“You Don’t Own Me” is a popular song written by Philadelphia songwriters John Madara and David White and recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963, when Gore was just 17 years old. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart in the United States (just behind The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand”). The song remained at number 2 for three consecutive weeks, unable to overcome the Beatles’ hit, and became Gore’s second most successful hit, next to “It’s My Party”. It was Gore’s last top ten single.
The song’s lyrics became an inspiration for younger women and played in a major factor in the rise of the second wave feminist movement. Gore said, “My take on the song was: I’m 17, what a wonderful thing, to stand up on a stage and shake your finger at people and sing you don’t own me”.
The song has been covered by The Tremeloes, Dusty Springfield on her debut album, Joan Jett on her debut album Bad Reputation, or The Blow Monkeys on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Now – Grace feat. G-Eazy.
