Let Me Be

The Turtles

About Let Me Be

"Let Me Be" is a song by the American rock band the Turtles. It was released in 1965 as the band's second single, following their successful cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe". In the United States, the single peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1965. It reached number 14 on Canada's RPM chart. The song was written by P. F. Sloan and produced by Bones Howe. The lyrics served as a message of defiance against societal norms and a call for freedom for personal expression. Turtles vocalist Howard Kaylan recalled that the band first turned down Sloan's song "Eve of Destruction", which became a number 1 hit in the U. S. for Barry McGuire, recognizing that, with its uncompromising message, "You just couldn't make a statement like that and ever work again." He said that they accepted "Let Me Be" because it represented "just the perfect level of rebellion … haircuts and non-conformity". Author Peter Doggett describes "Let Me Be" as a "perfect encapsulation of teenage angst". In his book 1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music, Andrew Grant Jackson identifies it as part of a "subgenre" of protest songs that emerged during 1965, in which musicians railed against "oppressive conformity itself" rather than political issues. He adds that, in a cultural climate influenced by mass media, hallucinogenic drugs, and the introduction of the contraceptive pill, this and contemporary songs by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, the Animals, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who "chronicled and propelled a social reformation as the old world forged its uneasy synthesis with the new". 


Year:
1991
2:22
136 

Lyrics currently unavailable…


The Turtles

The Turtles are an American rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, later known as Flo and Eddie. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with their cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965. They scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song "Happy Together". more »

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10 facts about this song

Release Date
"Let Me Be" by The Turtles was released on October 1, 1965.
Chart Performance
The song was the band's first single and it peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Song Writers
The song was written by P.F. Sloan, a popular American songwriter during the 1960s.
First Album
“Let Me Be” is included in the band's first album, "It Ain't Me Babe," which released in 1965.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by several artists, including The Carpenters in their self-titled album in 1969.
Genre Classification
The song is categorized as Pop and Folk Rock.
Original Band Name
When “Let Me Be” was released, The Turtles were actually still going by their original band name, The Crossfires.
Authenticity
The song is said to reflect The Turtles' search for their own identity and wish to express their musical authenticity.
Sloan and Barri Collaboration
“Let Me Be” is one of the numerous classics that emerged from the prolific songwriting partnership of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri.
Impact on Band's Success
The modest success of this song helped pave the way for The Turtles' subsequent hits, including their chart-topping single, "Happy Together."

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    Let Me Be

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1965

    Billboard #29


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