Treat Me Right by Pat Benatar

Pam Fletcher
WS200
Blog #5

My older sister purchased this album when it came out in August of 1980 and I would say I knew each song, by heart, by September of 1980. Pat Benatar, at the time, was leading the way for feminism through her music and lyrics. Much of her music revolved around women “not taking it anymore”. This particular song deals with letting her partner know he’d better shape up, or she’s done as she indicates when she says “I’m losing my patience, you’re nearing the end”. She addresses inequality in her verses of “You can’t have it both ways, it’s no way to live, you’ve done all the takin’ it’s your turn to give” and “One of these days you’re gonna reach out and find, the one that you count on has left you behind”. This clearly indicates she is tired of living a patriarchal lifestyle and wants to be treated as an equal. Pat Benatar’s music is typically empowering and strives to point out that women can make the rules: “Do you think I’m a fool, well you better think twice, I’ve had enough baby, it’s time you realize”. I think if there were more music like hers, we would set a different standard for girls, a much better standard than the hip hop stuff out today, which may have a good beat, but very derogatory remarks against women. You can listen to the song in its entirety on the following youtube link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zPNQ2ktvVCE and sing along with the following lyrics:

You want me to leave, you want me to stay
You ask me to come back, you turn and walk away
You wanna be lovers, and you wanna be friends
I'm losing my patience, you're nearing the end
One of these days you're gonna reach out and find
The one that you count on has left you behind
Don't want to be no martyr, with no one, no say
Oh my, my baby, before it's too late

Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right
Open your eyes, maybe you'll see the light

Do you think I'm a fool, well you better think twice
I've had enough baby, it's time you realized
That you can't have it both ways, it's no way to live
You've done all the takin', it's your turn to give

One of these days you're gonna reach out and find
The one that you count on has left you behind
Don't want to be no martyr, with no one, no say
Oh my, my baby, before it's too late

Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right
Open your eye's, maybe you'll see the light
Ooh, Ooh, Treat Me Right

You want me to leave, you want me to stay
You ask me to come back, you're turn and walk away
You wanna be lovers, and you wanna be friends
I'm losing my patience, you're nearing the end

Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right
Open your eyes, maybe you'll see the light
Ooh, Ooh, Treat Me Right

Treat Me Right - Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right - Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right - Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right - Treat Me Right
Treat Me Right (Fading Out)

Written by: Pat Benatar and D. Lubahn Time: 3:24
Performed by Pat Benatar


Original Release Date: August 1980 on Crimes of Passion LP