This is a re-worked version of an Italian pop song that became a hit stateside when it was recorded with English lyrics. Even more confusing, the original Italian song was written and recorded by a British band.
The Rokes released their English version in the UK, which was quickly followed by a cover by The Living Daylights. The Rokes version got the attention of the American label Dunhill Records, which had their act The Grass Roots record it. This became the American hit version of the song. The Rokes were from England, but caught on in Italy, where they moved their operations. They began writing songs with Italian lyrics, including one called "Piangi Con Me," which translates to "Weep With Me." The song was translated into English and given the new title of "Passing Thru Grey". However, the song's publisher in Britain, Dick James Music, was unhappy with the lyrics of "Passing Thru Grey" and decided that they should be changed. Michael Julien, a member of the publisher's writing staff, was assigned the task of composing new words for the song and it was his input that transformed it into "Let's Live for Today".
As well as being popular with domestic American audiences, "Let's Live for Today" also found favor with young American men serving overseas in the Vietnam War, as music critic Bruce Eder of the Allmusic website has noted: "Where the single really struck a resonant chord was among men serving in Vietnam; the song's serious emotional content seemed to overlay perfectly with the sense of uncertainty afflicting most of those in combat; parts of the lyric could have echoed sentiments in any number of letters home, words said on last dates, and thoughts directed to deeply missed wives and girlfriends." Eder also described "Let's Live for Today" by The Grass Roots as "one of the most powerful songs and records to come out of the 1960s."
This is a re-worked version of an Italian pop song that became a hit stateside when it was recorded with English lyrics. Even more confusing, the original Italian song was written and recorded by a British band.
The Rokes released their [English version](https://hooktube.com/watch?v=KzniEO4ljio) in the UK, which was quickly followed by a cover by [The Living Daylights](https://hooktube.com/watch?v=iipgl4-1jeU). The Rokes version got the attention of the American label Dunhill Records, which had their act The Grass Roots record it. This became the American hit version of the song. The Rokes were from England, but caught on in Italy, where they moved their operations. They began writing songs with Italian lyrics, including one called "Piangi Con Me," which translates to "Weep With Me." The song was translated into English and given the new title of "Passing Thru Grey". However, the song's publisher in Britain, Dick James Music, was unhappy with the lyrics of "Passing Thru Grey" and decided that they should be changed. Michael Julien, a member of the publisher's writing staff, was assigned the task of composing new words for the song and it was his input that transformed it into "Let's Live for Today".
As well as being popular with domestic American audiences, "Let's Live for Today" also found favor with young American men serving overseas in the Vietnam War, as music critic Bruce Eder of the Allmusic website has noted: "Where the single really struck a resonant chord was among men serving in Vietnam; the song's serious emotional content seemed to overlay perfectly with the sense of uncertainty afflicting most of those in combat; parts of the lyric could have echoed sentiments in any number of letters home, words said on last dates, and thoughts directed to deeply missed wives and girlfriends." Eder also described "Let's Live for Today" by The Grass Roots as "one of the most powerful songs and records to come out of the 1960s."
This is a re-worked version of an Italian pop song that became a hit stateside when it was recorded with English lyrics. Even more confusing, the original Italian song was written and recorded by a British band.
The Rokes released their English version in the UK, which was quickly followed by a cover by The Living Daylights. The Rokes version got the attention of the American label Dunhill Records, which had their act The Grass Roots record it. This became the American hit version of the song. The Rokes were from England, but caught on in Italy, where they moved their operations. They began writing songs with Italian lyrics, including one called "Piangi Con Me," which translates to "Weep With Me." The song was translated into English and given the new title of "Passing Thru Grey". However, the song's publisher in Britain, Dick James Music, was unhappy with the lyrics of "Passing Thru Grey" and decided that they should be changed. Michael Julien, a member of the publisher's writing staff, was assigned the task of composing new words for the song and it was his input that transformed it into "Let's Live for Today".
As well as being popular with domestic American audiences, "Let's Live for Today" also found favor with young American men serving overseas in the Vietnam War, as music critic Bruce Eder of the Allmusic website has noted: "Where the single really struck a resonant chord was among men serving in Vietnam; the song's serious emotional content seemed to overlay perfectly with the sense of uncertainty afflicting most of those in combat; parts of the lyric could have echoed sentiments in any number of letters home, words said on last dates, and thoughts directed to deeply missed wives and girlfriends." Eder also described "Let's Live for Today" by The Grass Roots as "one of the most powerful songs and records to come out of the 1960s."