Town Without Pity

Gene Pitney died Tuesday in his hotel room after performing in Cardiff, Wales. He received a standing ovation for the last performance of his life. He died in his sleep that same night. What a grand way to check out of this world.

I first took notice of Gene Pitney in 1964 when I heard him sing "Town Without Pity," on television, for the Academy Awards show, if I remember correctly. I was really moved by his powerful voice and the words to "Town Without Pity" spoke to me as a young man in the dating scene. Many older adults considered us hoodlums and many of us were not and resented the suspicion and distrust.

The world is a bit more empty now. I will miss his great talent.

Here are the words to the song I mentioned.

Town Without Pity

When you're young and so in love as we
And bewildered by the world we see
Why do people hurt us so
Only those in love would know
What a town without pity can do

If we stop to gaze upon a star
People talk about how bad we are
Ours is not an easy age
We're like tigers in a cage
What a town without pity can do

The young have problems, many problems
We need an understanding heart
Why don't they help us, try and help us
Before this clay and granite planet falls apart

Take these eager lips and hold me fast
I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two
What a town without pity can do

How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two
What a town without pity can do

No, it isn't very pretty what a town without pity
Can do.