. ▁From ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁on ward , ▁the ▁song ▁has ▁been ▁featured ▁in ▁numerous ▁films , ▁including ▁Gre ase , ▁For rest ▁G ump , ▁L ilo ▁& ▁St itch , ▁A ▁F ew ▁Good ▁Men , ▁H ound dog , ▁Indiana ▁Jones ▁and ▁the ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁the ▁Cry stal ▁Sk ull , ▁and ▁Now here ▁Boy . ▁ ▁Background ▁and ▁composition ▁On ▁August ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 9 5 2 , ▁R & B ▁band le ader ▁Johnny ▁Ot is ▁asked ▁ 1 9 - year - old ▁song writ ers ▁Jerry ▁Le iber ▁and ▁Mike ▁St ol ler ▁to ▁his ▁home ▁to ▁meet ▁bl ues ▁singer ▁Will ie ▁Ma e ▁" Big ▁M ama " ▁Thor nt on . ▁ ▁Thor nt on ▁had ▁been ▁signed ▁by ▁" D iam ond " ▁Don ▁Rob ey ' s ▁Houston - based ▁Pe ac ock ▁Records ▁the ▁year ▁before , ▁and ▁after ▁two ▁failed ▁singles , ▁Rob ey ▁had ▁en list ed ▁Ot is ▁to ▁reverse ▁her ▁fort unes . ▁After ▁hearing ▁Thor nt on ▁re he arse ▁several ▁songs , ▁Le iber ▁and ▁St ol ler ▁" f org ed ▁a ▁t une ▁to ▁suit ▁her ▁person ality — br us que ▁and ▁bad ass ". ▁In ▁an ▁interview ▁in ▁Rol ling ▁Stone ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁St ol ler ▁said : ▁" She ▁was ▁a ▁wonderful ▁bl ues ▁singer , ▁with ▁a ▁great ▁mo an ing ▁style . ▁But ▁it