 "Don't Laugh at Me" debuted at number 69 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of July 18, 1998.The song peaked at number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart on October 10, 1998 for two weeks and was kept out of the top spot by "Where the Green Grass Grows" by Tim McGraw.Peter Yarrow attended a performance by co-writer Seskin at the Kerrville Folk Festival, which led to his recording the song with Peter, Paul and Mary.