“Willya Won’tya (The Vow Song)” was originally written and recorded in 1982, as the climax of the Rock and Roll Wedding. The original plan was to have Little Richard sing the minister part at the end. I got a hold of his agent to see if he would talk to me about it. One night at about 3am, the phone on my bedside stand rang. It was Little Richard, himself! He asked me about the show and his part in it, and he asked me to sing it for him right then and there, so I did. Bottom line, I think it was too small a part for him with a group having no real track record, other than 20 years of musicianship and some recording. So the show never happened, but I finally finished and published the song with its partner, the wedding procession, “Rock and Roll Wedding Day”, on my “Love Seeds 2” EP in 2023.
© 2023 Love Seed, LLC
Credits:
Composer- Seymour Lovejoy
Publisher: AyaRTee Music (BMI)
1982 Recording Engineer: Jack Barr
2023 Mixing: Seymour Lovejoy & Nettleingham Audio
2023 Mastering: Nettleingham Audio
Rhythm Guitar: Seymour Lovejoy
Bass: Allan Gunter
Slide Guitar: Terry Robb
Drum part composition: John Ryan
Drums: Bryan Willis (Quarterflash)
Background Female Vocalists: Shira Subotnick, Connie Leese, Linda Smith
Minister: Mark Taylor, Jim Badenoch
Bride Vocal: Phyllis Miller
Background Male Vocals: John Ryan, Seymour Lovejoy
Organ: Seymour Lovejoy
Horns: Session musicians led by Jeff Uusitalo
Horn Part Arrangement: Larry Dunlap
Charts: Carl Smith
Lyrics:
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya take my hand
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya take my hand
Groom: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya take my hand
You’ll be my woman, I’ll be your man
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya take my hand
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya take my hand
Groom: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya be my bride
Girls: Oh yah, Uh huh.
Groom: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya be my bride
Girls: Uh huh, O yah.
Groom: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya be my bride
And come with me on a lifelong ride
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya be my bride
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya be my bride
I got me a preacher
I got me a hall
I got me some music
Now I know that
We will have a ball
Slide Guitar Solo
Minister: Do ya ,do ya, do ya, do ya ,do ya, do ya take this man
Bride: I do, yes I do
Minister: And do ya ,do ya, do ya, do ya ,do ya, do ya take this girl
Groom: I do, yes I do
Minister: Willya love and cherish, honor him and wear his ring?
Bride: I will, oh yah.
Minister: Willya love and cherish, honor her and wear her ring?
Groom: I will, oh yah
Minister: And if you’ll love each other for the rest of your lives
I now pronounce you man and wife.
(The kiss)
Minister: Go in peace and live a happy life.
Girls: Go and have a happy, go and have a happy…
Minister: Go in love and live a happy life
Girls: Go and have a happy, go and have a happy,
Minister: Go and have a happy life.
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya?
Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya?
Go and have a happy life.
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya Won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya willya won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya willya won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Go and have a happy life. (Boys echo: Have a happy life.)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya Won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya willya won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya willya won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Go and have a happy life. (Boys echo: Have a happy life.)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya Won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya willya won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Willya willya won’tya, willya won’tya? (Boys echo: Willya willya won’tya)
Minister and Girls: Go and have a happy life.
