Songfacts®:

• True Grit is a 1969 Western which starred an aging John Wayne as Marshal Rooster Cogburn - the man of true grit alluded to in the song, which plays over the opening credits. Wayne won an Oscar for his performance, and was supported by Glen Campbell - who sang the theme song, which was co-written by composer Elmer Bernstein and lyricist Don Black. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Alexander Baron - London, England
• The title is sometimes rendered as "True Grit (Someday, Little Girl)." The song was written for the heroine in the film (played by Kim Darby), who tracks down John Wayne's character (after hearing that he has "true grit") to enlist him to capture her father's killer.
• With lyrics that tell a simple story in basic rhyming patterns ("One day you will rise... And you won't believe your eyes"), this song is a far departure from the songs Campbell recorded that were written by the wordsmith Jimmy Webb, including "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Wichita Lineman."
• Campbell's performance in the True Grit film earned accolades and helped establish him as a multimedia star. Campbell was given his own TV show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, earlier in 1969.
• The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. It lost to "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" from another Western: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.