We Gotta Get Out of This Place

Song Name: We Gotta Get Out of This Place

Year of Release: 1965

Written By: Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Performed By: The Animals

Key Lyrics: "We gotta get out of this place/If it's the last thing we ever do/We gotta get out of this place, girl/There's a better life for me and you."

Description: This song was released by The Animals in 1965. It was originally written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, but the band’s producer heard it and the band managed to record it before Mann and Weil could. Though originally popular at proms and graduations, it became popular among Armed Forces members stationed in South Vietnam and was frequently requested by soldiers stationed overseas. 

Why It Was Important: As Animals singer Eric Burdon said, “The song became an anthem for different people -- everybody at some time wants to get out of the situation they’re in.” In 2006, two employees at the University of Wisconsin--Madison, one of whom was a Vietnam veteran, conducted a survey with hundreds of Vietnam veterans and found out that “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” was the song that had resonated with them the most. Regarding their findings, the employees said, “We had absolute unanimity on this song being the touchstone. This was the Vietnam anthem. Every bad band that ever played in an armed forces club had to play this song.” The song has also made numerous appearances in media related to the Vietnam War, such as the TV shows Tour of Duty and China Beach, and the soundtrack for the movie Hamburger Hill.

Recordings:

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (US Version) (studio version)

The Animals "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place" on The Ed Sullivan Show (live)