The Animals Perform “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” And Eric Burdon Steals The Show

The Most Misunderstood Band In Rock And Roll

Recorded by The Animals in 1965, the blues rock hit ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ has roots as a song written for and recorded by Nina Simone, with this soulful and impassioned rendition by The Animals being the most famous and well recognized. Though they appeared on the scene at the same time as The Beatles and even the Rolling Stones, The Animals set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd with performances like this – ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ is the definition of blue eyed soul!

Fun Fact: This classic began as a slow, soulful tune until it was passed on to The Animals, who worked the original into a rock song featuring Burdon’s trademark deep, impassioned vocals.

Singer Eric Burdon recalled in Rolling Stone magazine, “It was never considered pop material, but it somehow got passed on to us and we fell in love with it immediately.”

There’s something incredibly haunting about this performance that cements ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ into our minds as one of the songs of the 60s; The Animals not only knew how to play great music, but they knew how to sell the story behind the music, and it’s performances like this that make us believe that a song with other roots was actually theirs to begin with!

+ Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood lyrics +

Baby, do you understand me now
Sometimes I feel a little mad
But don’t you know that no one alive
Can always be an angel
When things go wrong I seem to be bad
But I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood

Baby, sometimes I’m so carefree
With a joy that’s hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that all I have do is worry
Then you’re bound to see my other side
But I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood

If I seem edgy I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has it’s problems and I get my share
And that’s one thing I never meant to do
Because I love you
Oh, Oh baby don’t you know I’m human
Have thoughts like any other one
Sometimes I find myself long regretting
Some foolish thing some little simple thing I’ve done
But I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood
Yes, I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood
Yes, I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood