Written by
Sam Cooke / Betty and Beverly Prudhomme
Recorded
January 28, 1964 at RCA Studios in
California
Produced by
Sam Cooke
Musicians
Chuck Badie (bass)
Harold Battiste (piano)
John Boudreaux (drums)
John Ewing (Trombone)
William Green (saxophone)
René Hall (guitar)
Melvin Lastie (trumpet)
Clifton White (guitar)
Red Tyler - saxophone
Information
the Prudhomme twins wrote it in 1957 and
went to a producer called Fabor Robinson. When Beverly was pregnant it was
given to Johnny Russell
First recorded by country singer Johnny
Russell in 1958.
Sam rewrote the song (he added two
verses) for Johnnie Taylor and also recorded it himself
Johnnie Taylor performed the song on tv
in 1964 on
The Beat.
The twins didn't like the fact that it
was Taylor and not Cooke he recorded it and even tried to stop it. When Sam
promised to also record it himself they backed down.
(chorus)
Don't, honey don't go away, no no
Don't you hear, don't you hear
what I say, what I say
Give me time, give me time
I'm gonna make your love as strong as mine
But I know Rome wasn't built in a day
Now you know that I love you, dear with all my heart
I know that you didn't love from the start
That I'm planting a little seed in your heart, I know
and it just needs time to grow, baby
(chorus)
Listen to me, honey now
How would Romeo feel if his Juliet
Had turned down his advances and played hard-to-get
He wouldn't have let this bother him, I know
Because where there's life, there's hope
(chorus)
Don't you hear me tellin' you that Rome wasn't built in a day
Don't you realize that Rome wasn't built in a day
Also Recorded By
Arthur Conley on "Atlantic
Unearthed", get it at
Amazon.com
L.C. Cooke - on "Sings the Great Years of
Sam Cooke"
Terence Simien on "The Tribute Sessions".
Get it at
Amazon.com
Johnny Taylor on "SAR
Records Story", get it at
Amazon.com
Maxine Thomas on "Roots: The Rock and
Roll Sound of Louisiana and Mississippi". Get it at
Amazon.com
