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.
Young Love
Lesley Gore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Filled with true devotion
They say for every boy and girl
There's just one love in this whole world
And I know I've found mine
The heavenly touch of your embrace
Tells me no one could take your place ever in my heart
Young love, first love
Filled with true devotion
Young love, our love
We share with deep emotion
Just one kiss from your sweet lips
Will tell me that your love is real
And I can feel that it's true
We will vow to one another
There will never be another love for you or for me
Young love, first love
Filled with true devotion
Young love, our love
We share with deep emotion
Young love, first love
The lyrics of Lesley Gore's song "Young Love" convey the pure and innocent feelings associated with young love. The lyrics describe a love between two people that is characterized by true devotion and deep emotion. The singer assures her partner that they have found their one true love in this world, and that no one else could ever take their place in her heart.
The heavenly touch of her partner's embrace tells her all she needs to know about his love, and just one kiss from his sweet lips confirms that their love is real. The couple vows to each other that there will never be another love for them, demonstrating the depth of their commitment to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Young love, first love
The feeling of young, first love is pure and innocent.
Filled with true devotion
These emotions come with deep commitment and loyalty.
They say for every boy and girl
It is believed that everyone will experience love at least once.
There's just one love in this whole world
The love you find is unique and unparalleled.
And I know I've found mine
I am certain that I have found my one true love.
The heavenly touch of your embrace
The way you hold me feels like a divine touch.
Tells me no one could take your place ever in my heart
I am convinced that no one could ever replace you in my heart.
Young love, our love
This young love that we share is ours.
We share with deep emotion
Our love is characterized by strong feelings and affection.
Just one kiss from your sweet lips
A single kiss from you is enough to assure me of your love.
Will tell me that your love is real
It is evident to me that your love is sincere and genuine.
And I can feel that it's true
I have a sense that this love is genuine and authentic.
We will vow to one another
We will make promises to each other.
There will never be another love for you or for me
We will remain committed to each other and our love will always be exclusive.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY WILLIAM O'CONNOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Carr
Just bought her CD cant stop playing it, her smile is amazing
Richard Wingert
Lesley had the amazing ability to take any song she sang and make. it hers in her own special way
She was,and is ,a remarkable. talent.We fans miss her dearly.RIP sweet Angel.
JB Fonfrias
When you love a beautiful song like this, love the heavenly voice she had, how could anyone not agree that One plus One equals ONE. Miss you Leslie.
Ralph Ewell
Miss her. Unique and underrated in her lasting effect on pop music. I hear Madonna's "True Blue" album in 1985 and it had shades of Lesley Gore all through it
Betty Martinez
Lesley made this song hers. Bless your heart sweetie. Loved and missed dearly and in our hearts always.
Johnny Gainor
I like that you added in her actual recorded version of the song - I miss Lesley Gore and appreciate this very much.
Kurt Boegli
This is the best version ever of this song!
Nanciverse
Kurt Boegli I so agree! I positively swoon every time I hear it!
JACK ANTHONY
I also think it is the best version. I wish it would have gone to number one like Tab Hunter's version. Lesley's version only went to number 50 on the national charts.
Sam ferguson
Always loved Lesley Gore.