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.