Shannon followed up with "Hats Off to Larry", another big hit, and the less popular "So Long, Baby", another song of breakup bitterness. "Little Town Flirt", released in 1962 reached #12 in 1963 as did the album of the same name. After these hits, Shannon was unable to keep his momentum in the US, but became a sensation in England. In 1963, he became the first American artist to record a cover version of a Beatles song with "From Me to You".
Shannon returned to the charts in 1964 with "Handy Man", "Do You Wanna Dance", "Keep Searchin'", and "Stranger in Town" (1965), with the latter two songs themed about flight from pursuit in a dangerous world. A 1966 chart offering was Shannon's cover of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb". In the late 1960s after a dry spell of hits, he turned to production. In 1969 he discovered a group called Smith and arranged their hit "Baby It's You". He then produced his friend Brian Hyland's million seller "Gypsy Woman" in 1970.
In the 1970s, Shannon's career slowed down greatly; the hates and fears he had turned into art in his earlier songs were turning into full-blown mental illness, and he was self-medicating with alcohol. He finally put the bottle down in 1978, and he was able to return to mainstream audiences with "Sea of Love" in the early 1980s from the album "Drop Down And Get Me" produced by Tom Petty.
In December, 1983, Shannon served as Grand Marshal of the Coopersville, Michigan Christmas parade and also performed a benefit concert at Coopersville High School.
Shannon enjoyed a resurgence in audience interest after re-recording a portion of his song "Runaway" (with new lyrics) as the theme for the television program Crime Story. Producer Michael Mann felt that this was one of the definitive songs of the era in which the program was set. Some fans of the show prefer the sharper lyrics ("Some live, and others die") as an alternate to the original words.
On 8 February 1990, while working on a comeback album with Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, Shannon fatally shot himself in the head with a .22 calibre rifle. His wife thought his death might have been related to his recent use of the prescription drug Prozac. The album was released after his death and titled "Rock On!".
Shannon is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Been So Long
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Telling everyone in town
That you've made a fool of me
Well go and talk some more 'cause
Baby I don't care no more
You don't bother me at all
'Cause I got news for you
And I don't care what you say
So go and laugh some more 'cause
Baby I don't care no more
I've got another lover of my own
Step by step you put me down,
Always calling me a clown
If you ever go away, promise me that you'll stay
Far, far, far, far, far from me
Now that we've played our game
I guess we're both to blame
We tried to break each other's hearts
You had one jump on me but
I jumped twice you see
It's all over now be on your way
So long baby, be on your way-e-yay-e
I had a ball, you thought I'd fall
You had one jump on me but
I jumped twice you see
It's all over now be on your way
So long baby, be on your way!
So long baby, be on your way!
So long baby, be on your way!
The lyrics to Del Shannon's song "So Long Baby" speak to the end of a tumultuous relationship. The singer begins by acknowledging that their ex-partner is spreading rumors about them, but they do not care because they have moved on. The singer reveals that they were also unfaithful during the course of their relationship and therefore, the rumors no longer hold any weight. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the relationship is over, and the ex-partner should move on.
The second verse reveals that the ex-partner had repeatedly put down the singer and treated them poorly throughout the relationship. The singer asks that if the ex-partner were to leave, they should stay far away. The bridge highlights the fact that both parties are at fault for the end of the relationship and that they had both tried to hurt each other.
Ultimately the singer declares that the relationship is over and asks the ex-partner to leave. They reflect on the fact that the ex-partner had thought they would fall apart without them but ultimately, the singer emerged stronger. The repetition of "So long baby, be on your way" emphasizes the finality of the relationship and the singer's desire for the ex-partner to leave their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you're laughing and ah
I have noticed that you are laughing
Telling everyone in town
And you have been telling everyone about the fact that you made a fool of me
That you've made a fool of me
Which indicates that you were successful in making me look foolish in the eyes of others
Well go and talk some more 'cause
So, go ahead and continue talking about me if you want to
Baby I don't care no more
I am simply not bothered by it anymore
You don't bother me at all
In fact, your behavior does not influence me in any way
'Cause I got news for you
I would like to inform you that
I was untrue too
I must admit that I was also deceitful towards you
And I don't care what you say
I do not value your opinion on this matter
So go and laugh some more 'cause
Therefore, feel free to continue laughing about it
Baby I don't care no more
Because nothing you do can upset me anymore
I've got another lover of my own
In fact, I have found someone else to love
Step by step you put me down,
Gradually, you have lowered my self-esteem
Always calling me a clown
By constantly making fun of me and belittling me
If you ever go away, promise me that you'll stay
If you insist on leaving me, make sure that you do not come back
Far, far, far, far, far from me
I want you to be as far away from me as possible
Now that we've played our game
Now that we have both played our part in this relationship
I guess we're both to blame
We are both equally responsible for its downfall
We tried to break each other's hearts
Our attempts to hurt each other emotionally have failed
You had one jump on me but
While you were successful in your efforts to a certain extent
I jumped twice you see
I have managed to hurt you even more in retaliation
It's all over now be on your way
Our relationship is now officially over, and I would like you to leave
So long baby, be on your way-e-yay-e
Goodbye, and I hope you move on from this chapter of your life
I had a ball, you thought I'd fall
Even though I enjoyed parts of this relationship, you believed that I would crumble under your pressure
It's all over now be on your way
But it's finally over now, and I want you to leave me alone
So long baby, be on your way!
Goodbye, and good riddance
So long baby, be on your way!
Goodbye, and I never want to see you again
So long baby, be on your way!
Goodbye, and please don't come back
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Del Shannon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Castle Black
Excellent and underrated from Del.
Eileen Hack
I agree!