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.
Cheap Love
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tellin' me you're sorry for things you've done
I've heard that same old story so many times before
I know what you're doin' and I know where you're stayin' at night
I don't want your cheap love
I don't want you comin' around
Don't you know that you're cheap love
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down
Here I am waiting like a fool I've always been
Hopin' maybe someday you will change
The same old lies you tell me are the same old lies you live
I know what you're doin' and I know where you're sleepin' at night
I don't want your cheap love
I don't want you comin' around
Don't you know that you're cheap love
Someday it's gonna tear you down
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down
I don't want your cheap love
I don't want you hangin' around
Don't you know that you're cheap love
Someday it's gonna tear you down
I don't want your cheap love
I don't want you comin' around
Don't you know that you're cheap love
Someday it's gonna tear you down
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, hey
The lyrics to Del Shannon's "Cheap Love" explore the theme of being fed up with someone's false apologies and insincere affection. The singer in the song has heard the same old story from their partner too many times before and knows that they are not truly sorry for their actions. Despite this, the singer is still waiting for their partner to change and stop lying. The chorus of the song, "I don't want your cheap love, I don't want you comin' around", highlights the singer's desire to distance themselves from their partner's shallow love and lack of genuine connection. The repetition of the line "cheap love" emphasizes the singer's disgust with their partner's behavior.
The song's lyrics also suggest that the partner's "cheap love" will eventually lead to their downfall. The line "someday it's gonna tear you down" implies that their insincerity and lack of emotional depth will catch up to them and cause them trouble in the future. The use of repetition in the chorus also reinforces this idea, as if to hammer home the message that the partner's actions will have negative consequences.
Overall, Del Shannon's "Cheap Love" conveys a sense of frustration and disappointment with someone who is not capable of genuine love and connection. The song suggests that a superficial relationship based on falsehoods and cheap sentimentality is ultimately doomed to fail.
Line by Line Meaning
There you are standin' with those teardrops in your eyes
I see you in front of me, crying, apologizing for your actions.
Tellin' me you're sorry for things you've done
Admitting to me that you regret what you've done to me.
I've heard that same old story so many times before
I've listened to your apologies a lot of times, but things remain the same.
I know what you're doin' and I know where you're stayin' at night
I am aware of your actions and also know exactly where you are staying at night.
Here I am waiting like a fool I've always been
I have foolishly been waiting for you to change your ways and treat me better.
Hopin' maybe someday you will change
I am hoping that you will change for the better in the future.
The same old lies you tell me are the same old lies you live
The lies that you keep telling me are the same lies that you continue to live by.
I don't want your cheap love
I don't want your insincere and low-quality form of love.
I don't want you comin' around
I don't want you to come around me anymore.
Don't you know that you're cheap love
You should be aware that the way you love is artificial and lacks profundity.
Someday it's gonna tear you down
Eventually, your insufficient love will cause you to face the consequences of your actions.
I don't want you hangin' around
I don't want you to linger around me anymore.
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, hey
Repeated chorus of not wanting the cheap and shallow love that the other person is offering.
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Cassells
on Runaway '67 (Fake Live Mono Version)
Doesn't seem to be the 'fake live' version