Pop Music

Lesley Gore was 17 years old when she recorded the song “You Don’t Own Me.” The legendary Quincy Jones produced the song, which written by John Madara and Dave White. In 1964, this anthem of independence, especially female independence, went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Australian Chart. Gore went on to have many hits, including “She’s a Fool,” “It’s My Party,” “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” “Look of Love,” and “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows.”

Here are the lyrics to “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore:

You don’t own me, I’m not just one of your many toys
You don’t own me, don’t say I can’t go with other boys

And don’t tell me what to do
And don’t tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don’t put me on display, ’cause

You don’t own me, don’t try to change me in any way
You don’t own me, don’t tie me down ’cause I’d never stay

Oh, I don’t tell you what to say
I don’t tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That’s all I ask of you

I’m young and I love to be young
I’m free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please

A-a-a-nd don’t tell me what to do
Oh-h-h-h don’t tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don’t put me on display

I don’t tell you what to say
Oh-h-h-h don’t tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That’s all I ask of you

I’m young and I love to be young
I’m free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want

For another song by Lesley Gore: “It’s My Party.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “You Don’t Own Me’ by Lesley Gore.