[1][2] Later, when "Piangi con me" was due to be released in the United Kingdom, publisher Dick James Music requested that staff writer Julien compose English lyrics for the song.

[2] The song that would become "Let's Live for Today" was originally written by English musician David "Shel" Shapiro in 1966, with words by Italian lyricist Mogol and entitled "Piangi con me" (translating as "Cry with Me").

[8] Plans were made to release "Piangi con me" in the United Kingdom and, as a result, Shapiro wrote English lyrics for the song under the title "Passing Thru Grey".

In the United States, the Rokes' version of "Let's Live for Today" found its way to the head of Dunhill Records, who felt that the song would make a suitable single release for the Grass Roots.

[4] As well as being popular with domestic American audiences, "Let's Live for Today" also found favor with young American men serving overseas in the Vietnam War, as music critic Bruce Eder of AllMusic has noted: "Where the single really struck a resonant chord was among men serving in Vietnam; the song's serious emotional content seemed to overlay perfectly with the sense of uncertainty afflicting most of those in combat; parts of the lyric could have echoed sentiments in any number of letters home, words said on last dates, and thoughts directed to deeply missed wives and girlfriends.

[1] Along with the Rokes, the Living Daylights, and the Grass Roots, the song has also been recorded by a number of other bands, including Tempest, the Lords of the New Church, the Slickee Boys, the dB's, and Dreamhouse.

[10] Another Finnish version is by rock band Popeda in 2008, included on their album Täydelliset miehet (en: Perfect Men)[11] and also the same year on their single "Onhan päivä vielä huomennakin".