You Don’t Own Me

Before yesterday, I knew one song by Lesley Gore, “It’s My Party” (and that was mainly because it was covered by Barbara Gaskin and Dave Stewart in the 80s) and it has commonplace boo-hoo lyrics like “I’ll Cry Instead”. So I wasn’t impressed when on The T.A.M.I. Show from 1964 she first sang “Maybe I Know” with the lyrics:

Maybe I know that he’s been a cheating
Maybe I know that he’s been untrue
But what can I do?

but the next song “You Don’t Own Me” was a revelation (and a real grower).

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

Written by John Madara and David White.