Home » Albums » Songs » Cover Songs » Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

Carole King Cover | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2021)

“Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Taylor performed it at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2021, where she inducted Carole King. Her cover was released on November 20, 2021.
Taylor and Carole King have corssed paths multiple times. At the 2019 American Music Awards, King notably presented Taylor with the “Artist of the Decade” award and praised her versatility. “Over the years, I have known some great songwriters and I have also known some great singers and performers. It’s rare to see all those talents in one person. Taylor Swift. She is one of the only modern pop artists whose name appears as the sole songwriter in her song credits. Her lyrics resonate across all generations, her songs touch everyone and her impact around the world is extraordinary.”
Table of Contents

Background and Release

Taylor took the stage at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in a glittering, form-fitting outfit to sing a vibey, electronic-flavored rendition of Rock Hall inductee Carole King‘s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” the 1961 Shirelles No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit King wrote with her first husband, Gerry Goffin, and also recorded for her own Billboard 200 chart-topping Tapestry album in 1971. Buoyed by a chorus of soft-glow backing singers and a lush bed of keyboards, Taylor walked around the stage slowly and deliberately, letting the music and lyrics wash over her. Her performance was honey-smooth and full of admiration and clearly showed she grew up listening to King’s music. She looked thrilled to be singing the song, grinning widely after the first chorus as the crowd screamed its approval, and adding theatrical vocal flourishes here and there for emphasis.

Carole King was even more moved by the performance: The camera panned to her in the audience as the song floated to its end, and King was wiping away tears and gesturing her acceptance and approval to Taylor. King was already a member of the Hall of Fame, as a songwriter inducted alongside Gerry Goffin, but her being voted in as a solo recording artist and performer was still considered long overdue, and Taylor’s elegant remarks, from one era’s preeminent pop songwriter to another’s, helped make it worth the wait:

«“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know Carole King’s music. I was raised by two of her biggest fans, who taught me the basic truths of life as they saw it: that you should treat people the way you want to be treated, that you must believe that you can achieve whatever you want to in life, and that Carole King is the greatest songwriter of all time. [...] Carole taught artists like me that telling your own story is worth the work and struggle it takes to earn the opportunity for your story to be heard. That musical connection can be generation-spanning. She created the purest works of love and strength and catharsis while navigating the politics of an era that didn’t make space for the idea of a female genius. Slowly but surely, Carole King worked and worked until she had created one, and it will hers forever. She is an immensely generous artist in every sense of that term. She has given us all so much. And that’s why I’m so moved and honored to be here this evening to give something back to her. Carole, please accept your well-deserved place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.»

Taylor Swift
After thanking Taylor “for carrying the torch forward” and calling her “my professional granddaughter,” Carole King paid tribute to Goffin and other collaborators and supporters, including Tapestry album producer Lou Adler and James Taylor, as well as musicians, managers and others. Tayloe’s performance was filmed by HBO and was released on November 20, 2021.

Lyrical Theme

Originally written for African-American female group The Shirelles and later covered by Carole King, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” speaks about the insecurities of a sexually liberated woman. The initial release of the 1960 hit song was released in the same year as the first oral contraceptive pill. King’s own version of this classic was released on February 10, 1971 as part of her legendary album titled Tapestry.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Tonight you’re mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?

[Verse 2]
Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment’s pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?

[Bridge]
Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I’m the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night (When the night)
Meets the morning sun? (Meets the morning sun?)

[Verse 3]
I’d like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of
So tell me now and I won’t ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me tomorrow? (Will you still love me, will you?)

[Outro]
Will you still love me, will you?
Will you still love me, will you?
Will you still love me tomorrow?

Taylor Swift for RED (Taylor's Version)
General Information
Associated EraTaylor’s Version Era
ReleasedNovember 20, 2021
RecordedOctober 30, 2021
Written1960
VenueRocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
(Cleveland, Ohio)
GenrePop
Length3:30
SongwritersGerry Goffin
Carole King
ProducerTaylor Swift
Live Performance

Discography

Videography

Wiki