About the Song

Neil Diamond’s 1967 hit “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming an anthem for his young female fanbase. At the time, Diamond was in his mid-20s and had already achieved success with tracks like “Solitary Man” and “Cherry Cherry.” He’d also penned hits for The Monkees, including “I’m a Believer,” making him a prominent figure in pop music.

By the late ’60s, Diamond’s fans had grown up with him. In “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” he reaches out to them with a tender yet introspective tone, acknowledging the passage of time and offering his hand as he sings of being misunderstood.

The song enjoyed a resurgence nearly three decades later when the band Urge Overkill’s cover appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). The cover, originally released on Urge Overkill’s 1992 EP Skull

, was picked up by Tarantino while he was traveling. The director had already filled the Pulp Fiction soundtrack with eclectic tracks like Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” and Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.” Adding Urge Overkill’s version brought a haunting, retro twist to the film.

Initially, Diamond declined Tarantino’s request to use the song, as he had vowed not to allow his music to be used in contexts involving drugs or smoking. However, after advice from his friend and publisher, Dave Rosner, who suggested Tarantino was an emerging talent, Diamond reconsidered. This decision proved momentous, as the song became synonymous with a memorable scene in the film, where Uma Thurman’s character, Mia Wallace, sings along to the track before accidentally overdosing on heroin.

This new association gave “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” a lasting presence in popular culture, transforming it into a cult classic for a new generation.

Lyrics

Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
I love you so much, can’t count all the ways
I’ve died for you girl and all they can say is
“He’s not your kind”
They never get tired of putting me down
And I’ll never know when I come around
What I’m gonna find
Don’t let them make up your mind
Don’t you know
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Please, come take my hand
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Soon, you’ll need a man
I’ve been misunderstood for all of my life
But what they’re saying girl it cuts like a knife
“The boy’s no good”
Well I’ve finally found what I’m a looking for
But if they get their chance they’ll end it for sure
Surely would
Baby have done all I could
Now it’s up to you
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Please, come take my hand
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Soon, you’ll need a man
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Please, come take my hand
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Soon but soon, you’ll need a man
Girl, you’ll be a woman soon
Please, come take my hand