About the song
“Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” is a timeless ballad written by the prolific songwriting duo Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, first published in 1955. The song’s enduring appeal was cemented by its introduction in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film, *The Man Who Knew Too Much*, where Doris Day performed it poignantly as a means of comforting her on-screen kidnapped son. The song’s lyrical structure navigates through the stages of life, from childhood to adulthood, encapsulating the universal theme of uncertainty about the future with the refrain, “What will be, will be.”
Doris Day’s rendition of the song became a significant hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Top 100 chart and topping the UK Singles Chart. The track quickly became Day’s signature song and earned critical acclaim, including the 1956 Academy Award for Best Original Song, marking the third Oscar win for Livingston and Evans in this category. The song’s success was further immortalized when it was included in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema in 2004 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012.
Beyond Day’s famous version, “Que Sera, Sera” has been covered by various artists over the years. Notably, it was a number-one hit in Australia for pop singer Normie Rowe in September 1965. The song popularized the phrase “que sera, sera,” which conveys a sense of cheerful fatalism, despite its somewhat mistaken origins as an English phrase rather than Spanish.
The song has seen resurgence in popularity through various media, including a notable performance by The Lennon Sisters on *The Lawrence Welk Show* in 1956, which continues to attract millions of views on YouTube. This enduring classic remains a powerful expression of the acceptance of life’s uncertainties, making it a beloved piece of musical history.
Video
Lyrics
When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother
What will I be
Will I be pretty
Will I be richHere’s what she said to me
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will beWhen I grow up and fall in love
I’ll ask my sweetheart
What lies ahead
Will there be rainbow day after day
Here’s what he’ll say to meQue sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will beWhen I have children of my own
They’ll ask their mother
What will I be
Will I be pretty
Will I be rich
I’ll tell them tenderlyQue sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
Que Sera, Sera