LISTEN TO BOOMTOWN RADIO! “ALL the Music That Matters for the Generation That Created Rock 'n' Roll”

The Story Behind the Song: "Darling Be Home Soon"

While not as big a hit as some of their other releases, “Darling Be Home Soon” by the Lovin’ Spoonful has increased in stature over the years, with cover versions being recorded by Joe Cocker, Bobby Darin, the Association and even Slade and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

The song was commissioned by then-beginning film director, Francis Ford Coppola for his coming-of-age comedy You’re a Big Boy Now. Coppola wanted the song for the film’s pivotal seduction scene. He had been using “Monday Monday” by the Mamas and Papas as a placeholder & told songwriter (and the Spoonful’s leader & songwriter) John Sebastian that he wanted the Spoonful’s song to be the same tempo.

Sebastian had been thinking about how many rock songs were written about guys on the road hoping to get back to their girl. He decided it was time to reverse that dynamic. He wrote about a guy who was waiting for his girl to return from the road. He deliberately kept the lyrics vague. We’re not sure if the guy is singing to his girl just before she leaves or he’s singing it after she’s already gone to cope with his loneliness.

No matter which interpretation you want to give it, his band did not like the song. They didn’t think it rocked enough and was “too emotional.” Most of their earlier hits had all been up-tempo pop tunes with much more playful lyrics. In addition, it became the first Spoonful song to receive a full orchestral backing which took the group’s sound farther away from their usual folk-rockabilly leanings.

To this point, the band had successfully bucked the prevailing trend in rock recording, which was to use studio musicians instead of actual band members during the recording process. But the rhythm track on “Darling Be Home Soon” proved especially tricky and in the end, the Spoonful’s drummer, Joe Butler, was replaced by studio player, Billy LaVorgna.

Unfortunately, You’re a Big Boy Now bombed at the box office, which hurt the songs chances on the charts. It broke into the Top 20, but stalled at 15. Nevertheless, it went on to become a favorite of Sebastian’s and one that he nearly always plays during his live shows.

Pop Up Player

Latest Posts–Music

  • Performing Nitely at the Saints & Sinners Cocktail Lounge...
    Girls, don't all rush them at once......
  • Happy Birthday, Disney World
    It was 54 years ago this week (October 1st) that Florida gained the attraction that has now come to define the state as Walt Disney World opened for the first time.Initially, just one theme park…
  • How The Kinks Got Their First Hit
    The Kinks needed a hit. Their first two records had both stiffed. Leader Ray Davies knew they weren’t going to get that many chances. So, for their third attempt, he tried something completely different. The…
  • The Album That Made the Rolling Stones the World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band
    Let's take a look at the Rolling Stones’ 7th or 9th studio album (depending on whether you live in the UK or US). While it seems to have performed like most of their previous albums –…
  • Story Behind the Song: "Come Softly to Me"
    “Come Softly to Me” is a rock & roll classic. It’s been covered by a multitude of artists including Fleetwood Mac’s Bob Welch & Christine McVie. The original was recorded in the fall of 1958…
  • Brothers in Rock
    We’re all part of the great big rock & roll family, but today, let’s look at some of the actual brothers who have made up some of rock’s biggest acts... Everly Brothers – Of course,…