Sooner or Later

Album: Their 16 Greatest Hits (1971)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Gary Zekley, Mitchell Bottler, brothers Adenyi Jacob and Ekundayo Paris, and Ted McNamara. Zekley and Bottler also wrote the Grass Roots' previous hit "(I'd) Wait a Million Years" among others. It was the Grass Roots' first Top 10 hit since their hit "Midnight Confessions," which was released three years before.
  • In the tale of this song, a man is trying to win the heart of a girl who does not want to love him (she's allegedly afraid because of past experiences); he tells her that she will succumb to him sooner or later.
  • Keyboardist Dennis Provisor is given a chance to stand out in this song. After the key signature changes, Provisor makes a soulful improvise while the other members sing the verse. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 3

Comments: 10

  • 1hit1ders from CaliforniaTo Randy from Texas: The lady in the video you are speaking about is Mary Arnold from Kenny Rogers original group, The First Edition. She appears on this clip because the performance is from Kenny's music show at the time, called "Rollin' on the River" (later it was just "Rollin'"). A partially restored video is on my channel on YouTube (Search for "1hit1ders" on YT for my channel). I love this song too, it brings back fond memories of the Summer of '71, when I was only 13. This song used to play on the P.A. system at our local neighborhood swimming pool tuned to WLCY138/Tampa. It was in heavy rotation that summer and is the song I most closely associate with that year. It's a fantastic tune full of hooks and melodies, the perfect Summer song! The Grass Roots were great, had many hits and never got the recognition they deserved, IMHO. I have a 2-CD set of their hits I play often.
  • MichaelThis song is about addiction. Benjamin Burnley had dealt with alcoholism and recovered; When he refers to “you” or “you’re” he’s referring to alcohol, and when he’s referring to himself, he is legitimately referring to himself and how he is struggling with the drug. If you relisten to the song with this in mind, it’ll make sense.
  • Mike from Ft Collinsthe girl in the video is from group 1st edtion (Kenny Rodgers) The show was from Canada, I think
  • Randy from TexasI just love the live version of Sooner or Later on you tube. In the video a lady in a black and white dress sings back up. But she may have been pulled from the audience to come up on the stage and sing. If you are familiar with the video you will know what I mean. She is just great and love to watch her. Does anyone know who she is or where this video was performed? Fantastic Hit!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 4th 1971, the Grass Roots performed "Sooner or Later” on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Just over three months earlier on May 30th, 1971 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #77; and on July 25th, 1971 it peaked at #9 {for 1 week} and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
    On the same 'Bandstand' show the group also performed "Two Divided By Love"; and it too also stayed on the Top 100 for 11 weeks; peaking at #16 {for 2 weeks} on November 21st, 1971.,.
    Between 1966 and 1975 the Los Angeles-based quartet had twenty-one Top 100 records; with three made the Top 10 with "Midnight Confessions" being their biggest hit, it peaked at #5 {for 1 week} on October 27th, 1968...
    Bassist and lead singer Robert 'Rob' Grill passed away on July 11th, 2011 at the age of 67...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhThe Grass Roots had some excellent hits that stand the test of time. This is just one of them. Agree with the comments that it's a catchy song and
    fun to sing along to.
  • B.l. from Barry, TxMy second favorite Roots song behind "Glory Bound."
  • Rick from Belfast, MeThis song was danced to by the winning couple on American Bandstand the year it came out.....I used to have the Grass Roots Greatest Hits "album".....a "must" have for the serious rock and roll collectors.....is what made the 70's so great!!!!!!!
  • Wayne from Salem, VaI was 11 years old when this song came out. Heard it on the radio for the first time. I liked it then,and still like it now. The Grass Roots had quite a few pop/rock songs that were hits. "Sooner Or Later" was one of them. Like most songs from your youth,they retain fond memories. And I have alot of fond memories with this song. It is a very catchy song. And I still love to sing along with it.
  • Abel from Garden City, KsThis is an awesome song. The song shows that Breaking Benjamin in underated.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.