☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a young woman who is sad at her own party because her boyfriend is dancing with her friend.
- The protagonist feels betrayed and abandoned.
- The song expresses the message that it's okay to show your feelings and cry when you are hurt.
- It's a song that many people can relate to, as almost everyone has been disappointed by someone at some point.
Interpretation
It's My Party is a song by
Lesley Gore that is about a young woman who is sad at her own party because her boyfriend Johnny is dancing with her friend Judy and Judy is even wearing his ring. The main message of the song is that it's okay to cry and be sad when you feel hurt or betrayed.
The song starts with the lines 'It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to', which means that the protagonist has the right to cry at her own party if she wants to. She feels hurt and betrayed because she expected Johnny to only dance with her. The lines 'You would cry too, if it happened to you' show that she believes that other people would be just as sad if the same thing happened to them.
The protagonist is confused and wonders why Johnny is holding hands with her friend Judy when he should be with her. She feels betrayed and left alone. The lines 'But leave me alone for awhile / ′Til Johnny′s dancing with me / I've got no reason to smile' show that she needs time alone and that she has no reason to smile until Johnny dances with her.
The song takes a turn when Judy and Johnny come through the door with the girl's ring. This surprises the protagonist, as Judy is wearing the ring that was actually meant for her. This reinforces her feelings of betrayal and disappointment.
Overall, 'It's My Party' is about the emotions of a young woman who is hurt at her own party. The song conveys the message that it's okay to show and cry about feelings when you feel hurt. It's a song that many people can identify with, as almost everyone has been let down by someone at some point.