Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Released: November 18, 1981

Songwriter: Ritchie Cordell Kenny Laguna Joan Jett

Producer: Ritchie Cordell Kenny Laguna Glen Kolotkin

[Verse 1]
I was caught so unaware
When you made other plans
Promises you swore to keep
Were more than you could stand

[Chorus]
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

[Verse 2]
I was weak when you were there
And I felt so protected
But I'll make sure that you regret
The one that you rejected

[Chorus]
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

[Verse 3]
Shame on you, I gave you love
I gave you love so true
But you ran away so you just don't know what you blew
Yeah, yeah

[Chorus]
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

[Refrain]
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

[Chorus]
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

After splitting with The Runaways, and releasing her first solo album, Joan Jett placed an ad in LA Weekly looking for bandmates. Gary Ryan, Eric Ambel, and Danny “Furious” O'Brien joined her, creating the orginial Blackhearts lineup.

After their initial tour though, O'Brien was replaced with Lee Crystal.

Early on, keeping the band afloat was not easy. Joan and producer Kenny Laguna struggled, sometimes selling copies of albums from the trunk of his car. Eventually unable to keep up with the demand for Joan Jett’s album, they signed with Boardwalk Records.

more tracks from the album

I Love Rock ’N Roll (Expanded Edition)

From the album

I Love Rock ’N Roll (Expanded Edition) (1981)

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Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

I Love Rock ’N Roll (Expanded Edition)