The Turtles - Let Me Be (Lyrics)

[mickeymousebiker1]

Live according to these words in 2012 (while we still can). This was my life's anthem back in the 1960s (it still is).

[kwixotic]

Is it "I'm not a pawn to be told how to move" or "I'm not about to be told how to move?" I personally think it's the latter one unlike what the lyrics above state.

[nicodagger]

Love The Turtles, loved this song (by P.F Sloan), also love that my Dad was their teacher at Westchester High School in Cali.

[PalaverTwist]

My mantra since they came out with this. Thank you for sharing. :_)

[slapbush]

clean sound, i liked the turtles ,they seemed to appear after all the greats of 64,65,and 66,steppenwolf,the hollies,beatles ,mamas and papas ,beachboys and stones

[heliot58]

I I love this song! I've always wondered if there were studio guys playing on this record like Mr. Tambourine Man (except Mcguinn who did play on it) I do think it is the Turtles playing on this however. Thank you for posting!

[moparfan59]

That's because you've got no argument. 

[moparfan59]

People like you keep turning left and all you get is dizzy. Just look at the Wall Street protesters. You and they are supposed to be free thinkers and you believe in repressive, narrow minded socialists like Obama and income redistribution instead of free thinking enterpeneurs like Steve Jobs and Donald Trunp and a free market that has provided you people with the greatest standard of living in the world.

[MsWS6]

@moparfan59 I dont argue with ASSHOLES people might not be able to tell the difference. oh and btw I will not bother to come back here, asshole!

[moparfan59]

Sadly, I didn't hear this one until '79. It never ceases to amaze me how different times are today. Back then this song was for teen rebels and kids trying to find themselves. Now it's a perfect song for us conservatives and tea party members.

[MsWS6]

@moparfan59 NO ITS NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This song is all about free thinkers, people who celebrate dirversity, welcome other cultures, races, and refuse to go along with your short sighted, narrow minded views on how we should ALL behave. Keep turning right and all you do is go in circles!

[mysterytrax]

TURTLES came out of LA in the Sunset Strip era.

Their haunting, yet fresh youthful harmonies and 12 string electric Rickenbacker sound, impacted a mid 1960's generation and beyond.

Theirs was the sound of a changing young America; along with the likes of

The Byrds, The Association, Pet Sounds era Beach Boys and Arthur Lee & Love.

What a time to be alive and growing up. I was there and I LIVED this music.

Thanks so much to linachao5 for this excellent post and YOUR sound quality here.

[linachao5]

@mysterytrax I am 19, I wasn't lucky to live in this beautiful time for music, but I try to remember its legacy, listening it. Thank you for your comment...

:-)

[nicodagger]

@linachao5 THANK YOU for keeping this great music alive.

[spacepatrolman]

@mysterytrax 0:24 A GREAT LINE

[wfarrar69]

#29pop in 1965.awesome tune. first heard on a gh lp in1984.got 45 in 1985.

[nicodagger]

beautiful. written by P.F. Sloan, who also wrote "Eve of Destruction". "I am what I am". Biblical, and true for us all.

[mickeymousebiker1]

This is a clean, honest, and pure sound. The lyrics still say it all. Tell the world to get offa your back and BE YOURSELF! DIG!

[Taggerung12]

This song...

It's the soundtrack of my life. It fits perfectly.

Why can't people leave others alone?

BEST. SONG. EVER.

[heliot58]

Killer 60's jangle-pop! Thank you for posting!

[terrafirma91]

This particular song inspired me as a young kid. Too bad more young people don't adhere to this philosophy today, instead of being collective minded. Just my personal opinion. Thanks for the great upload.

[mickeymousebiker1]

The voice of a generation (the 1960s). It still applies to the 21st century. Never follow leaders or be like everyone else. Individualism is America! Great lyrics -- great Byrds-like guitar! LOVE IT!