Browse by Title
A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N
O P Q R S T U
V W X Y Z #  

Browse Categories Random Songfact Random Category Add to Songfacts Take the Quiz SongFAQ Get the Newsletter E-Mail Us Message Boards Songwriter Interviews Song Writing Songfactor's Choice Lyrical Pursuit Song Fallacies Artistfacts

(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance

by

Gene Pitney



Album: Only Love Can Break A Heart      Released: 1962
US Chart: 4     
phone Send "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" Ringtone to your Cell phone
View Lyrics

Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This song was written by the prolific songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. When they wrote this, they were not full-time partners yet but were considering doing so.

Many people think that this is the theme song for the 1962 movie of the same name. Although it was written for the movie and everybody loved it, John Ford (the movie's director) hated it and kept it off the soundtrack. Gene Pitney himself later said: "The song 'Liberty Valance' was written for the movie but for some strange reason never was put in the soundtrack. Because of the prior success with 'Town Without Pity,' I was paid a bundle to record the song, and Burt Bacharach produced it. He wrote the song with Hal David. There was some screw-up between the publishing company, Famous Music, and the parent company, Paramount Pictures. As to why it never was in the actual film, the most bizarre part of the story I found out a few years ago. The actual music used in the film was from a 1938 Henry Fonda film called Young Mr. Lincoln. Go figure that out!" (thanks, Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 2)

phone Send "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" Ringtone to your Cell phone
More songs by Gene Pitney
More songs written by Burt Bacharach and/or Hal David
More songs that are also the names of movies
Listen to "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" like you've never heard it before. »Get it Free.

Comments:

I think that this was Gene Pitney's best song. My parents had the 45 single when I was a kid in the 60s. I belive it was on Coral Records,a brown and yellow label. The Royal Guardsmen (Snoopy vs The Red Baron) covered this song. They do an identical version,minus the violin or harmonica.
- wayne, Salem, VA

John Ford made a big mistake not using this song for his sound track. Gene Pitney captured the movies with his vocals and it would have been perfect to play at over the closing credits. I saw an attempted interview by Peter Bogdanovich with John Ford on set, and Ford acted like a real jerk and walked off the interview.
- Sal, Half Moon Bay, CA

What was John Ford's real problem with it?
- Vin, Boynton Beach, FL

cool original violin solo at the beginning... after that, an empty sound with tymp and drums for awhile.....very original
- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA

Gene Pitney hung with the stone's in 63 even covered a Jagger-Richard's song before they were even heard of in the states.Passe-I think not
- Bob, Roseville, CO

The so called hippy movement was gearing up and guys like Gene Pitney were considered passe as was ALOT of excellent afro american music. Gene Pitney had a wonderful voice. I have heard he dabbled in Opera..whether that's true ot not I don't know. What I do know is some of his songs like, Only Love Can Break a heart...Town without Pity...I Want to Love my Life Away....It Hurts to be in Love...I'm Going to be Strong... to name a few. Oh well the British Invasion(TO ME) was welcome despite the ousting of Gene Pitney and guys like Roy Orbinson and even Elvis (amongst others) that were just so damned good. However THe Man who Shot LV was not one of my big loves. Gene was though and then....THE BEATLES!
- greg, Victoria, Canada

Even though I never seen the song it was written for, I can imagine as a movie and the story it tells.
- Roberto, Las Cruces, NM

You have to register to post comments, but you'll be a better person for it.
phone Send "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" Ringtone to your Cell phone