soldier boy

The Shirelles recorded this pledge of fidelity in one take with only minutes left in the studio and what followed was their biggest hit.  Their manager and owner of Scepter Records Florence Greenberg wrote 'Soldier Boy' with producer Luther Dixon during the all day session in which the Shirelles recorded a song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David called 'Baby It’s You'.   Group leader Shirley Alston Reeves Owens remembers:  “We had finished doing the recording we were supposed to that day, and there was time left over. Florence said, ‘Listen, time is money. Why don’t we just run this song down, put 'Soldier Boy' in now.’ Then they brought up the music to it and gave it to the group. They ran it down.  And they recorded it, boom!”   'Baby It’s You' peaked at number eight on the pop chart; but 'Soldier Boy' struck a responsive chord with the buying public, going to number one with a bullet.  Beverly Lee says she can't decide whether her favorite Shirelles song is 'Dedicated to the One I Love' or 'Soldier Boy;' "But 'Soldier Boy' touched so many more lives."

Soldier boy oh my little soldier boy
I'll be true to you

You were my first love
And you'll be my last love
I will never make you blue
I'll be true to you
In the whole world
You can love but one girl
Let me be that one girl
For I'll be true to you

Where ever you go
My heart will follow
I love you so
I'll be true to you
Take my love with you
To any port or foreign shore
Darling you must feel for sure
I'll be true to you

Soldier boy oh my little soldier boy
I'll be true to you.