True Grit

Album: True Grit Soundtrack (1969)
Charted: 35
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Songfacts®:

  • True Grit is a 1969 Western which starred an aging John Wayne as Marshal Rooster Cogburn - the man of true grit alluded to in the song, which plays over the opening credits. Wayne won an Oscar for his performance, and was supported by Glen Campbell - who sang the theme song, which was co-written by composer Elmer Bernstein and lyricist Don Black. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • The title is sometimes rendered as "True Grit (Someday, Little Girl)." The song was written for the heroine in the film (played by Kim Darby), who tracks down John Wayne's character (after hearing that he has "true grit") to enlist him to capture her father's killer.
  • With lyrics that tell a simple story in basic rhyming patterns ("One day you will rise... And you won't believe your eyes"), this song is a far departure from the songs Campbell recorded that were written by the wordsmith Jimmy Webb, including "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Wichita Lineman."
  • Campbell's performance in the True Grit film earned accolades and helped establish him as a multimedia star. Campbell was given his own TV show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, earlier in 1969.
  • The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. It lost to "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" from another Western: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyJust a little added info concerning the next post below; as mentioned the song reached #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart, and it was the fourth of six straight #1s by Glen on that chart, between 1967 and 1975 he had a total of fourteen #1 records on the Canadian Country Singles chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 11th 1969, the Paramount Pictures movie "True Grit" opened in theaters across the U.S.A. and Canada...
    One month later on July 20th* Glen Campbell's "True Grit" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #61; and on August 17th it peaked at #35 (for 1 week) and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on September 20th it reached #1 (for 1 week) on the Canadian RPM Top Country Singles chart...
    Sadly; on June 11th, 1979, exactly ten years to the day after the movie was released, John Wayne passed away at the age of 72...
    R.I.P. to Mr. Wayne and may God bless and watch over Mr. Campbell...
    * The day Neil Armstrong became the first man to walked on the moon.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis song was nominated for Best Song at the 1969 Academy Awards!!! {The song that won was "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"} Note: Elmer Bernstein was nominated for 11 Oscars in his lifetime...
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