Soldier Boy (The Shirelles song)

Not to be confused with Crank That (Souja Boy).

"Soldier Boy" is a song written by Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg and made famous by the girl group the Shirelles. Released as a single in 1962, it met with great success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks.^[1] Billboard ranked it as the No. 10 song for 1962.^[2]

"Soldier Boy"
Single by The Shirelles
from the album Baby It's You
B-side	"Love Is a Swingin' Thing"
Released	March 1962
Recorded	Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre	R&B
Length	2:42
Label	Scepter (Florence Greenberg-Owner)
Songwriter(s)	Luther Dixon, Florence Greenberg
Producer(s)	Luther Dixon
The Shirelles singles chronology
"Baby It's You" (1962) "Soldier Boy" (1962) "Welcome Home, Baby" (1962)

Background

Record executive Florence Greenberg, founder of Scepter Records (the Shirelles' record label), wrote the song and was originally titled "I'll Be True to You". The main frame of the song's lyrics make no mention of a soldier. It was only while recording at Bell Sound Studios that the Shirelles gave the song a much better title to reflect its narrative, the profession of someone's love for the titular soldier boy in which she promises to remain true to him while he's away.^[3] The song was released as a single by The Shirelles in 1962 and met with great success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100.^[4]

In popular culture

• The recording was used in the film The Wanderers (1979).
• The recording was used in the film Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
• Actress Brittany Murphy sings the song in the 2001 movie Riding in Cars with Boys.
• The recording was used in the television series 11.22.63 (2016) episode 7 Soldier Boy

Charts

Chart (1962)	Peak position
Canada (CHUM Chart)[5] (3 weeks)	1
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[6]	1
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US R&B	3
UK Singles Chart	23

Cover versions

• "Soldier Boy" was covered by American country music artist Donna Fargo in 1991. Her version peaked at number 71 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.^[7]
• It was covered by Diane Renay in 1964.
• "Soldier Boy" was covered too by the Mexican children's group La Onda Vaselina in 1989, titled "Yo te esperaré" and adapted by the composer and Mexican singer Julissa.