Introduction
“I Will Follow Him” is a popular song with an interesting history. Originally recorded in 1961 by Franck Pourcel as an instrumental titled “Chariot,” the song gained widespread success when American singer Little Peggy March recorded it with English lyrics in 1963. The music was co-written by Franck Pourcel (using the pseudonym J.W. Stole) and Paul Mauriat (using the pseudonym Del Roma), with new English lyrics by Norman Gimbel.
Before Peggy March’s version, there were instrumental renditions of the song. Franck Pourcel released the first instrumental version in 1961, and Percy Faith later recorded an instrumental version titled “I Will Follow You” in 1963.
Petula Clark released a French-language version titled “Chariot” in 1962, reaching No. 1 in Wallonia and No. 2 in France. She also recorded an English version of the song, which, despite reaching No. 4 in Denmark, did not chart in the UK or the US.
Little Peggy March’s version of “I Will Follow Him” was released on January 22, 1963. It spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on April 27, 1963, making 15-year-old March the youngest female artist to have a U.S. chart-topping single at the time. The song also topped charts in Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa, Uruguay, Canada, and New Zealand. It was nominated for the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording.
In 2011, Peggy March re-recorded “I Will Follow Him” with Dutch singer José Hoebee, and the new version was eventually released on the German version of March’s album “Always and Forever” in 2012.
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Lyrics
Love him, I love him, I love himAnd where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll followI will follow himFollow him wherever he may goThere isn’t an ocean too deepA mountain so high it can keep me awayI must follow him (follow him)Ever since he touched my hand I knewThat near him I always must beAnd nothing can keep him from meHe is my destiny (destiny)I love him, I love him, I love himAnd where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll followHe’ll always be my true love, my true love, my true loveFrom now until forever, forever, foreverI will follow him (follow him)Follow him wherever he may goThere isn’t an ocean too deepA mountain so high it can keep, keep me awayAway from my love (I love him, I love him, I love him)I love him, I love him, I love himAnd where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll followHe’ll always be my true love, my true love, my true loveFrom now until forever, forever, foreverI will follow him (follow him)Follow him wherever he may goThere isn’t an ocean too deepA mountain so high it can keep, keep me awayAway from my loveAnd where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll followI know I’ll always love him, I love him, I love himAnd where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll followI know I’ll always love him, I love him, I love himAnd where he goes I’ll follow