Don't Bring Me Down

Album: Animalization (1966)
Charted: 6 12
Play Video
  • When you complain and criticize
    I feel I'm nothing in your eyes.,
    It makes me feel like givin' up
    Because my best just ain't good enough.
    Girl I want to provide for you and
    Do the things you want me to!

    But oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!
    Oh, baby you know!
    Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!

    Sacrifices I will make,
    I'm ready to give as well as take,
    One thing I need is your respect,
    One thing I can't take is your neglect,
    More than anything I need your love
    Then trouble's easy to rise above.

    But oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!
    Oh, baby you know!
    Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!

    When you complain and criticize
    I feel I'm nothing in your eyes.,
    It makes me feel like givin' up
    Because my best just ain't good enough.
    Girl I want to provide for you and
    Do the things you want me to!

    But oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!
    Oh, baby you know!
    Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!
    Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!
    Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down!
    Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down! Writer/s: Carole King, Gerry Goffin
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Sam from Sherman OaksI was listening to a very special interview Carole King did with her daughter Louise Goffin and a published songwriter/author writer about songwriting (Paul Zollo, who I happen to know personally) on their podcast The Great Song Adventure, and in that, Carole casually mentions that this song and “Just Once In My Life” were songs where the lyrics to those two tunes were written by Gerry directly about Carole and the songs were very much confessions about their relationship/marriage which at the time as you can tell from listening to those two songs was pretty rocky.i wish they elaborated more on this in those interviews but I understand if they wanted the interview to be less on her personal life and more on her career achievements and how she wrote the famous hits she wrote with her then husband Gerry Goffin at that time.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaOne thing I liked about their music was the ORGAN.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaMartin I can so relate to that one. Have felt like this more than once.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 17th 1966, the Animals performed "Don't Bring Me Down" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    One month earlier on May 15th, 1966 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #79; and on June 26th, 1966 it peaked at #12 (for 1 week) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #3 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
    Was the group's last charted record using the name 'The Animals'; they're next single was "See See Rider" and the name on the label was 'Eric Burton and the Animals'...
    R.I.P. bassist 'Chas' Chandler (1938 - 1996) and Mr. Sullivan (1901 - 1974).
  • Elmer H from Westville, OkI still love this Animals hit whenever I hear it on the radio. When it was released in 1966 I bought the 45 rpm single & noticed the writing credits as "Goffin/King" and I was very familiar with that writing team over the years from their other great hits. But this one didn't sound like their typical composition. I loved it anyway. Mostly because it had attitude. And it told a story about the diffiulties in life and a relationship. Emotions laid bare! Actually, I have always loved The Animals & even their incarnation as Eric Burdon and The Animals. Back in 1964, when they first hit the U.S. as part of the British Invasion, I didn't take to them, but then I changed my mind after my brother got a copy of "House of the Rising Sun" and then "Boom Boom." The latter was their revision of an old John Lee Hooker blues hit from the early Sixties that was a real "roof-raiser" of a song. Good rock & roll.
  • Martin from Fresno, CaGreat song. He is telling her he loves her but please don't be critical.
  • Don Hertel from Dover, NjI never heard Carole King's demo of the song (but I know one exists), but I heard a version by a band called Obsession and I believe the melody is probably close to the way that she wrote it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.