♫ It’s Now Or Never ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I have often said I was not a fan of Elvis Presley … I thought he was a bit too much of a showman and not enough of a serious musician.  However, some of his music I did … and do … really like.  Tonight’s song is one such … for no apparent reason it popped into my head tonight … Oh wait … I remember why!  I was responding to a comment by Roger and used the phrase “It’s now or never” and thus the song popped into my ancient mind!  Anyway … according to SongFacts …

This Elvis classic borrows the chord progression as well as the melody from the Italian song “O Sole Mio,” which was first recorded by Giuseppe Anselmi in 1907. Mario Lanza popularized the song, and Tony Martin released the first English translation as “There’s No Tomorrow” in 1949.

When Elvis was in the US army, he was stationed in Germany and heard “O Sole Mio.” When he was discharged, he asked his record company to write an English translation for him, a task that went to songwriters Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, who according to Gold, did it in 30 minutes. It was a huge hit, knocking “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” from the top spot in America and staying for five weeks.

Here we have Elvis Presley, the undisputed king of rock and roll, singing a song with a traditional melody that sounds like something Dean Martin would record. It was quite a stretch for Elvis and also a challenge: in 1957 Frank Sinatra said, “When he goes into something serious, a bigger kind of singing, we’ll find out if he is a singer.”

This was one of 17 songs written by songwriter and producer Aaron Schroeder for Elvis. Others include “Stuck on You” and “A Big Hunk O’ Love” but this was the biggest hit that he penned for The King. Another familiar tune to many that he wrote was the theme song for the TV series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Schroeder also discovered, managed and directed the career of Gene Pitney and helped the young careers of acts like Jimi Hendrix and Barry White.

“O Sole Mio” was in the public domain in America, so the only songwriters credited are Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, who wrote the lyrics for Elvis to sing (earning a tidy sum for 30 minutes of work). In the UK, that song was still under copyright, which delayed its release until it could be cleared, with “O Sole Mio” composer Eduardo Di Capua added to the credits. This built up anticipation for the song, and when it was finally released in Britain, it racked up huge sales. “It’s Now Or Never” hit #1 on November 3, 1960 (two-and-a-half months after reaching the top in America), and stayed for eight weeks, the longest of any Elvis single.

Barry White heard this song in 1960 when he was in jail for stealing tires. The song had such an impact on White, that it convinced him to pursue a career in music.

And without further ado …

It’s Now Or Never

Elvis Presley

It’s now or never
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight

Tomorrow will be too late
It’s now or never
My love won’t wait

When I first saw you
With your smile so tender
My heart was captured
My soul surrendered

I spent a lifetime
Waiting for the right time
Now that you’re near
The time is here, at last

It’s now or never
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight

Tomorrow will be too late
It’s now or never
My love won’t wait

Just like a willow
We would cry an ocean
If we lost true love
And sweet devotion

Your lips excite me
Let your arms invite me
For who knows when
We’ll meet again this way

It’s now or never
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight

Tomorrow will be too late
It’s now or never
My love won’t wait

It’s now or never
My love won’t wait

It’s now or never
My love won’t wait
It’s now or never
My love won’t wait

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Aaron Schroeder / Wally Gold

It’s Now or Never (Bonus Tracks) lyrics © Gladys Music, Rachel’s Own Music, Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl., Abg Epe Gladys Music, Gladys Music Elvis Presley Enterprises Llc.

27 thoughts on “♫ It’s Now Or Never ♫”

  1. Pingback: ♫ It’s Now Or Never ♫ – DAILY GRUMPS AD

  2. Like you I am not a great fan of Elvis, I never thought he was a true rock and roller and I dispute he was the king of R&R but more of a ballad singer of the Tom Jones style that sent women into a trance. He had a nice melodic voice and a pelvic thrust that was adored by the girls.

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  3. I confess I’m not an Elvis fan especially his rock ‘n’ roll music, but His voice does do justice to slower blues and ballads, and amongst these I would say that “In The Ghetto”, “Old Shep” top the list.

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  6. Funny thung Jill. One of the residents here was told to sit and not move wen her B/P was too high, so the lady across the hall from me and I were talking to her and keeping her company a couple of nights ago. I had the Kindle with nee and when we were stuck for something to say I asked her what kind of music she limed. Elvis was her favorite. I got him on the Kindle and a dance party started all around us. It’s Now Or Never has always been one of my favorites both the Elvis version and O Sole Mio as well. Thanks for playing it fo ne tonoght (too tired to correcr the spelling)

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  7. Pingback: IT’S NOW OR NEVER. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

        • It is a sad song, for sure. No, I couldn’t point a gun at a dying dog, but logically, is that any different than taking him to the vet to be ‘put to sleep’? We do that so they won’t suffer any more pain, and it’s humanitarian, I think, though I’ve never done so without crying.

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          • I do the vet thing, though only if I have to now. Sometimes Gail says I have to. Dakota died at home, of old age. I don’t think she was suffering. She passed quietly in Gail’s arms. But when I know they are suffering, and they seem to be hanging on forever, that makes it hard to keep them home.
            But really, aside from pulling plugs, would we want to tell the doctor to kill our loved ones? Not usually…

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            • I will never forget holding our Spooky in the rocking chair in the kitchen as he took his dying breaths and while Natasha, who was then but a small child, lay on the couch in the living room screaming and crying her little heart out. I never want to do that again. 😿

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  10. If it’s now or never as the choice then I’m afraid that for me it’s never. I didn’t really like Elvis. I thought Suspicious Minds and In The Ghetto were both great pop records, but most of his stuff left me fairly cold. My problem with this is that the tune of O Sole Mio was used as the jingle to advertise an ice cream here, and whenever I hear it I just hear “Just one Cornetto, give it to me. Delicious ice cream, from Eetaly.” Which was a lie – made in a factory over here!

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  11. Pingback: ♫ It’s Now Or Never ♫ — Filosofa’s Word | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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