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.
Town Without Pity
Gene Pitney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And bewildered by the world we see
Why do people hurt us so?
Only those in love would know
What a town without pity can do
If we stop to gaze upon a star
People talk about how bad we are
We're like tigers in a cage
What a town without pity can do
The young have problems, many problems
We need an understanding heart
Why don't they help us, try to help us
Before this clay and granite planet falls apart
Take these eager lips and hold me fast
I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two?
What a town without pity can do
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two?
What a town without pity can do
No, it isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do
The lyrics of Gene Pitney's song Town Without Pity explore the challenges that young lovers face in a world filled with cruelty and judgment. The opening lines describe the confusion and vulnerability that comes with being in love and encountering the harsh realities of the world. The lyrics ask why people hurt those who are in love, a question that only those who have truly experienced love can understand. The chorus highlights the destructive power of a town without pity, where judgement, gossip, and cruelty can tear apart even the strongest relationships.
The second verse focuses on how society views young love. The lyrics suggest that society views young lovers as bad or immoral. Throughout the song, there is a feeling of frustration and anger towards the lack of understanding and acceptance that young people face. The lyrics suggest that young people are often like tigers in cages, trapped and misunderstood by the world around them.
The final verse is a plea for help, a call for someone to understand and support young lovers. The lyrics express a fear that this kind of love and joy cannot last in a world where people tear others apart. The refrain emphasizes the question of how anything can survive in a world where small-minded people can tear others apart.
Overall, the lyrics of Town Without Pity paint a bleak portrait of a world where love is often misunderstood and judged harshly. There is a sense of sadness and desperation in the lyrics, a feeling that young lovers are struggling to survive in a world that often seems intent on tearing them apart.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're young and so in love as we
When we are young and experiencing the love that we feel
And bewildered by the world we see
And overwhelmed by the unfamiliar world around us
Why do people hurt us so?
Why do people cause us pain and suffering?
Only those in love would know
Only those who are in love would understand
What a town without pity can do
The harm that an unforgiving town can inflict
If we stop to gaze upon a star
If we pause to admire the beauty of a star
People talk about how bad we are
People criticize and judge us harshly
Ours is not an easy age
Our generation faces unique difficulties and challenges
We're like tigers in a cage
We feel trapped and limited in what we can do
What a town without pity can do
The harm that an unforgiving town can inflict
The young have problems, many problems
Young people face many challenges and obstacles
We need an understanding heart
We require empathy and compassion
Why don't they help us, try to help us
Why don't people offer their support and assistance?
Before this clay and granite planet falls apart
Before our world crumbles and collapses
Take these eager lips and hold me fast
Embrace me with passion and fervor
I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last
I am fearful that this happiness cannot endure
How can we keep love alive
How can we sustain our love?
How can anything survive
How can anything endure in this hostile environment?
When these little minds tear you in two?
When the narrow-mindedness of others rips us apart?
What a town without pity can do
The harm that an unforgiving town can inflict
No, it isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do
It is not attractive or desirable the damage that a merciless town can inflict.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DIMITRI TIOMKIN, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angelat.hdez.c.9773
When you're young and so and love as we
And bewildered by the world we see
Why do people hurt us so
Only those in love would know
What a Town Without Pity can do..
If we stop to gaze upon a star
People talk about how bad we are...
Ours is not an easy age
We're like tigers in a cage
What a Town Without Pity can do..
The young have problems Many problems
We need an understanding heart..
Why don't they help us, try to help us
Before this clay and granite planet falls apart...
Take these eager lips and hold me fast..
I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two..
What a town Without Pity can do..
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two..
What a town Without Pity can do
@ashleyharris4103
Looked for this song for years because of “Look who’s talking “ finally I am complete
@georgeblackwell9806
I guess "look Whose Talking" was a movie that I never saw. However, In 1958/1962 i had a front seat to enjoy Gene and many more super stars of the era. The 2 songs I liked most by him were "Only Love can break a heart & Half Heaven Half Heartache". Back in the day those singers could sing better than these folks today. You had to be there............................
@julianmeadows3742
Not complete unless you've seen the movie with Kirk Douglas. Then you'll be complete. My 2 cents. ;-)
@Jesamazin04
Me too. I found it 2 years ago. I was happy. Its good music
@cherndon100
Me too I paused the movie to look for this song!
@nathanielparham5960
On the real
@richardjeremia813
Went out on my first date to see this movie in 1961 she was the most beautiful girl in the world i fell in love with her and still am in love with her and will forever .
@synthoify
I'm here because I have loved the voice of Gene Pitney since the 60's and yeah you guessed it I'm an old man.
@Cluv22
Kirstie Alley brought me here. Rest easy Beautiful. ❤
@flashtheoriginal
Once in a while, a singer comes along with a totally unique voice. No-one else sounds like Orbison, or Bassey, or Jones, or Pitney, or Presley. Gene Pitney was, is and will always be a superstar