Locked down with my Ukulele 9

There’s a lot of love in the world. There’s a lot of compassion. People are making contact with their neighbours were they may not before.

“Tonight the light of love is in your eyes, but will you love me tomorrow.” When you find true love it’s a magical thing. I remember a retired couple I knew, they’d married young and had several children who were grown up with married children of their own. They had passed significant milestones in marital anniversaries.

I was parked in the car and I saw them out shopping he was teetering on his cane and they ambled down the street. They were holding hands. He had on his grey trilby hat and it was slightly lopsided. They had decided to go into separate shops but before parting they gave each other a peck on the lips and parted. I deem it a privilege to have known and observed Ray and Connie who besides being examples in love were exemplary in demonstrating how human beings should be. I don’t think they ever asked in earnest about tomorrow.

Will You Love me Tomorrow

This song has been around all my life. It keeps showing up at various times like a fond relative you run into at family get-togethers and weddings.

It was written by husband and wife team Gerry Goffin and Carol King. Goffin penned the lyrics and King the melody. Goffin was working in pharmaceuticals and was writing songs part time. The success of this song meant he could write songs full time and still pay the bills.

The Shirelles released the song in 1960. The lead singer didn’t want to record it as she thought it was “to country”. She was persuaded and it is the first song sung by a black all girl group to reach number one in the united states. Its a recording very much of it’s time. It was banned in some place places in the states because it was considered to have suggestive content.

Carol King rerecorded it in 1971 for her iconic album Tapestry. It was said that this version is a much more mature version with the suggestion that it’s a woman wanting to be accepted on equal terms. Certainly the piano and Kings own backing vocals gives this version a more considered narrative.

This song continues to evolve and there is a live version with King and James Taylor available on a popular media channel, which is just lovely to chill by.

It’s worth the time to have a listen to all three back to back to see how this song still stands up to scrutiny after sixty years.

I’ve done my own version and put it on the ukulele clubs facebook page. Although that might not be worth the time so much!

Stay safe.