Don't Laugh at Me

"Don't Laugh at Me"
Single by Mark Wills
from the album Wish You Were Here
B-side	"I Can't Live with Myself"[1]
Released	July 13, 1998
Format	CD single
Genre	Country
Length	3:36
Label	Mercury Nashville
Writer(s)	Steve Seskin Allen Shamblin
Producer	Carson Chamberlain Keith Stegall
Mark Wills singles chronology
"I Do (Cherish You)" (1998) "Don't Laugh at Me" (1998) "Wish You Were Here" (1999)

"Don't Laugh at Me" is the title of a song written by Allen Shamblin and Steve Seskin. It was recorded by American country music artist Mark Wills and released in July 1998 as the second single from his 1998 album Wish You Were Here. Like "I Do (Cherish You)" before it, "Don't Laugh at Me" was a number 2 hit on the Billboard country charts. The song received Country Music Association nominations for Country Music Association's Single, Song and Video of the Year in 1998.^[2]

Background and writing

Allen Shamblin was inspired to write the song after his daughter came home from school one day, telling him that she was being teased by other children at school because of her freckles.^[2] The song is a ballad in which various characters, such as children who have been teased or a homeless man begging on a street corner, all of whom ask for acceptance from others.

Wills has received letters from teachers and students who have said that they can identify with the song's story. According to him, "everyone can relate to [the song]…Everyone at some point in their life has been picked on, made fun of or put down."^[2] He told Billboard magazine that the song is "one of the strongest songs I've ever recorded in terms of dealing with life in general."^[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Jim Hershleder and premiered in mid-1998.

Chart performance

"Don't Laugh at Me" debuted at number 69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of July 18, 1998.

Chart (1998)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	73
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	2

Peter, Paul and Mary version

Peter Yarrow attended a performance by co-writer Seskin at the Kerrville Folk Festival, which led to his recording the song with Peter, Paul and Mary.^[4] Their version appeared as the sole new recording on their compilation album Songs of Conscience and Concern. The song helped inspire Yarrow to found the non-profit organization Operation Respect, promoting tolerance and civility programs in education. The organization distributes curriculum programs under the "Don't Laugh At Me" name.^[5] In conjunction with this program, the song has been made into a children's book including an afterword by Yarrow. Part of the proceeds from the book go to Operation Respect.^[6]

References

1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 470–471. ISBN 0-89820-177-2. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Van Ingen, Lori (2008-11-15). "Singer takes teasing to task: Mark Wills visits St. Leo 2nd-graders". Lancaster Online. http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/230241. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
3. ^ Billboard, April 4, 1998
4. ^ JAN LINVILLE (Oct. 7, 2010). "Hit Writer’s Career Built on Honest Songs". Franklin Life. http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2010/10/07/affiliate/franklinlife/news/01shamblin.txt. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
5. ^ "Don't Laugh at Me". The Advantage Press. Jan. 2004. http://www.advantagepress.com/newsletters/Jan04news.asp. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
6. ^ Marie D. Jones (2005). "Don't Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin & Allen Shamblin (review)". Curled Up With A Good Kid's Book. http://www.curledupkids.com/dontlaff.htm. Retrieved March 13, 2011.