Pitney, a pop rock pioneer, had his greatest success overall in Britain, first travelling there after his first self penned hit in 1961. "I Wanna Love My Life Away" hit #26 on the UK singles chart & just broke into the top 40 in the US.
His early music recorded for the "musicor" label was romantic, lonely and dramatic, fitting in alongside contemporaries like Buddy Holly, Neil Sedaka, Roy Orbison & serves as an audio time capsule of a more innocent time.
Gene Pitney - Yesterday's Hero...
Gene was a Brill Building songwriter who even before his singing career took off, had written one of Ricky Nelson's biggest hits "Hello Mary Lou". He had been helped out initially in his career by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and later recorded some of their songs which became big hits like "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and the classic "Only Love Can Break A Heart". At the time his "Only Love..." recording was a #2 chart hit, he had written the number 1 song that week; "He's A Rebel" (A Phil Spector production recorded by The Crystals). All in all Pitney himself recorded 16 top 40 songs in the US from 1961 to 1968.
Gene's biggest popularity was in England, where he used the Rolling Stones publicist Andrew Loog Oldham to get his fame established, which lasted there to the day of his death. In the UK, Gene had 40 top-40 charting hits through 1974. He finally hit #1 in the UK in 1990, performing a duet with Marc Almond of Soft Cell. Pitney died April 5 on tour in 2006. He was found by his tour manager fully clothed on his bed at a Hilton Hotel in Cardiff , shortly after performing a concert.
She's a Heartbreaker
Gene Pitney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl, I can't stand up to you and be a normal man
My heart can't take it, I'm fallin' in love with you
You'll trap me into doin' things I wouldn't ordinarily do
You're dynamite, you've got me uptight
The way you sock it to me, girl, you're outta sight
Chorus:
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Verse 2:
She's a heartbreakerand all my buddies know
She makes me feel like a king behind closed doors
When we're out on a date and none of it shows
She makes me feel like the lowest man on the totem pole
She's dynamite, she's got me uptight
The way you sock it to me, girl, you're outta sight
(repeat chorus)
Instrumental
What a heartbreaker, the devil on wheels
Whatever you got, you sure make me feel real
I'll keep on hangin' out, hangin' in as long as I can
I can't help myself, here I go again
You're dynamite, you've got me uptight
The way you sock it to me, girl, you're outta sight
(repeat chorus)
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
My heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Oh heartbreaker, heartbreaker[fade]
In Gene Pitney's song, "She's A Heartbreaker," the singer laments about his inability to resist the allure of a woman who breaks his heart. He concedes that he's fallen in love with her, but also acknowledges that she's capable of making him do things he wouldn't ordinarily do. He's ambivalent about their relationship because he feels like a king when they're alone together, but like the lowest man on the totem pole when they're in public. Overall, the lyrics convey the singer's mixed emotions and insecurities about a woman who has captivated him but also causes him pain.
The chorus repeats the title of the song four times, emphasizing the woman's role as a heartbreaker. Similarly, the instrumental section is used to build tension and convey the singer's anxiety and excitement about his relationship. The use of contrast in the lyrics also highlights the singer's internal conflict between his desire for the woman and his fear of being hurt by her. The woman is described as "dynamite," which suggests her explosive energy and magnetism, but also implies danger and unpredictability.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got another heartbreaker on my hands
I have encountered another person who seems to effortlessly break hearts and mine is no exception
Girl, I can't stand up to you and be a normal man
I admit that your mesmerizing presence makes it hard for me to act as a normal person and I am not in control of my emotions
My heart can't take it, I'm fallin' in love with you
Despite being aware of your heartbreaker status, I am reluctantly falling in love with you and it's hard on my heart
You'll trap me into doin' things I wouldn't ordinarily do
You are capable of making me do things that are not in my nature, so I need to be careful
You're dynamite, you've got me uptight
You are exciting and irresistible to me, but at the same time, you make me nervous and anxious
The way you sock it to me, girl, you're outta sight
You have a powerful impact on me that is hard to resist, and it makes you incredibly desirable to me
She's a heartbreaker and all my buddies know
My friends know that you have a reputation for breaking hearts, and it's not easy to ignore
She makes me feel like a king behind closed doors
When we are alone together, you make me feel incredibly special and important
When we're out on a date and none of it shows
However, when we go out in public, you don't show the same affection towards me, which makes me feel rejected
She makes me feel like the lowest man on the totem pole
Your lack of attention towards me in public makes me feel insignificant and small
What a heartbreaker, the devil on wheels
You are the epitome of a heartbreaker, with a seductive charm that is hard to resist
Whatever you got, you sure make me feel real
Although you are a heartbreaker, I can't deny that the feelings I have towards you are genuine and intense
I'll keep on hangin' out, hangin' in as long as I can
Despite the risks of being with a heartbreaker, I am willing to stay in this relationship as long as possible
I can't help myself, here I go again
I am helplessly drawn to you and it feels like I am falling deeper into your web of charm and seduction
My heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Despite the issues and risks involved, I have accepted you as my heartbreaker
Oh heartbreaker, heartbreaker
You are the ultimate heartbreaker, with a hypnotizing charm and allure that I cannot resist
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronviens7040
When I first heard this song in '68, I thought it was a new solo hit by Mickey Dolenz ... then I was to shocked to find out it was Gene. He certainly showed that he could rock with the best of 'em.... and this has become my absolute favorite of all his hits. Thanks to you Gene ... R.I.P.
@retrothingz
It would have been ideal for him
@timkline7255
Gene was probably one of the best pre- 60's invasion artists there was, always enjoy his music
@BlueprintOfYesterday
Pitney was from Connecticut. He was touring Wales when he passed away at age 66.
@lilamydogscruffy8842
Sweet!!!! Still sounds fantastic in 2020!
@kevinmorris6309
This song has a very unique combination with some of the best guitar licks along with 4 of the most dated lines of all time " she's dynamite, she's got me uptight, the way you sock it to me, you're out of sight". My favorite GP song.
@fayepettersen
I love ❤ this song 🎵 Gene Pitney's voice awesome 👌
@rickenbacker315
Love that electric Sitar! Of course Genes voice is always amazing..
@doo58wop
The hardest rocker I can ever remember Gene recording yet he still pulled it off. A great singer can sing in any genre!
@jennifursun3303
you never saw Eddie Cochran