Let's Live for Today

About Let's Live for Today

"Let's Live for Today" is a song written by David "Shel" Shapiro and Italian lyricist Mogol, with additional English lyrics provided by Michael Julien. It was first recorded, with Italian lyrics, under the title of "Piangi Con Me" (translated as "Cry with Me") by the English band the Rokes in 1966. Later, when "Piangi Con Me" was to be released in the United Kingdom, publisher Dick James Music requested that staff writer Julien compose English lyrics for the song. Julien composed new lyrics, rather than translating from the Italian, and it was his input that transformed "Piangi Con Me" into "Let's Live for Today". The song was popularized by the American rock band the Grass Roots, who released it as a single on May 13, 1967. The Grass Roots' version climbed to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, eventually selling over two million copies and being awarded a gold disc. The song also became the title track of the Grass Roots' second album, Let's Live for Today. Since its initial release, the Grass Roots' rendition of the song has become a staple of oldies radio programming in America and is today widely regarded by critics as a 1960s classic. more »