baby I need to feel you inside of me
I got to feel you deep inside of me
Baby please come close to me
I got to have you now please, please, please, please
Gimme some-a lovin', to gimme some-a lovin'
To gimme some-a lovin', to gimme some-a lovin'
Baby gimme some-a lovin'
To gimme some-a lovin, I got to have all your lovin'
Gimme some-a lovin, I need all your lovin'
Gimme some love now
I need all your lovin'
La, la-la, la-la-la
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow hey, hey, hey
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
Shah-la, la-la, la-la
Shah-la, la-la-la-la live for today
This song is a jam. I knew of it, but it was really only two weeks ago when I discovered it. I was in my room listening to the radio, and this came on. I pulled out my iPad and asked Siri what song this was, and this was the response. From the day on, it's been in my head for literally two weeks. It is now my 4th listened to song on Apple Music for this year.
As I dug into this song, I realized that this song is an cover of an Italian song called "Piangi Con Me" by an English group The Rokes. They didn't have success in England, so they traveled to Italy and made songs in Italian, and this was one of them. Thus was apparently a bug hit and they wanted to release this song in England, but they wanted to change the lyrics to English. The Italian version, "Piangi Con Me" is translated to "Cry With Me" (very different than "Let's Live For Today"). The song was translated with the title "Passing Through Grey", but the publishers didn't like that title. As a result, they changed the title "Let's Live For Today". The Rokes re-recorded the song in their native language, but another group from England, The Living Daylights, recorded it. Both groups didn't have success with the song, but you can fund their versions on YouTube!
So this is where The Grassroots come in. Dunhill records got a whiff of The Roke's English version and were hooked. They believed this would be a great single for their group The Grassroots (who just released their cover of Herman's Hermits "Where Were You When I Needed You" a year earlier). Well, they were right! The single skyrocketed and made The Grassroots on the charts! Rob Grill, the bassist, sung lead on the track and Creed Bratton (who was on The Office) was a part of the group during this time. Of course, these guys didn't play their instruments on the recording as The Wrecking Crew did, but it's still an super cool track.
The song also strikes similarities with the Drifters' "I Count The Tears". Both do sound the same! "Na na na na na na na late at night.... " "Sha la la la la la live for today."
This song is a great tune. I do like the original key better (The Rokes did it in G and the Grassroots did it in E), but the fuzzed guitar in the chorus on The Grassroot's version is great! I also love how before the go into the chorus, they shout "1 2 3 4!". It's hard not to sing along to that. Also, they go up the scale from an G# to an B (the other versions have the drummers drum the beat but this version has the guitar go up the scale). The chords are simple too, almost like doo-wop chords (I mean, The Drifters did do doo-wop and both songs are similar......)
And yeah, it's an beautiful song about young love and not care about other people. We need to live for today and not worry about our future. Live in the moment. The song has a great meaning to it. It is almost telling the listener to not care about tomorrow or the future, and to do what you like to do in the moment. Don't let others stop you. Live for today. Life for yourself.
