Picariello grew up in the North Boston suburb of Lynn and learned to play guitar as a boy. In high school, he formed a band and tried to emulate the hard-driving style of Little Richard. Picariello eventually signed with Philadelphia label Swan Records, a recording studio in which Dick Clark had an interest. Clark brought Picariello national exposure through numerous appearances on Clark's TV show, American Bandstand. Cannon holds the record for most appearances by a performer (110) on Bandstand! He and Clark continued to collaborate on Bandstand reunion concerts long after the TV show ended.
By 1959, Picariello was singing using the stage name, Freddy Cannon. He was also called "Boom Boom" because of his thundering musical renditions and the "Cannon" name. From 1959 through the early 60s, Cannon had three Top Ten hit:
Palisades Park
Tallahassee Lassie (A song written by Cannon's mother. It was also the first of 22 songs which appeared on the Billboard Charts for Cannon.)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
On June 24, 1966, Cannon played himself and performed one of his own songs during the final episode of the teen soap opera "Never Too Young." The role of Cannon was played by David Julian Hirsh in George Clooney's 2003 film, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.'
As of 2006, Cannon was a resident of Tarzana, California, and continued performing in concert.
Palisades Park
Freddy Cannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A swingin' place called Palisades Park
To have some fun and see what I could see
That's where the girls are
I took a ride on a shoot the chute
That girl I sat beside was awful cute
And after while she was holdin' hands with me
My heart was flyin' up like a rocket ship
Down like a roller coaster
Back like a loop the loop
And around like a merry go round
We ate and ate at a hot dog stand
We danced around to a rockin' band
And when I could, I gave that girl a hug
In the tunnel of love
You'll never know how great a kiss can feel
When you stop at the top of a ferris wheel
When I fell in love down at Palisades Park
We ate and ate at a hot dog stand
We danced around to a rockin' band
And when I could, I gave that girl a hug
In the tunnel of love
You'll never know how great a kiss can feel
When you stop at the top of a ferris wheel
When I fell in love down at Palisades Park
Down at Palisades Park
You know it's Palisades Park
Down at Palisades Park
The lyrics of Freddy Cannon's song Palisades Park describe a young man's visit to a popular amusement park of the same name, located in Bergen County, New Jersey. The singer takes a stroll after dark, looking for fun and girls, and finds himself on a thrilling ride called "Shoot the Chute." He sits next to an attractive girl and ends up holding her hand as they go through the ups and downs of the ride. The singer's emotions are on a rollercoaster as well, as he experiences the highs, lows, and thrills of falling in love.
The young couple then enjoys some classic park fare – hot dogs and rock and roll – before taking a ride on the "tunnel of love." This is where the potential for true romance is solidified for the singer, as the kiss he shares with his new love interest at the top of the Ferris wheel confirms his feelings. The nostalgic song captures the excitement, energy, and romance of a night spent at an amusement park during the zenith of post-war American culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I took a walk after dark
I went for a walk at night
A swingin' place called Palisades Park
I visited a lively location named Palisades Park
To have some fun and see what I could see
I wanted to enjoy myself and discover what was happening
That's where the girls are
Many women were present at the park
I took a ride on a shoot the chute
I went on a shoot-the-chute amusement ride
That girl I sat beside was awful cute
The girl sitting next to me was very attractive
And after while she was holdin' hands with me
She eventually held my hand
My heart was flyin' up like a rocket ship
I felt euphoric and ecstatic
Down like a roller coaster
My emotions quickly changed and plummeted
Back like a loop the loop
My feelings swung wildly back up again
And around like a merry go round
My emotions were spinning around rapidly
We ate and ate at a hot dog stand
We consumed a significant amount of food at a hot dog stand
We danced around to a rockin' band
We danced to lively music
And when I could, I gave that girl a hug
I hugged the girl when I had the opportunity
In the tunnel of love
We rode the tunnel of love attraction
You'll never know how great a kiss can feel
Experiencing a kiss at the top of a ferris wheel is indescribable
When you stop at the top of a ferris wheel
Stopping at the top of the ferris wheel is a magical moment
When I fell in love down at Palisades Park
I fell in love while at Palisades Park
You know it's Palisades Park
Palisades Park is an unforgettable place
Down at Palisades Park
I had an amazing time at Palisades Park
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHUCK BARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind