Bootleg Betty
Video: Bette Midler – Throw It Away – Divine Intervention 2014
By Mister D
Nov 1, 2026
Bette Midler didn’t write”Throw It Away.” The song was written by Abbey Lincoln (who also used the name Aminata Moseka) and was first released by Lincoln in 1980 on her album Painted Lady.
Additionally, Bette Midler performed the song during her Divine Intervention Tour in 2015, introducing many fans to this jazz-standard gem.
A fun bit of trivia for a Bootleg Betty archivist: “Throw It Away” became one of Abbey Lincoln’s signature compositions.
Moreover, it has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, making it one of the most enduring songs in her catalog.
The lyric’s central message is beautifully simple: hold love with an open hand, because “you can never lose a thing if it belongs to you.”
