music.wikisort.org - Composition

"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which was released by Gene Pitney in 1962. It spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 4,[1] while reaching No. 2 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade,[2] and No. 4 on New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade".[3]

"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance"
Single by Gene Pitney
from the album Only Love Can Break a Heart
B-side	"Take It Like a Man"
Released	1962
Genre	Country pop
Length	2:49
Label	Musicor
Songwriter(s)	Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Gene Pitney singles chronology
"Town Without Pity" (1961) "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" (1962) "Only Love Can Break a Heart" (1962)

Although it was not used in the film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, there is disagreement about whether the song had been intended to appear in it.[4] Nevertheless, Pitney has stated that the recording session was paid for by Paramount, and that it was midway through the effort when he found out that the song was not going to be included in the film; one of the orchestra members told him that the movie had been released. Session drummer Gary Chester plays on the recording.[4]

The Pitney and the Jimmie Rodgers version of the song is noted for a solo violin that plays in the upper register. Both versions are noteworthy for the chorus, where a quick half-second strike on the tympani is heard, depicting the gun shots, which go:

"The man who shot Liberty Valance, (bong) He shot Liberty Valance, (bong), He was the bravest of them all".

The first verse describes the outlaw's intimidating presence and ability with a gun, the second focuses on the man who comes to town prepared to defeat Valance with the law alone. Further along we learn how the law-book toting hero falls in love with a girl who, when he is forced to confront Valance, waits alone and prays, knowing that: "When two men go and face (or "fight") each other, only one returns".

The song was ranked No. 36 in the Western Writers of America's list of the top 100 Western songs of all time, as compiled from a survey of its members.[5]

Jimmie Rodgers released a cover similar in form to the Gene Pitney version.

The Greg Kihn Band included their take on their 1980 album Glass House Rock. James Taylor recorded it for his 1985 album That's Why I'm Here.

Chart performance

Chart (1962)	Peak position
Australia	1
Canada - CHUM Hit Parade	2
New Zealand - Lever Hit Parade	4
US Billboard Hot 100	4

References

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