Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell and Sol Marcus
First release, Nina Simone, 1964 If you've never heard this version before, it's worth a listen
Most famous version, Animals, 1965
The master of cover versions, Joe Cocker, 1969
Santa Esmerelda, an offbeat disco band very reminscent of Boney M, managed to make this into an unexpected hit in 1977
Moving to the opposite end of the spectrum, the metal band Place of Skulls, 2001
Eric Burdon revisits his hit and skats it up a bit, 1998
[spoiler=lyrics]Baby you understand me now If sometimes you see I'm mad Doncha know that no one alive can always be an angel? When everything goes wrong you see some bad
Well I'm just a soul whose intentions are good Oh lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Ya know sometimes baby I'm so carefree With a joy that's hard to hide Then sometimes it seems again that all I have is worry And then you burn to see my other side
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy I want you to know I never meant to take it out on you Life has its problems And I get more than my share But that's me one thing I never mean to do
'Cause I love you Oh baby I'm just human Don't you know I have faults like anyone?
Sometimes I find myself alone regretting Some little fooling thing Some simple thing that I've done
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I try so hard So don't let me be misunderstood[/spoiler]