Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon

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"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album Just for You
B-side
  • "You'll Forget" (US, UK)
  • "New Orleans" (continental Europe)
ReleasedMarch 1967
Recorded1966
Genre
Length2:48
LabelBang
Songwriter(s)Neil Diamond
Producer(s)Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
Neil Diamond singles chronology
"You Got to Me"
(1967)
"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"
(1967)
"Thank the Lord for the Night Time"
(1967)

"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" is a song written by American musician Neil Diamond, whose recording of it on Bang Records reached number 10 on the US pop singles chart in 1967. The song enjoyed a second life when it appeared on the 1994 Pulp Fiction soundtrack, performed by rock band Urge Overkill. Other versions have been recorded by Cliff Richard (1968), Jackie Edwards (1968), the Biddu Orchestra (1978), and 16 Volt (1998).

Neil Diamond version[edit]

The song first appeared on Diamond's album Just for You. The mono and stereo versions of this song differ slightly. On the mono "Just For You" LP as well as on the 45, the strings do not come in until the second verse. It also has a slightly longer fade. The stereo "Just For You" LP version has a shorter fade and the strings come in on the first chorus. The lyrics describe a narrator romantically interested in a young woman whose friends and family disapprove of him ("They never get tired of putting me down") while he urges the woman to reach her own conclusions about him ("Don't let them make up your mind").

Billboard described the single as a "sure-fire chart topper," stating that an "easy rhythm backs a soulful reading of a compelling lyric."[2] Cash Box called the single a "rhythmic, mid-tempo ballad that should see lots of Top 40 play."[3]

Track listing[edit]

7-inch single

  1. "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"
  2. "You'll Forget"

Charts[edit]

Chart (1967) Peak
position
US Billboard Pop Singles[4] 10
Chart (1971) Peak
position
Dutch Mega Top 100[5] 27

Cliff Richard version[edit]

"Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon"
Single by Cliff Richard
A-side"I'll Love You Forever Today"
ReleasedJune 21, 1968
RecordedFebruary 11, 1968[6]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenrePop
Length3:03
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Neil Diamond
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"Congratulations"
(1968)
"Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon"
(1968)
"Marianne"
(1968)

Cliff Richard covered the song as the B-side to his 1968 single "I'll Love You Forever Today, which was featured in the movie Two a Penny.[7]

Track listing[edit]

7-inch single

  1. "I'll Love You Forever Today" – 3:06
  2. "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" – 3:03

Charts[edit]

Chart (1968) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 27[8]

Urge Overkill version[edit]

"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"
Single by Urge Overkill
from the album Stull (EP) and Pulp Fiction
B-side"Bustin' Surfboards"
Released1994
Length3:10
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Neil Diamond
Producer(s)Urge Overkill, Kramer
Urge Overkill singles chronology
"Positive Bleeding"
(1993)
"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"
(1994)
"The Break"
(1995)

American alternative rock band Urge Overkill recorded a cover of the song for their second extended play (EP), Stull (1992). This version would later appear in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film Pulp Fiction. Issued as a single in late 1994, this version achieved some chart success both domestically and internationally, peaking at number one in Iceland and reaching the top 20 in Flanders, France, and New Zealand. On the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, the song peaked at number 11.

Track listing[edit]

CD single

  1. "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" – 3:10
  2. "Bustin' Surfboards" (by the Tornadoes) – 2:27
  3. "Bullwinkle Part II" (by the Centurians) – 2:18

Charts[edit]

Chart (1994–1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 21
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] 29
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 65
France (SNEP)[14] 10
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 19
Scotland (OCC)[17] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 37
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 59
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[20] 11

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 1994 Cassette MCA
United Kingdom November 7, 1994
  • CD
  • cassette
[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Neil Diamond". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 233-234. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  2. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 25, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 25, 1967. p. 14. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved March 27, 2009)
  5. ^ "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (original version), in various singles charts Dutchcharts.nl (Retrieved March 28, 2009)
  6. ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  7. ^ Dave Thompson. "Two a Penny - Cliff Richard | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  9. ^ "Urge Overkill – Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "Urge Overkill – Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Urge Overkill – Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Urge Overkill – Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 19. May 13, 1995. p. 23.
  14. ^ "Urge Overkill – Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.–7.12 '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 1, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Urge Overkill – Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Urge Overkill: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. December 17, 1994. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. December 17, 1994. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. November 5, 1994. p. 23.