I Will Wait for You is the English version of the French song Je ne pourrai jamais vivre sans toi from the 1964 musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The music is by Michel Legrand with French lyrics by Jacques Demy, and the English words were written by Norman Gimbel. In the film it is performed by Catherine Deneuve, though her singing voice was provided by Danielle Licari. The English version was released in 1966 and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 38th Academy Awards. Notable covers include Connie Francis on her 1966 album Movie Greats of the 60s, and Cher on her 1967 album With Love, Cher; Francis’s version later gained pop culture fame by appearing in Futurama. It is a romantic film theme song and ballad that centers on longing and waiting for a loved one.
Key facts
- Original French title: Je ne pourrai jamais vivre sans toi
- Original release: 1964 (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)
- English release: 1966
- Genre: film theme song / ballad
- Notable artists: Catherine Deneuve (performance in film, voice by Danielle Licari), Connie Francis, Cher
- Award: Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song (1966)
