Born Joan Drost in Buffalo, New York, as a child growing up Sommers would often sing to herself as a way of dealing with her difficult upbringing. Though having not received any musical training, Sommers began her career as a jazz singer in Los Angeles, California. In 1960, she recorded a demo with composer/arranger Tommy Oliver, earning her a recording contract with Warner Bros. Sommers. Her debut single, "One Boy" from the musical Bye Bye Birdie, reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Throughout the 60s, she also maintained a byline as a singer of jingles for Pepsi-Cola (specifically, "It's Pepsi, for Those Who Think Young" and "Come Alive! You're in the Pepsi Generation"), earning her the nickname of "The Pepsi Girl." Years later, she also recorded a jingle for Diet Pepsi, though her work was uncredited. Fittingly, two of her albums -- For Those Who Think Young and Come Alive! -- were named after her classic jingles.
Despite being a hit single,"One Boy" was passed over for inclusion on her debut album, Positively the Most!, whose cover touted the teenaged Sommers as "the greatest discovery in singing talent in the last fifteen years." This marked the beginning of a continuing trend for Sommers: alternating between commercial pop singles and more artistically challenging and varied albums, more often than not keeping the two completely disparate.
In 1962, "Johnny Get Angry" (co-written by legendary songwriter and lyricist Hal David) became Sommers' biggest hit, driven by an anachronistic dark bass line and unusual instrumentation such as kazoos. However, the song drew noted criticism aimed at its lyrical content, perceived by some as having sexist or masochistic overtones. The follow-up single was "When the Boys Get Together", which reached #94 on the charts, becoming her final Hot 100 single, though she would later have two songs on the Adult Contemporary charts.
In 1970, Sommers temporarily retired as a singer to focus on raising a family, making only one recording during the following decade, a soundtrack single for scrapped animation film The Peppermint Choo Choo. She resumed her career at the turn of the decade, recording the album Dream in 1980. She has maintained a sporadic career of recording and performing ever since, continuing to experiment with a variety of musical styles.
Don't Pity Me
Joanie Sommers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't pity me, baby, don't pity me
Don't pity me just because he broke my heart in two
This hurt inside, baby, is just my pride
If I really loved him so, why would I run to you?
Baby, can't you see
Now that I'm alone, I can go out with you
(Don't pity me, baby, don't pity me)
Don't pity me, baby, don't pity me
I was a fool and I'm so ashamed that I could die
These tears you see, baby, are not for me
I'm crying because I know I must've hurt you so
(Don't pity me, ooohhh-ooohhh)
Please, please, please don't pity me, baby, don't pity me
I don't want you feeling sorry for me anymore
I'd give the world, baby, just to be your girl
If you would only love me like you did before
(Please don't pity me) 'Cause I need for you to love me
Be my love, won't you tell me that you love me?
'Til I die, I promise that I'll always love you
I'll never, never, never, never, never, never run away again
Never, never, never, never, never, never run away again
Never, never, never, never, never, never run away again
The song "Don't Pity Me" by Joanie Sommers conveys a strong message of self-reflection and self-respect in the aftermath of heartbreak. The lyrics express that the singer has no need for pity, despite the pain she feels from a recent breakup. She acknowledges her hurt pride but positions it as a source of strength instead of weakness, saying that she is free to go out with someone else and do as she pleases. The singer also admits that she was a fool and perhaps hurt the person she is currently pursuing, but ultimately desires their love and longs to be with them. The repetition of "never, never, never run away again" signifies a resolve to stay committed and not fall victim to her own weaknesses or self-pity.
One interesting fact about "Don't Pity Me" is that the song was written by the famed songwriting duo of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, who were responsible for many chart-topping hits during the 1960s. Additionally, the song was produced by the legendary Phil Spector, who was known for his groundbreaking production techniques and signature "Wall of Sound" style. The song was released in 1962 and became a top 40 hit in the United States. Despite its popularity, the song has since fallen out of the public eye and is not as well-known as some of Sommers' other hits.
Another interesting aspect of "Don't Pity Me" is its production and arrangement. The song features a prominent piano melody, robust horns, and a jaunty beat that drives the song forward. Sommers' vocals are clear and confident, conveying the message of self-assurance and independence present in the lyrics. The song's chorus is catchy and easy to sing along with, making it a memorable and fun addition to any playlist.
In terms of music theory, "Don't Pity Me" is notable for its simple chord progression and steady 4/4 time signature. The song begins and ends with a C major chord, with variations of F, G, and E minor chords forming the rest of the sequence. While the chords themselves are basic, the song's melody and arrangement give it depth and complexity, showcasing the talents of the songwriters and producer.
Chords:
Verse: C, F, G, C, E minor, G, F, C
Chorus: C, E minor, G, F, C
Line by Line Meaning
Don't pity me, baby, don't pity me
The singer asks her lover not to feel sorry for her
Don't pity me just because he broke my heart in two
The singer doesn't want her lover to show her sympathy for being heartbroken.
This hurt inside, baby, is just my pride
The singer is not really hurt because of the breakup, but she is more embarrassed and hurt by the idea that her ex left her for someone else.
If I really loved him so, why would I run to you?
The singer is questioning her own feelings about her ex, and she wonders if she really loved him since she was able to move on so easily.
Baby, can't you see Now that I'm alone, I can go out with you And, baby I'll do anything you want me to
The singer is trying to make her lover see that she is now single and available to be with him. She is making a promise to do whatever he wants.
I was a fool and I'm so ashamed that I could die These tears you see, baby, are not for me I'm crying because I know I must've hurt you so
The singer admits that she was foolish for leaving her lover and is now feeling ashamed. She is crying not for herself but because she knows she must have hurt her lover too.
Please, please, please don't pity me, baby, don't pity me I don't want you feeling sorry for me anymore I'd give the world, baby, just to be your girl If you would only love me like you did before
The singer pleads with her lover not to show her any more sympathy but to love her like he did before. She offers to do anything to be his girl again.
'Cause I need for you to love me Be my love, won't you tell me that you love me? 'Til I die, I promise that I'll always love you
The singer emphasizes that she needs her lover to love her and asks him to express his love to her. She promises to love him forever.
I'll never, never, never, never, never, never run away again Never, never, never, never, never, never run away again Never, never, never, never, never, never run away again
The singer makes a promise to never leave her lover again and repeats it to show how serious she is about it.
Writer(s): Jerry Stuart, Tommy Oliver
Contributed by Joseph J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tinadavies4195
GOOSEBUMPS every time this track is played! 60yrs old,god wish I was back to the best days ever.
@nigelgeorge4021
I couldn’t agree more ✊🏻
@stevenstewardson8613
Same here Tina I believe this was a pat Brady spin epic soul sound for sure ENJOY 🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🍑🍑🍑🍑💎💎💎⭐⭐⭐👑👑👑🙏🎼🎹🎼🎵🎶🎷🎸🪕🎺🎻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻
@paulh6724
Goosebumps walking into Casino particularly if something like this was playing. Awesome record. Where NS clicks it is eternal.
@TheeHitch
Yeah classic tune, always packs the floors, Mods love it, Soulies love it, we all love it! 😎
@GReYSTOKE2012
Okay let me confess...I'm a sixty year old guy and I've only now become a late Northern Soul convert. Thanks for that.
@hhsbod5782
Always loved her soft, foggy voice. Wish I had some albums. She wasn’t on the radio too much that I remember.
@whnook
I love her voice
@mikegould4039
Thanks to Youtube for introducing me to some outstanding music...this is great..
@GothicMod
Highly atmospheric, the kind of track ideal on the radio on a lonely road, late at night...;)