Love Me or Leave Me (song)

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"Love Me or Leave Me" is a U.S. popular song from the 1920s.

The music was written by Walter Donaldson and the lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was introduced in the Broadway play, Whoopee!

The original version of the song was recorded by Ruth Etting on December 17, 1928. It was issued by Columbia Records as catalog number 1680-D. The song reached #2 on the charts in 1929.

As the song was considered to be one of Etting's biggest hits, its title was chosen for the 1955 biographical movie about her life, in which Doris Day played Etting. Day's recording of the song, from the soundtrack, became a major hit for her. The same year, Lena Horne also experienced success with her version of the song.

Singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone also recorded the song on her debut album Little Girl Blue (1958) and Let It All Out (1966). Simone's version was included on the soundtrack of the film Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss.