Let's Live For Today

by

The Grass Roots

Album: Let's Live For Today     Released: 1967

US Chart: 8     

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This song embodies the hippie ethos of seeking love, not money, and simply letting life unfold: "We'll take the most from living, have pleasure while we can." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

This was the first hit for the actual band. Producers Steve Barri and PF Sloan hired an LA band called The 13th Floor to become the Grass Roots after "Where Were You When I Needed You" charted in 1966.

This is an English version of the Italian hit "Piangi Con Me." (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for all above)

This was written by Doc Pomus (born Jerome Solon Felder) and Mort Shuman. Pomus and Shuman were born in Brooklyn, USA. Pomus lived in New York City (with a short trip to London in 1959) and Shuman lived there until late into the '60s when he slowly (over the course of a year and a half) moved to France. He spent the remainder of his life there and in Europe.

The "Sha-la-la" chorus is very similar to The Drifters' hit "I Count the Tears," which Pomus and Shuman wrote. Pomus was upset about the obvious similarity, and even though lawyers called him to suggest that he should sue, he did not. The main reason was because he was not that kind of person. If you were a thief and stole from him, as long as he could still support himself and his family (and no one was physically injured of course) he would let it go. He felt that you'd get what you deserved in the end. The other reason was that at the time the song was released he was under contract with Hill & Range (later to become Warner/Chappell) and they would have had the authority to sue and not him. (thanks to Geoffrey J Felder, son of Doc Pomus, for above 2).

Creed Bratton, who plays Creed on TV's The Office, played guitar on this song. He was a member of The Grass Roots during their classic period of 1967-1969. (thanks, Neil - raleigh, NC)

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Comments:

i love this song....its one of my all time favorites!! in fact i love most songs by the grass roots
- Lisa , Eveleth, MN

I have an interesting theory about this song. The intro. sounds like Mimi's death scene from Puccini's LA BOHEME-when Rodolpho screams "MIMI!" And there is a song from Jonathan Larson's RENT called NO DAY BUT TODAY. The song sounds like a prophecy of the musical, which came out 29 years later. I can see the character Roger Davis singing it to his girl Mimi Marquez.
- Vicki , Tucson,Arizona, AZ

Intense, passionate song. He sounds like Elvis a bit.
- Theresa , Murfreesboro, TN

love this song, regardless of the "scandals"
- Sara MacKenzie , Middle of Nowhere, FL

No Michael from Bournemouth. The original was written by Pomus and Shuman (Americans)5 years before "Piangi Con Me". Barri & Sloan tapped their friends in NYC for the chorus. Nice guys, huh?
- Will , New York, NY

Regarding "Piangi Con Me", "Let's Live for Today" and "I Count the Tears." "I Count the Tears" was recorded by The Drifters and released in 1960 or '61. "Piangi Con Me" was recorded and released in Italy between 1964 and 1966. So, really, the memorable chorus, which is the hook to all three songs was lifted from "I Count the Tears," written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, who also wrote songs like "Save the Last Dance for Me", "Viva Las Vegas", "This Magic Moment", "Cant' Get Used to Losing You", "Little Sister", "Teenager in Love", and on and on.
- Will , New York, NY

Influenced by the Byrds' "Turn Turn Turn." Similarily "It Ain't Me Babe" by the Turtles was influenced by the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man." There was some strange connection between "It Ain't Me Babe" and "Let's Live For Today". Except that they were both influenced by an earnest and druggy #1 hit by the Byrds and were also inspired by another hit by another rock group. Both songs ranked the eighth position on the music charts, both songs had the groups sounding like the opposing groups, not to mention that the songs have a music similarity, and both of the songs also had earnest and soothing tones.
- Brandon , Seattle, WA

I was interested to see that Barri and Sloan were sued for lifting the chorus when the original song was written by English writers living in Italy at that time.How much did Barri and Sloan have to cough up ?? M.Shepstone
- michael , bournemouth, England

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