I'm Scared

Album: Burton Cummings (1976)
Charted: 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cummings wrote this in New York City. It was intended for Cummings' band The Guess Who (their final lineup with Toronto guitarist Domenic Troiano). The band rejected it and Burton, fed up at that point, decided it was about time to walk away and go solo. The Guess Who finished up their remaining obligations and Burton recorded this on his first solo album.
  • The album was produced by Richard Perry, who also worked with Ringo Starr, Carly Simon and Tiny Tim. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Barry Kesten - Bellmore, United States, for above 2

Comments: 5

  • Scoots from AzI remember when this song came out, I was living in LA, i wanna say rick dee's was the d j as a teenager the lyrics touched me. I left home not long after that, married my best friend. We were married for forty three years, but I look back to this song and it meant a lot then, and hits home to this day
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 13th 1977, "I'm Scared" by Burton Cummings entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; and three weeks later on March 6th, 1977 it peaked at #61 and spent five weeks on the Top 100...
    As a solo artist, between 1976 and 1981 he had five Top 100 records, with one reaching the Top 10 and that was right at #10, "Stand Tall" for 2 weeks on January 2nd, 1977...
    He celebrates his birthday on the last day of the year; and will turn 68 years old this coming December 31st {2015}.
  • T from Tucson, AzI have been a fan of burtons since the begining and feel his solo work was by ar his best. This song really makes you stop and think about life
  • Kevin from Reading , PaWoody -- His best music was as a solo artist? Really. I seriously doubt that. "No Time," "Laughing," "Albert Flasher," "American Woman," . . . that's a lot to live up to as a solo artist.
  • Woody from Moose Jaw, CanadaThis song and "Break it to them gently" two of his best.
    Anything from The Guess Who was good, but his best music was as a solo artist.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Shawn Mullins

Shawn MullinsSongwriter Interviews

"Lullaby" singer Shawn Mullins on "Beautiful Wreck," beating the Devil, and his writing credit on the Zac Brown Band song "Toes."

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.