With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Bettye LaVette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I feel a little mad
But don't you know that no one alive
Can always be an angel
When things go wrong, I seem to be bad
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that all I have do is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy, I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems, and I get my share
And that's one thing I never mean to do
Because I love you
Oh, oh baby don't you know that I'm human
I have thoughts like any other one
Sometimes I find myself long regretting
Some foolish thing, some little simple thing I've done
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Bettye LaVette's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is a song about a person who struggles with being understood by their loved ones. The person speaks about their different moods, sometimes feeling joyful and carefree and other times feeling angry and bad. They hope that their partner will understand that they are only human and sometimes make mistakes, but their intentions are good. The person acknowledges that they may appear edgy or irritable but it's not directed at their partner. They voice their love for their partner and express the regret they feel for past mistakes that may have caused misunderstandings.
The lyrics of this song highlight the difficulties of communication in a relationship. The person singing feels misunderstood and wrongly judged by their significant other. They ask for patience and understanding, hoping that their partner won’t see them in a negative light. The song conveys the message that it takes effort and understanding from both partners to maintain a healthy and loving relationship.
This song was originally recorded in 1964 by the Animals, but Bettye LaVette’s version came out in 1965. This song gained popularity in the 70s when it was used in the opening credits of the movie "Kill Bill." It has also been covered by many artists including Nina Simone, Elvis Costello, and Lana Del Rey.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, do you understand me now
Do you grasp my true intentions and emotions?
Sometimes I feel a little mad
At times, I struggle with inner turmoil and frustration
But don't you know that no one alive
It's impossible for any person to be perfect at all times
Can always be an angel
No human can solely embody righteousness and goodness
When things go wrong, I seem to be bad
During rough times, I may unintentionally exhibit undesirable behavior
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Ultimately, my motives are pure and positive
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I hope my actions are not misinterpreted or taken out of context
Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
Occasionally, I am able to experience joy and freedom without constraint
With a joy that's hard to hide
I sometimes find it challenging to conceal my happiness and contentment
And sometimes it seems that all I have do is worry
At other times, my mind is preoccupied with fear and concern
And then you're bound to see my other side
This may result in me showing a different, unexpected aspect of myself
If I seem edgy, I want you to know
If I appear tense or on edge, I want to communicate that it's not your fault
That I never mean to take it out on you
I never want to direct my negative emotions towards you
Life has its problems, and I get my share
Life can be difficult and I am not immune to its challenges
And that's one thing I never mean to do
I never intend for my struggles to negatively impact our relationship
Because I love you
My love for you is unwavering and genuine
Oh, oh baby don't you know that I'm human
I am not perfect, I am human and therefore flawed
I have thoughts like any other one
My mind is just as active as anyone else's
Sometimes I find myself long regretting
There are times when I feel deep remorse
Some foolish thing, some little simple thing I've done
Mistakes, no matter how small, can weigh heavily on me
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
My intentions are pure and positive, despite any missteps or shortcomings
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I hope that my true self is visible and my intentions are not misinterpreted
Contributed by Joseph J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.