"I Will Follow Him" is a popular song that was first recorded in 1961 by Franck Pourcel, as an instrumental entitled "Chariot". The song achieved its widest success when it was recorded by American singer Little Peggy March with English lyrics on January 7, 1963. The music was written by Franck Pourcel (using the pseudonym J.W. Stole) and Paul Mauriat (using the pseudonym Del Roma).Music Registrations, Catalog of Copyright Entries : Third Series, Volume 19, Part 5, Number 2. U.S. Government Printing Office, July–December 1965. p. 1509. Archive.org. Accessed February 29, 2016 It was adapted by Arthur Altman. The completely new English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel.
Instrumental versions The song was first recorded by Franck Pourcel as an instrumental, and was released in 1961 on the European LP Amour, Danse, Et Violons. No.17 and on an EP on the La Voix de son Maître label. Pourcel co-wrote the song with his friend and fellow French bandleader Paul Mauriat. Mauriat later recorded an instrumental version, which he released on his album Paul Mauriat Plays the Hits of 1976.Paul Mauriat – Plays the Hits of 1976, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
In 1963, Percy Faith released an instrumental version, re-titled "I Will Follow You", as the lead song on side 1 of his album entitled Themes for Young Lovers."Winner of the Billboard DJ Poll Instrumental Album Award for 1963", Billboard, July 18, 1964. p. 5. Accessed February 19, 2016.Popoff, Martin (2010). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948-1991, Krause Publications. p. 414. The album spent 28 weeks on Billboards chart of Top LPs, reaching No. 32, and earned Percy Faith a gold record.Billboard 200 – Percy Faith Themes for Young Lovers Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019."Top LP's", Billboard. September 14, 1963. Retrieved January 21, 2019."Col. Convention's Grand Finale: Barbra Repacted, Awards, Show", Billboard. August 12, 1967. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
Petula Clark versions In 1962, Petula Clark released a French-language version of the song, entitled "Chariot" (lyrics by Jacques Plante), which reached No. 1 in Wallonia,Petula Clark – Chariot, Ultratop. Retrieved February 25, 2018."Hits of the World", Billboard, December 8, 1962. p. 37. Accessed February 27, 2016. No. 2 in France,"Hits of the World", Billboard, December 1, 1962. p. 34. Accessed February 27, 2016. and No. 8 in Flanders,Petula Clark – Chariot, Ultratop. Accessed February 25, 2016"Hits of the World", Billboard, October 27, 1962. p. 26. Accessed February 27, 2016. and earned Clark a gold record.Worth, Fred L. (1985). Rock Facts. p. 81. Her English version (the first recording to be entitled "I Will Follow Him") reached No. 4 in Denmark, where it was released by Vogue,"Hits of the World", Billboard, July 13, 1963. p. 30. Accessed February 23, 2016. but failed to chart in the UK and the US, where it was released by Pye and Laurie respectively. Clark also recorded Italian and German versions of the song, with her Italian version, "Sul mio carro", reaching No. 4 in Italy, and her German version, "Cheerio", reaching No. 6 in West Germany.Petula Clark – Cheerio, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
Little Peggy March version On January 7, 1963, 14-year-old singer Little Peggy March recorded a version of "I Will Follow Him" in a performance conducted by Sammy Lowe at RCA Victor Studio A, New York City. RCA Victor released the single (with B-side "Wind-Up Doll") on January 22, 1963."Singles Reviews", Billboard, February 2, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved April 17, 2017. "I Will Follow Him" reached number one on the Hot 100 in the issue of Billboard dated April 27, 1963, spending three weeks at the top during a 14-week chart run.Hot 100 – Little Peggy March I Will Follow Him Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018. At the age of 15 years and one month, March was (and continues to be) the youngest female artist to top the Hot 100."Peggy March's 'Follow' Still The Leader", Billboard.com. November 9, 2010. Accessed February 19, 2016 Her version also reached number one in Australia,"Hits of the World", Billboard, May 18, 1963. p. 32. Accessed February 23, 2016. Hong Kong,"Hits of the World", Billboard, July 20, 1963. p. 27. Accessed February 23, 2016. Israel,"Hits of the World", Billboard, June 29, 1963. p. 46. Accessed February 26, 2016. South Africa and Uruguay,"Hits of the World", Billboard, October 5, 1963. p. 22. Accessed February 27, 2016. and on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade, Chart No. 318. CHUM. New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade""Lever Hit Parade" 09-May-1963 , Flavour of New Zealand. Accessed February 19, 2016. and Billboards Hot R&B Singles chart."Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, May 25, 1963. p. 22. Accessed February 19, 2016. It ranked number one for the year on WABC in New York City.
The song also reached number one on the Cash Box Top 100, in a tandem ranking of Little Peggy March, Franck Pourcel, Petula Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Curtis, Jackie Kannon, Joe Sentieri, and Georgia Gibbs' versions, with March's version marked as a bestseller."Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, May 4, 1963. p. 4. Retrieved March 19, 2018. In 1964, the record featured among the nominations for Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording of 1963, losing to Nino Tempo & April Stevens's cover of "Deep Purple".
In 2011, Peggy March re-recorded "I Will Follow Him" with Dutch singer José Hoebee (who covered this song and reached the number-one spot in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1982). However, it took another year for the release of this new version song, which was eventually released on the German version of March's album Always and Forever.
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1963)PeakpositionAustralia (Music Maker)1Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)(4wks)1Chile5Finland (Ilta-Sanomat)"Hits of the World", Billboard, October 12, 1963. p. 40. Accessed February 26, 2016.≥2Hong Kong1Israel (Kol Yisrael)1Japan (Utamatic)"Hits of the World", Billboard, October 19, 1963. p. 34. Accessed February 26, 2016.≥8New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)1Peru (La Prensa)2Philippines"Hits of the World", Billboard, July 27, 1963. p. 42. Accessed February 26, 2016.5South Africa1Sweden (Tio i Topp)Fernbom, Hugo. Sommartoppen 1963, Datorföreningen vid LU & LTH, Lund University. July 16, 2008. Accessed June 25, 2016.2Uruguay (Discometro Mundial)1US Billboard Hot 1001US Billboard Hot R&B Singles1West Germany (Musikmarkt)Little Peggy March – I Will Follow Him, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.6
Year-end charts Chart (1963)RankSouth Africa9US Billboard Top Records of 1963: Hot 100"Top Records of 1963", Billboard, Section II, December 28, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved June 19, 2018.20US Billboard Top R&B Singles for 1963"Top R&B Singles for 1963", Billboard, Section II, December 28, 1963. p. 31. Retrieved June 19, 2018.22US Cash Box Top 100 Chart Hits of 1963"Top 100 Chart Hits of 1963", Cash Box, December 28, 1963. p. 18. Retrieved June 19, 2018.6
Other versions In Italy three versions of the song were in the charts in 1963 (translated/adapted by Vito Pallavicini and Bruno Pallesi): One recorded by Betty Curtis (highest position: No. 3), another version by Petula Clark ("Sul mio carro"; No. 4) and the Franck Pourcel version (No. 5). The song reached No. 1 in Italy's Musica e dischi, in a tandem ranking of these three versions."Hits of the World", Billboard, March 3, 1963. p. 20. Retrieved April 22, 2018. Curtis's version was also a top 10 hit in Uruguay."Hits of the World", Billboard, August 17, 1963. p. 35. Accessed February 28, 2016.
In 1963, Italian singer Ennio Sangiusto released a version of the song "Chariot (La Tierra)", which reached No. 1 in Spain. Also in 1963, Italian singer Joe Sentieri released a version of the song "La Tierra", which reached No. 3 in Argentina."Hits of the World", Billboard, August 24, 1963. p. 42. Accessed June 17, 2016.
In 1963, Argentine singer Alberto Cortez released a version of the song "La Tierra (Chariot)", which reached No. 2 in Spain."Hits of the World", Billboard, June 15, 1963. p. 36. Accessed June 26, 2016. Also in 1963, Argentine singer Violeta Rivas released a version entitled "La Tierra", which reached No. 1 in Uruguay."Hits of the World", Billboard, October 26, 1963. p. 47. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
Dee Dee Sharp released a version of the song on her 1963 album Do the Bird."Album Reviews", Billboard, April 13, 1963. Retrieved June 20, 2018. Sharp's version reached No. 1 in Hong Kong.
Rick Nelson recorded a cover for his 1963 album For Your Sweet Love, changing the title and lyrics to "I Will Follow You".
Japanese noise rock band Les Rallizes Dénudés interpolates the song's melody in their song 暗殺者の夜 (Night of the Assassin).
In 1982, Dutch singer José Hoebee (former member of the girl band Luv') released a hit cover of the song, which reached No. 1 in Flanders,José – I Will Follow Him, Ultratop. Accessed February 28, 2016 No. 1 on the Dutch Top 40,Top 40-artiest: José, Media Markt Top 40. Accessed February 28, 2016. and No. 2 on the Dutch Nationale Hitparade.José – I Will Follow Him, Dutch Charts. Accessed February 28, 2016 A 2005 remix reached No. 90 on the Dutch Single Top 100 in early 2006.José – I Will Follow Him 2005 Version, Dutch Charts. Retrieved June 21, 2018. In 2011, she re-recorded "I Will Follow Him" with Peggy March. This duet appeared on the German edition of March's album Always and Forever.
In 1983, Czech singer Judita Čeřovská recorded a Czech version called Malý vůz; in 1995, another Czech version was recorded by Ilona Csáková, which also included a sample of the English lyrics.
The Norwegian comedian Lars Mjøen wrote comedic Norwegian lyrics, «Torsken kommer!» (translates to «The cod is coming»). The song was published by the comedy troupe KLM as Brødrene Dal as the B-side of "Gaus, Roms Og Brumund" (PolyGram 2052 206)Brødrene Dal – Torsken kommer, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved February 17, 2018. and on the LP record Spektralplate (Polydor 2382 135) in 1982. A music video remake was released by Norges Bank in 2017 to mark the introduction of the new 200 krone banknote that features a cod on the obverse side.
The song is featured at the end of the 1992 film Sister Act, where it was performed by the nuns' chorus for the Pope with Whoopi Goldberg's character as the lead singer. The song peaked at number 53 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.
The 1962 Italian language cover of "Chariot (Su mio carro)" by Betty Curtis is featured in the opening sequence of the romantic comedy-drama Pillion (2025). This version also appears in the biographical gangster film Goodfellas (1990), although not published on the CD release of the soundtrack.
In 2000, Cynthia Patag, Nanette Inventor, Malou de Guzman, Beverly Salviejo and Pinky Marquez performed the interactive version of the song at the end of the musical episode of Wansapanataym, "Bata-Okey".
References
External links Official Peggy March, includes discography