“Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, song first written and recorded by Warren Zevon in 1976. Linda Ronstadt recorded it for the asylum records label, in May 1977, at The Sound Factory, Los Angeles, California. At the recording session For the song and album, Linda was accompanied by: Peter Asher (vocal, guitar and percussion), Mike Auldridge (guitar and dobro), Wady Wachtel (guitar), John D. Souther (guitar), Dan Dugmore (steel), Richard Feves and Kenny Edwards (bass), Don Henley, Mike Bottis and Rick Marotta (drums), Steve Forman (percussion), Clarence McDonald, Don Frolnick and Andrew Gold (piano and keyboards) + strings + vocal chorus and Dolly Parton duo on, “I never will marry” . With the production by Peter Asher, the song was released on January 10, 1978. On March 18, 1978, it peaked at # 46 on the U.S Hot Country Songs charts, remaining a total of 9 weeks on the charts. On the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts, it peaked at # 36.

The song was included on Linda’s eighth studio album, Simple Dreams (Asylum 1977), the album was released on September 6, 1977. On December 17, 1977, it reached # 1 on the U.S Top Country Albums charts, remaining on the charts for a total of 56 weeks. On the Canadian Albums Chart, it also peaked at # 1. Simple Dreams, is one of Linda’s most successful albums, also reached # 1 in: Australian Kent Music Report and U.S. Billboard Pop Albums. The album was certified as triple platinum in the USA, double platinum in Canada, platinum in New Zealand and platinum in Hong Kong.

Versions:

Warren Zevon 1976 (Asylum Records)
Sylvie Vartan 1979 (RCA) French version
Terry Clark 1996 (Mercury)
Vitamin String Quartet 2003 (Vitamin) Instrumental
Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt 2004 (Artemis Records)
The West Saugerties Ale & Quail Club 2017 (Mike-Shell)

Linda Ronstadt – Poor Poor Pitiful Me Lyrics

Well I lay my head on the railroad track
Waiting on the Double E
But the train don’t run by here no more
Poor poor pitiful me

Poor poor pitiful me
Poor poor pitiful me
Oh these boys won’t let me be
Lord have mercy on me
Woe woe is me

Well I met a man out in Hollywood
Now I ain’t naming names
Well he really worked me over good
Just like Jesse James
Yes he really worked me over good
He was a credit to his gender
Put me through some changes Lord
Sort of like a Waring blender

Poor poor pitiful me
Poor poor pitiful me
Oh these boys won’t let me be
Lord have mercy on me
Woe woe is me

Well I met a boy in the Vieux Carres
Down in Yokohama
He picked me up and he threw me down
He said “Please don’t hurt me Mama”

Poor poor pitiful me
Poor poor pitiful me
Oh these boys won’t let me be
Lord have mercy on me
Woe woe is me

Poor poor poor me
Poor poor pitiful me
Poor poor poor me
Poor poor pitiful me
Poor poor poor me
Poor poor pitiful me