About the Song
“It’s Now or Never” stands as one of Elvis Presley’s iconic singles, released in 1960 and becoming one of the best-selling physical singles of all time, boasting over 20 million copies sold worldwide. The song, recorded by Bill Porter at RCA Studio B in Nashville, quickly ascended to number one in the U.S., reigning for five weeks. In the UK, it enjoyed eight weeks at the top in 1960 and an additional week at number one in 2005 upon reissue, solidifying its status as Presley’s biggest international single.
The background of “It’s Now or Never” is intertwined with the Italian song “‘O Sole mio.” Presley’s rendition, inspired by the U.S. singer Tony Martin’s “There’s No Tomorrow” in 1949, shares its roots with another popular song, sparking the creation of “It’s Now or Never.” Crafted by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, the song was published by Elvis Presley’s company Gladys Music, Inc.
Presley, stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army in the late 1950s, first heard Martin’s recording and likely drew inspiration from his appreciation for Mario Lanza, who had previously popularized “‘O Sole Mio” in the U.S. According to reports, Presley shared the idea of recording a version with his music publisher, Freddy Bienstock, who connected him with songwriters Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold. The trio swiftly penned the lyrics, with the song becoming a monumental success, selling over 5 million records and marking Presley’s best-selling single.
The song’s chart performance was equally impressive. In the U.S., it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 44 in July 1960, eventually claiming the top spot for five consecutive weeks. It faced stiff competition, holding off contenders like “Walk, Don’t Run” by The Ventures before yielding to “The Twist” by Chubby Checker. In the UK, delayed release due to copyright issues did not deter its success, debuting at No. 1 and maintaining its dominance for eight weeks, even securing the coveted Christmas number one for 1960.
“It’s Now or Never” left an indelible mark, returning to the UK top 40 in the aftermath of Presley’s death in 1977 and reclaiming the number one spot in 2005 during a reissue series. With a total of 22 weeks in the UK top 40, this timeless Presley classic continues to captivate audiences across generations.
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Lyrics
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