Donna Summer

Released: September 11, 1984

Songwriter: Reba Rambo Dony McGuire

Producer: Michael Omartian

Every day I give you a reason to cry
'cause I see the hurt in your eyes
But stronger yet
I see the love that shines
Help me learn to take on the nature of you
And love more than I accuse
And pardon others like you taught me to

Something happens inside my heart
Lord when I obey
Something happens inside my heart
Every time I pray

Forgive me
As I learned how to forgive
And reach out through the pain
And touch with hands of grace
Forgive me
As I learn how to forgive
And reach out through my own pain
And touch with hands of grace

As you prayed for those who crucified you
"forgive they don't know what they do"
Compassion reached out to a world confused
Help me learn to bless those who persecute me
And pray for my enemies
And show them mercy like you've shown to me

'Cause something happens inside my heart
Lord when I obey
Something happens inside my heart
Every time I pray

Forgive me
As I learn how to forgive
The ones that broke my heart
The way I've broken yours
Forgive me
As I learn how to forgive
And reach out through my own pain
And touch with hands of grace

Forgive me

As the unquestioned queen of disco, the one and only Donna Summer lit up the late 70s and 80s with flashy, exuberant vocals and automatic earworms. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on Dec. 31, 1948, Summer moved to Germany after being cast in a Munich production of Hair. There, she happened to meet Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, and the trio conglomerated to form a dynamic music team. With Moroder, Summer forged together her first album, The Hostage, which reached moderate success in Northern Europe. Summer’s big break, however, would come later with the release of 1975’s sexual “Love to Love You Baby”, which became one of disco’s first mainstream hits and reached #2 on the Billboard Charts.

1977 came around with the concept album I Remember Yesterday, which featured the Top 10 single “I Feel Love”. The next year, Summer hit the silver screen with the movie Thank God It’s Friday, whose soundtrack featured one of her own the iconic “Last Dance.” This would later become one of the disco legends' signature songs. “Dance” would take home an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe, and it jumped to a peak of #3 on the charts.

Yet Summer’s illustrious career was far from finished – Summer’s first live album Live and More featured the single “MacArthur Park”, a melting ballad that was a cover of the Jimmy Webb ballad of the same name. “Park” became Summer’s first – and perhaps most memorable – No. 1 hit, and cemented her status as a vocalist as well as a performer. With the track, she became the first female in modern rock history to hold the top spot in both the Hot 100 and the Billboard 200. 1979, though, would really be the peak of her career.

more tracks from the album

Cats Without Claws

From the album

Cats Without Claws (1984)

Donna Summer popular songs

Forgive MeDonna Summer

Donna Summer

Cats Without Claws