Mott the Hoople - Laugh At Me (1969)

This group was on the verge of breaking up when a big fan of theirs, David Bowie, attempted to write a song for them to record and stay together. Turning down “Suffragette City,” they eventually took “All the Young Dudes,” a song that would go on to become the anthem of the glam rock era. The group also became good friends with a not-yet-famous Queen after Queen was set to open for them during their 1974 tour. The group’s guitarist, Mick Ralphs, would later go on to help create the supergroup Bad Company.

This song was originally written and performed by Sonny Bono in 1965. It was Sonny’s only true success as a solo artist and its lyrics dealt with the older generation of the time having a problem with the counter-culture of the mid-‘60s. This cover version appeared as the third track on this group’s debut self-titled album.



Mott the Hoople - Laugh At Me (1969)

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Lyrics:

Well, how can I be like any guy?
Why do they have to make me run?
What do they care about the clothes that I wear?
What do they get from making fun?

Well, we got a lot of space
Honey, if you don't like my face
It ain't me who's goin’ anywhere
‘cause I don't care
Let them laugh at me
If that's so fair

Well then I don't have to care
To be free until they laugh at me
And I'll cry for you
And I'll pray for you
And I'll do everything that the man upstairs said to do
I'll do it all for you, babe
Yeah
Well, I'll do it all for you

It's got to be sometime
It's got to be somewhere
I'm goin’ to make that achievement
Then maybe the next time
That you don't wear a silk tie
And I can walk by and say ‘hi’
Say ‘hi’ instead of ‘why’

Instead of ‘why’, babe
Instead of ‘why’
Instead of ‘why’, babe
Yeah, instead of ‘why’, babe
Instead of ‘why’, babe
Instead of ‘why’, babe
Instead of ‘why’, babe

Why do you laugh at me?
Why do you laugh at me?
Why do you laugh at me?
Why do you laugh at me?
Yeah

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