Party Hardy Marty Luther and the Reformers

Martin Luther's music is well-known. His most famous hymn is "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," but he wrote other wonderful hymns of the faith as well. On this famous day, October 31 – Reformation Day, I would like to present you with a less known great hymn of the faith written by Martin Luther as performed by his worship team, Party Hardy Marty Luther and the Reformers.

The tune for this song is lost to the dust of history, but the words live on. Since Martin Luther named his song, "You Don't Own Me," perhaps it would be best to read these words thinking of the tune to the song of the same title made popular in the 1950s by Leslie Gore. In case you don't remember this song, I present first a video of Leslie Gore singing her cover (with new words) of Martin Luther's You Don't Own Me.

by Marty Luther

You Don't Own Me

You don’t own me—don’t push me around like your papal punks
You don’t own me—I’m no longer one of your beer-bellied monks
So don’t tell me what to do and don’t tell me what to say
And don’t tell me when to kneel and don’t tell me how to pray

You don’t own me—I’m not just another one of your toys
You don’t own me—I won’t ring your bell just like your altar boys
So don’t tell me what to do and don’t tell me what to say
And don’t tell me when to kneel and don’t tell me how to pray

For sola scriptura is my way
And sola gratia and sola fide
And solus Christus is my king
So I won’t bow to kiss your ring

You don’t own me—go read the note that I nailed to your door
You don’t own me—I’m not taking your papal bull anymore
So don’t tell me what to do and don’t tell me what to say
And don’t tell me when to kneel and don’t tell me how to pray

For sola scriptura is my way
And sola gratia and sola fide
And solus Christus is my king
So I won’t bow to kiss your ring

This might be a dunghill covered with snow
But I know when I die that to heaven I’ll go
For I am a Christian warrior
To defend soli Deo gloria.

You don’t own me.