| "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 |
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| Producer | Carson Chamberlain Keith Stegall |
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| Mark Wills singles chronology | ||||
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"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]
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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]
The music video was directed by Jim Hershleder and premiered in mid-1998.
"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 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]
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