Whatever Will Be Will Be
Doris Day & Jimmy Joyce & The Children's Chorus Lyrics


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When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me

Qué será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Qué será, será
What will be, will be

When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows day after day?
Here's what my sweetheart said

Qué será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Qué será, será
What will be, will be

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome? Will I be rich?
I tell them tenderly

Qué será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Qué será, será




What will be, will be
Qué será, será

Overall Meaning

Doris Day's song "Whatever Will Be, Will Be" is a timeless classic that has resonated with listeners for generations. The song speaks to the human desire for control over the future, and the comforting notion that sometimes, no matter what we do, things will turn out the way they are meant to.


The song begins with a young girl asking her mother what her future will hold. She asks if she will be pretty or rich, and her mother responds with the famous phrase, "Que sera, sera," meaning "whatever will be, will be." The song then transitions to the girl as an adult in love, questioning what lies ahead with her sweetheart. The answer once again is that the future is not ours to see, and that what will be, will be.


As the song draws to a close, the scene shifts to the present day, where the girl has children of her own. They ask her the same questions she once asked her mother, and she responds with the same phrase. The song concludes with the chorus, repeating the sentiment that we cannot control what will happen in our lives, and that we should embrace whatever comes.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was just a little girl
As a young girl, I was filled with curiosity and asked my mother about what the future holds for me.


I asked my mother, what will I be
I inquired from my mother about my future and what I can expect from my life ahead.


Will I be pretty
I questioned whether or not I will be beautiful as I grow up and become a woman.


Will I be rich
I was curious about whether or not I will have a lot of wealth and treasures at my disposal in the future.


Here's what she said to me
My mother replied to me to impart some wisdom about life.


Que será, será
She said 'Que será, será' which means 'whatever will be, will be' in Spanish.


Whatever will be, will be
The future is unpredictable and anything can happen. We cannot plan for the future as things may not go as we expect.


The future's not ours to see
We cannot predict the future or know what it holds for us, so it's best not to worry or be anxious about what's to come.


When I grew up and fell in love
As an adult, I fell in love and started thinking about my future with my partner.


I asked my sweetheart, what lies ahead
I asked my partner about our future and what we can expect from life together.


Will we have rainbows
I was curious if we'd have good times and happy moments together, often symbolized by rainbows.


Day after day
I hoped we would have happiness and joy on a regular basis, not just occasionally.


Here's what my sweetheart said
My partner replied to me with some words of wisdom about life.


Now I have children of my own
As a parent now, I have my own kids who ask me about their future.


They ask their mother, what will I be
My children are curious about their future and what they can expect from life as they grow up.


Will I be handsome
They ask whether or not they will be attractive or good-looking as they grow up.


I tell them tenderly
I reply to my kids softly and lovingly, with gentle words of wisdom to guide them through life.


Que será, será
I tell them 'Que será, será' to remind them that whatever happens in life, they have to embrace it, accept it, and go with the flow.


What will be, will be
The future is unpredictable and we cannot control it, so it's best to live in the present and take each day as it comes.


Que será, será
I remind my children that whatever happens, they will always have my love, care, and support.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, Billianne, Elijah Hill

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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