Horace Ott first conceived the melody and chorus after a heated argument with his then-girlfriend (and later wife), Gloria Caldwell.
While many associate the track with the rock-and-roll energy of , it was originally written for Simone in 1964 by Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott, and Sol Marcus. Nina Simone - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
The haunting plea of stands as one of Nina Simone's most enduring recordings, though its journey from a songwriter's apology to a civil rights anthem and a rock-and-roll staple is as complex as the High Priestess of Soul herself. The Story Behind the Song Horace Ott first conceived the melody and chorus