About The Song
“You Don’t Own Me” is a pop song performed by Lesley Gore in 1963, written by John Madara and David White. It was one of Gore’s most successful recordings and her last top-ten single. “You Don’t Own Me” reached high chart positions in the US, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox Top 100 charts, emphasizing its widespread popularity.
The song carries feminist and civil rights themes, despite being written by men, with its assertive lyrics challenging possessiveness and control. In the song, Gore declares independence, asserting her autonomy against being treated as a possession and resisting restrictions on her freedom.
Video
Lyrics
You don’t own me
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
Don’t put me on display ’cause
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
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please