60-Year-Old Songs: You Don’t Own Me
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (65394)
United States
June 20, 2024 11:01am CST
Tomorrow starts the top ten of my favorite songs from 1964, and there’ll be plenty of country music (that’s what I was listening to when I was four years old…sorry). But we’re leaving the alphabetical portion of this monthlong salute to songs that are now 60 years old with a bang and a half.
You Don’t Own Me - Lesley Gore
If Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem “I Am Woman” makes you snore instead of roar, it could be because of this feminist anthem, which predates Reddy’s song by seven years. And that’s a 17-year-old girl belting this out!!
Gore considered this her most important song, even though “It’s My Party” is probably better remembered. It’s a song that everyone needs to sing to anyone who tries to tell them how to live.
You Don’t Own Me
Written by John Madara and Dave White
Recorded by Lesley Gore
From Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed Up Hearts, 1964
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16 people like this
14 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (49864)
• United States
20 Jun
I remember this song from “ Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods”. 
3 people like this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
20 Jun
Wow, they did it?? The song I remember from them that I liked was “Who Do You Think You Are.” (Then they did that one I hate…
)
)2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49864)
• United States
20 Jun
@FourWalls Yes, I have the album it’s on.
3 people like this
@rebelann (112254)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Jun
That makes sense, women like my mom were getting really tired of being ignored when they tried to file charges against husbands that were abusing them in the late 1950s but it took til the late 1960s for m m m
my generation to get the ball rollin.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
@rebelann — I read that it took until the mid-1970s for a woman to get a credit card without her husband’s co-signing. Sometimes we forget.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
She said that she did, especially as she got older.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (77609)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jun
I know her but don't like the song, I did love her doing It's My Party
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
Understandable. Top ten starts tomorrow!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (77609)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun
@FourWalls when she passed my article on her was titled The Party's Over
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
This has been quite the celebration this month, hasn’t it!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jun
@FourWalls It has indeed. I'm getting my confidence back. I was feeling quite ignorant there for a while. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
Everyone has “one song” that the rest of their music is ignored in favor of. (Except Yoko Ono, ALL of her music is ignored. )
)1 person likes this
@SIDIKIMPOLE (1270)
• Eldoret, Kenya
21 Jun
Had to search it out. Had not heard of it before!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
There are very few performers who stretch beyond their borders to worldwide fame. Although Lesley was very successful here, I doubt she was a superstar all over the world. Understandable that you hadn’t heard it.
1 person likes this
@SIDIKIMPOLE (1270)
• Eldoret, Kenya
21 Jun
@FourWalls Sure, that could be the reason,,,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
Great tune, lots of emotion in her voice.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (176745)
• United States
20 Jun
So many need to make that their theme song.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
It would be the perfect song to have playing at the local women’s shelter.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (102054)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Jun
I think I have heard it before but remember my party a lot better
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
Most people do remember that one better.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78889)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Jun
I loved this song, by Leslie Gore. She was very popular at the skating rink, where this music often played:) I was probably 13-14 years old at this time.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78889)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Jun
@FourWalls She's talented, I like her voice:)
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (170715)
• United States
21 Jun
I love Lesley Gore's strong voice...and of course I know this song! Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
21 Jun
Indeed she did have a great voice. So hard to believe she was 17 when she recorded this. What a dynamo.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34957)
•
26 Jul
No doubt Lesley made her message very clear to the guy in that tune! "Judy's Turn to Cry" is another one of Gore's I like although a much different message here for poor Judy... 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
27 Jul
It’s an anthem for anyone who’s independent. And wow, did she sing it!
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14133)
• Hong Kong
20 Jun
This is the first time I hear this song. Enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (65394)
• United States
20 Jun
Her big hit, “It’s My Party,” is usually what gets the most airplay.
1 person likes this
