In 1977, Linda Ronstadt released a cover of Warren Zevon's "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" from her album Simple Dreams, which became a moderate hit and gained airplay on country radio. Though Zevon wrote and originally released the song in 1976, it was Ronstadt who made it famous by reimagining it from a female perspective, fundamentally transforming the song's meaning and success.

Ronstadt learned the song from Jackson Browne during an informal jam session and substantially adapted it, removing verses she felt uncomfortable performing. She rearranged the lyrics to express a female viewpoint and interpreted the song as a critique of male vanity and emotional insensitivity. The gender shift proved pivotal—Ronstadt believed the song's commentary on self-pity and immaturity worked perfectly when sung by a woman. The song's enduring appeal was demonstrated when country artist Terri Clark achieved a Top 5 chart position with her own version in 1996.