Lesley Sue Gore (born Lesley Sue Goldstein; May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015… Read Full Bio ↴Lesley Sue Gore (born Lesley Sue Goldstein; May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, actress and activist. At the age of 16, in 1963, she recorded the pop hit "It's My Party", and followed it up with other hits including "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "You Don't Own Me".

Gore also worked as an actress and composed songs with her brother Michael Gore for the 1980 film Fame, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She was active until 2014, and hosted an LGBT-oriented public television show, In the Life, on American TV in the 2000s.

Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey to Jewish parents, Gore was discovered as a teenager. Her first single in 1963 at age 16 was the #1 hit It's My Party still perhaps her best known recording, which also made #9 in Britain. It was followed by others, including Judy's Turn to Cry (the sequel to "It's My Party"), She's a Fool, the proto-feminist You Don't Own Me, and Maybe I Know. Her record producer was Quincy Jones, who would later become one of the most famous producers in American music.

Instead of accepting the television and movie contracts that came her way, Gore chose to attend Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. This limited her public career to weekends and summer vacations and undoubtedly hurt her career. Nevertheless, throughout the mid-1960's, Gore continued to be the one of the most popular female singers in the United States and Canada.

By the late 1960s, though, her fame lessened as popular tastes evolved towards a harder-edged, psychedelic sound. Her last major hit was "California Nights," (1967) which she performed on an episode of the Batman TV series in which she guest-starred as one of Catwoman's minions. Afterwards, she continued to stay busy in the music industry, performed at concerts and in cabarets and achieved noted success as a professional songwriter, including composing songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film, Fame. She received an Academy Award nomination for "Out Here on My Own," written with her brother Michael.

Gore continued to be busy, playing concerts, appearing on television, and recently (2005) recording a self-produced and critically-acclaimed CD, "Ever Since." She is also known for tackling a variety of musical genres, including a credible take on AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap."

Although Gore did not officially come out until 2005, her lesbianism was not exactly a secret. The 1996 film Grace of My Heart featured a character (played by Bridget Fonda) whose industry struggles over her sexual orientation were similar to Gore's. Beginning in 2004 Gore could be seen hosting the PBS series In the Life, which focused on LGBT issues.
On February 16, 2015, Gore died of lung cancer at the age of 68.

I'm Coolin' No Foolin'
Lesley Gore Lyrics

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But I'm coolin', yes, I'm coolin', no foolin', I'm coolin' on you

Your every wish was my command
The momment that you took my hand
My fate was to obey
The momment that you made the date

Well now you promised to be true

And so I took my eyes off you
And then the momment that my back was turned
I saw Nero fiddling while Rome burned

Don't apologize, don't you flash those eyes
Don't you say those sweet things to me
Don't you dare explain, you're driving me in sane
Don't come any closer, you're gonna get a no, no, no, no, no sir

Since all your vows just proved untrue
The other foot now wears the shoe

Here's your farewell and there's the door
I just won't play these games no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lesley Gore's song "I'm Coolin' No Foolin'" convey a sense of empowerment and independence in the face of a disappointing relationship. Gore, in the chorus, sings "But I'm coolin', yes, I'm coolin', no foolin', I'm coolin' on you." She makes it abundantly clear that she's over the relationship and ready to move on. The verses of the song build up to this chorus, starting with the idea that the singer was willing to do anything for her partner "Your every wish was my command". However, it becomes apparent that her partner has not kept their promises "Well now you promised to be true". Finally, the singer asserts her independence "Here's your farewell and there's the door. I just won't play these games no more".

I'm Coolin' No Foolin'Lesley Gore Lyrics

Philip Kassabian

on Wonder Boy

Philip Kassabian

on Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows

Philip Kassabian

on It's My Party

I'm Coolin' No Foolin'
Lesley Gore Lyrics