Nina Simone, The Animals, The Saints and the lovely Elvis Costello.
Punk Rock Colleague & Historian and Professional Consultant
Songs are amazing and these two songs, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood and (i’m) Misunderstood, alway help me feel familiar with those odd feelings happening in my life.
Today two songs came to mind. Songs that make me feel human. I love both and they have a history.
Funny how today both songs came together and finally hit me. They superimposed on each other in my mind. The 60s and the late 70s and beyond.
Being misunderstood is often an issue and these two songs explain it so well while getting all the emotions together. We are all sorry at times… we all want to be loved.
Well If I get edgy, I want you to know
I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems, I get more than my share
But there’s one thing that I would never do
‘Cause I love you
Oh
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” is a song written by Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott and Sol Marcus for American singer-songwriter and pianist Nina Simone, who recorded the first version in 1964. “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” has been covered by many artists. Two of the covers were transatlantic hits, the first in 1965 by the Animals, which was a blues rock version.”
Nina Simone
The Animals
You’re all talkin’ ’bout better days
If I got one I think I’d go insane
I’ve been misunderstood for too long
“Eternally Yours is the second album by Australian punk rock band the Saints, released in 1978. Produced by band members Chris Bailey and Ed Kuepper, the album saw the band pursue a bigger, more R&B-driven sound, augmented by a horn section. The album also saw the introduction of bass guitarist Algy Ward, who replaced the band’s previous bass player, Kym Bradshaw in mid-1977.”
The Saints
Elvis Costello
“Rather than scrap the session we cut a slow, violent version of the Animals/Nina Simone song: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”. The next day we borrowed Michael Blair from Tom Waits‘ band to add a marimba part, and the record was complete. This may seem ironic as I attacked the song with a vocal capacity that Tom might have rejected as being too hoarse.”
~ King of America (Liner notes). Elvis Costello. 1986.
