Don't Misunderstand is a soulful R&B ballad written by Gordon Parks and originally performed by O. C. Smith. It was released in 1972 as track 7 on Shaft's Big Score! Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The tune is part of the film’s score and showcases Parks’s cinematic songwriting, produced by Tom McIntosh for the soundtrack. It appears on the Shaft's Big Score! album and has been widely covered by artists such as Nancy Wilson and Thelma Houston, highlighting Parks's blend of jazz, soul, and orchestral textures. The lyrics describe a momentary connection between two strangers and a plea to avoid misunderstanding, set to a moody, cinematic arrangement.
