"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" | |
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Song by Warren Zevon from the album Warren Zevon | |
Released | 1976 |
Genre | Rock |
Length | 3:04 |
Label | Asylum |
Writer(s) | Warren Zevon |
Producer(s) | Jackson Browne |
"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" | ||||
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Single by Linda Ronstadt | ||||
from the album Simple Dreams | ||||
B-side | "Simple Man Simple Dream" (or "Blue Bayou") | |||
Released | January 10, 1978 | |||
Format | 7" vinyl | |||
Genre | Rock, country rock | |||
Length | 3:42 | |||
Label | Asylum 45462 | |||
Writer(s) | Warren Zevon | |||
Producer(s) | Peter Asher | |||
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology | ||||
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"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" | ||||
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Single by Terri Clark | ||||
from the album Just the Same | ||||
B-side | "Something You Should've Said" | |||
Released | September 23, 1996 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:10 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Writer(s) | Warren Zevon | |||
Producer(s) |
Keith Stegall Chris Waters Terri Clark |
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Terri Clark singles chronology | ||||
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"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" is a rock song written and originally recorded by Warren Zevon in 1976. It is best known as one of Linda Ronstadt's signature hits from 1978. Country music singer Terri Clark scored a hit in 1996 with her own cover of the song. There have also been many other versions of this song.
In keeping with Warren Zevon's sardonic lyrical style, the song's verses deal with a failed suicide, domestic abuse, and a brush with sadomasochism. The song first appeared on Zevon's 1976 self-titled solo album. It is reputed to be a friendly swipe at Jackson Browne, whose songs (such as "Here Come Those Tears Again" and "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate" from The Pretender) could be quite dark.
The song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was produced by Jackson Browne and was featured on Zevon's eponymous 1976 album Warren Zevon with backing vocals by Lindsey Buckingham. The track was later included on his greatest hits compilations A Quiet Normal Life (1986), I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (1996), and Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon (2002). Live versions appeared on 1980s Stand in the Fire and 1993’s Learning to Flinch. Alternate studio versions were included in the 2008 reissue of Warren Zevon, as well as the posthumous 2007 compilation Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings.