Don’t Laugh At Me by Mark Wills — Backstory Song

Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin wrote “Don’t Laugh at Me” and Mark Wills recorded it and it was released in July 1998 as the second single from his album Wish You Were Here. The song went to Number 2 on the US Billboard country charts and Number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song was nominated for a Country Music Association (CMA) Single, Song of the Year and Video of the Year in 1998. Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary heard Steve Seskin perform the song and the band recorded it and led to the formation of the non-profit organization Operation Respect which promotes tolerance and civility to help children to develop into compassionate, respectful, ethical, and civically engaged adults. The song and its curriculum have been taught in over 185,000 classrooms in over 50 countries around the world.