Skeeter Davis @ 10
Skeeter davis, “i can’t stay mad at you” & lesley gore “maybe i know
froM:let me get close to you, 1964, maybe i know, single, 1964
“You can make me cry
You can break my heart
But I’ll never say we’re through
Even when I cry
I can’t stay mad at you
You can run around
You can tell me lies
But there’s nothing I can do
I’ll never say goodbye
’Cause I can’t stay mad at you
I got mad at you last night
When you were holding another girl tight
But when I thought about all your charms
I bounced back in to your arms
One thing you’ll know for sure
I won’t be the one to fall in love
With someone new
I’ll love you till I die
And I can’t stay mad at you
I bounced right back into your arms
One thing you’ll know for sure
I won’t be the one to fall in love
With someone new
I’ll love you till I die
And I can’t stay mad at you
You got me where you want me
”
I caught this tune on the radio recently and it hit my soft spot for catchy pop music from a simpler time. You all know the feeling. Mary Frances Penick got the nickname “Skeeter” from her grandfather because she had a habit of darting around like a mosquito when she was a kid. Her married name became Skeeter Davis, and, despite sounding more like the name of the shortstop for the Phillies, it stuck.
I don’t care much for Skeeter’s big hit “End of the World” in 1962 but I love “I Can’t Stay Mad at You”, released the following year (1963). It was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin early in their career(s). If you do listen and wonder why Neil Sedaka doesn’t get any credit, dig this from wiki;
"'I Can't Stay Mad at You' begins with a whole verse worth of ultra-catchy doo wop syllables ('Shooby Dooby Doo Bob') that, frankly, is highly reminiscent of the similar patterns used in Neil Sedaka's No. 1 1962 hit 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do' (written by Sedaka and Howard Greenfield). In fact, the whole song is fairly reminiscent of that previous Sedaka hit, though 'I Can't Stay Mad at You' is, to its credit, a little brighter and more exuberant."
There you go, “a little brighter and more exuberant” than a Neil Sedaka song!
But that’s not all of the story. In the context of our “woke” culture the lyrics of “I Can’t Stay….” are loaded
It was a time when lyrics commonly focused on young people desperately in love and willing to cede emotional control in a relationship. “I’m Yours” and “Be Mine”. A world when those silly sayings on valentine candies were based on a dreamy reality. It may still be here. I was there.
For those interested, there’s a trend on TikTok where folks listen to the “improper” lyrics of old hits and ask, “Are you hearing this?”.
Perhaps my favorite tune from this era is Lesley Gore’s 1964 hit “Maybe I Know”. Written by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry and produced by Quincy Jones. I’ll have to look past these lyrics:
Maybe I know that he's been a-cheatin'
Maybe I know that he's been untrue
But what can I do?
I hear them whisperin' when I walk by
"He's gonna break her heart, and make her cry"
I know it's me they're talking about
I bet they all think I'll never find out
Oh, but maybe I know that he's been a-cheatin'
Maybe I know that he's been untrue
But what can I do?
My friends are tellin' me that he's no good
He isn't treating me the way he should
"He really loves me", that's all I can say
Before my tears fall, I just walk away
Oh, but maybe I know that he's been a-cheatin'
Maybe I know that he's been untrue
But what can I do? Woah-oh
Deep down inside he loves me
Though he may run around
Deep down inside he loves me
Someday he'll settle down
Oh, maybe I know that he's been a-cheatin'
Maybe I know that he's been untrue
But what can I do?
"He really loves me", that's all I can say
Before my tears fall, I just walk away
Oh, maybe I know that he's been a-cheatin'
Maybe I know that he's been untrue
But what can I do?
Oh, maybe I know that he's been a-cheatin'
Maybe I know that he's been untrue
But what can I do?
So subtle. Nothing alarming like the rock lyrics that Tipper Gore tried to censure before receiving a public thrashing from Frank Zappa and Dee Snyder. And rap lyrics?
Ironically, Lesley Gore had hits the previous year (1963) with “You Don’t Own Me”, an anthem for early feminism, and “She’s a Fool”, a real cat fight.
This is just a snippet of the unbearable availability of anything and everything on line. Did you know Skeeter Davis was married to Joey Spampinato (17 years her junior) of NRBQ from ’87 – ’96? Now you do.
-Steve Hart-
