Long Live Our Love
The Shangri-Las Lyrics


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(When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurray, hurrah)

(Chorus)
Long live our lo-o-ove, long live our happiness,
Here's a toast to happiness,
Long live our love.
When we were childhood sweethearts,
We had made a simple vow,
We vowed to love each other,
And I know we won't stop now.

(Chorus)

But something's come between us,
And it's not another girl,
But a lot of people need you,
There is trouble in the world.

(Spoken:
It's the fighting that has come between us
And it's taken you far, far away.
But please don't wonder if I'll be faithful
You're in my heart both night and day.
So, darling, I send my love to you,
While you are fighting overseas,
And I know one day if we are lucky,
God will send you back to me.)

(Chorus)

(Spoken:




Please Lord, don't let anything happen to him, please
I'm waiting for you, Johnny, I'm waiting)

Overall Meaning

The Shangri-Las's song "Long Live Our Love" tells a story of a couple who fell in love during childhood and made a vow to love each other, and nothing would come between them. But, the pressures of the world, specifically fighting overseas, have forced them apart. The chorus is a toast to happiness and the power of their love while the verses speak to their struggles, fears, and hopes. The song expresses the real-life experiences of many couples who were torn apart by war and the battles that they had to carry on to bridge the distance.


The song's spoken words are particularly powerful, as they add a layer of emotion to the song. The singer refers to the oath that she and her loved one took, and how the fighting has come between them. She talks of how she is waiting for him, and how she needs him to come back soon as there is trouble in the world. The "please Lord" at the end of the song adds a sense of desperation, as though the singer is praying for her loved one's safety night and day.


Line by Line Meaning

(When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurray, hurrah)
When Johnny returns from war, let's cheer him and celebrate his safe return.


(Chorus) Long live our lo-o-ove, long live our happiness, Here's a toast to happiness, Long live our love.
Our love and happiness are to be cherished and long-lasting. Let's toast to our happiness and love.


When we were childhood sweethearts, We had made a simple vow, We vowed to love each other, And I know we won't stop now.
As childhood sweethearts, we made a vow to love each other unconditionally. We still hold true to that promise.


(Chorus)
Our love is still going strong, let's continue to celebrate its existence.


But something's come between us, And it's not another girl, But a lot of people need you, There is trouble in the world.
Recently, we've been separated, but not due to infidelity. You're away fighting in a war because many people are in need and there is turmoil in the world.


(Spoken: It's the fighting that has come between us And it's taken you far, far away. But please don't wonder if I'll be faithful You're in my heart both night and day. So, darling, I send my love to you, While you are fighting overseas, And I know one day if we are lucky, God will send you back to me.)
The warfare has separated us physically, but please don't question my fidelity. You're always in my heart, and I send my love to you while you're overseas. I believe that one day, with some luck and God's help, you'll return home to me.


(Chorus)
Even though we're apart, our love perseveres, so let's celebrate it once more.


(Spoken: Please Lord, don't let anything happen to him, please I'm waiting for you, Johnny, I'm waiting)
I pray to God that you'll return home unharmed. I'm anxiously awaiting your return, Johnny.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J JACKSON, SIDNEY A. BARNES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

54nomore

This is for those vets whose girlfriends and spouses never sent a 'Dear John Letter.' They were always there to the very end. Awesome!

Humboldt Bear

Amazing clip, all four are present which was very rare. Mary, Betty, Marge & Mary Ann.

Chrisst

And it's live, one of only two such recordings to survive.

Al Just Al

The Ganser twins and the Weiss sisters. Betty Weiss (middle of the three in back, flanked by Marge and Mary Ann Ganser) was the oldest--she turned 20 in November of 1966. The other three were born in 1948 and would have been either 17 or 18 when this was shot depending on what month this was. This was 3 years after their first single.

Gee Tee

Wow - even if this isn't one of their iconic songs - the 4 of them in colour and kinda live is pretty amazing. Gracias.

Neil G

Incredible! Live & in-color. Where is this from? Very rare. Thanks!

joseph mazzotta

I will love these ladies.

Shelley Lyme

Wowser!! 🤗

steve hewitt

FAB :)

Lavandar Channel

This was actually live on hullabaloo

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