You Don't Own Me
Gore Lesley Lyrics
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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
Don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
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
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
And don't tell me what to do
Oh, 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, 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
The lyrics of "You Don't Own Me" by Gore Lesley assert her independence and autonomy in a romantic relationship. She demands that her partner recognizes her as an equal individual and not a mere possession or toy. The song acknowledges the societal expectation of men to be the dominant figure in a heterosexual relationship and empowers women to reject that expectation. The lyrics indicate that trying to change or control her is not acceptable, and she will not tolerate being placed on display as an object of possession.
The song challenges the conventions of the time by promoting a message of female empowerment that was not popular in popular music at that time. The song was released in 1963, during the height of the feminist movement, and became an anthem for women's rights. It was well-received by female listeners who could relate to the frustrations of societal expectations and double standards.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't own me
I am an independent person, not something to be possessed by you
I'm not just one of your many toys
I'm not a plaything for you to use and manipulate
Don't say I can't go with other boys
I have the freedom to spend time with whomever I choose, regardless of your opinions
And don't tell me what to do
I make my own decisions and don't need your guidance or control
Don't tell me what to say
I have my own thoughts and opinions and don't want you to censor them
And please, when I go out with you, Don't put me on display 'cause
I don't want to be objectified or shown off like a trophy when we're together
Don't try to change me in any way
I am who I am and I won't allow you to try and mold me into someone else
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay
I value my freedom and won't stay in a situation that restricts me
I don't tell you what to say
I respect your autonomy and don't try to control your words
I don't tell you what to do
I trust you to make your own decisions and don't try to micromanage your actions
So just let me be myself, That's all I ask of you
I want to be accepted for who I am without any attempts to change or control me
I'm young and I love to be young
I am in the prime of my life and want to enjoy it to the fullest
I'm free and I love to be free
I value my independence and don't want to be tied down by anyone or anything
To live my life the way I want
I want to make my own choices and live by my own values
To say and do whatever I please
I want to express myself freely without any restrictions or censorship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David White, John Madara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gedosenki
Yes. She did that... in the 60s! My inner woman screams Queen
@paperqiqi8043
Same (;
@burns1210
Meanwhile she was only 18
@GALACTICFEDERATION11
@@dantedavinci1806 😁😂😂
@ka81alex
@Judas Iscariot schhhh... don't ruin their hopes and believes.
@ziia_zoozoo5231
;-)
@randsaad8266
Imagine how hard it is to release a song like that in the 60s. this is the definition of badass!
@theshow2k8
In the 60's this sort of thing was promoted, so it was very easy to release such a song.
@sunbae4197
@@theshow2k8 I think the song couldn't even be put on the radio until years later
@lindyj2011
@@sunbae4197 you are wrong about that. I graduated from high school in 1964. We all loved this song. You are trying to put the emotions and hatred of today into an era where that didn't exist. Things were entirely different back then and just beginning to change! Not all the boys back then were male chauvinist pigs!! LOL That was mostly the older men like our fathers generation and older!!!