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.
Dream Baby
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
How long must I dream
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams night time too
I love you and I'm dreaming of you but that won't do
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
Sweet dream baby
How long must I dream
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through (dream baby)
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams night time too (dream baby)
I love you and I'm dreaming of you but that won't do (dream baby)
Dream baby make me stop my dreamin', you can make my dreams come true
Aw, sweet dream baby (dream baby)
Yeah, yeah, sweet dream baby (dream baby)
Sweet dream baby (dream baby)
How long must I dream
Sweet dream baby (dream baby)
Sweet dream baby (dream baby)
Del Shannon's song "Dream Baby" is an upbeat pop song about being infatuated with someone to the point of dreaming about them constantly. The singer is asking how long he must dream about this person before they become a reality. He praises the power they hold over him, as every moment of his day is filled with thoughts of this "dream baby".
The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to be with this person, suggesting a deep passion and commitment to the relationship. It's clear from the chorus that the singer wants their dreams to become reality, and that they believe this dream baby has the power to make that happen.
Overall, the song is a catchy and upbeat ode to love and the power of dreaming about someone you deeply desire. The lyrics convey strong emotions of longing and passion, creating a relatable message for anyone who has felt a strong connection with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet dream baby
The singer is calling out to their lover, wishing them sweet dreams
How long must I dream
The singer is wondering how long they will continue to dream about their lover
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through
The singer is consumed by thoughts of their lover, even during the day
Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams night time too
The singer continues to have dreams about their lover even at night
I love you and I'm dreaming of you but that won't do
The singer loves their lover but dreams are not enough; they want to be with them in reality
Dream baby make me stop my dreamin', you can make my dreams come true
The singer implores their lover to make their dreams a reality and stop their constant dreaming
Aw, sweet dream baby (dream baby)
The singer affectionately repeats the title of the song, addressing their lover directly
Yeah, yeah, sweet dream baby (dream baby)
The singer reinforces their desire for their lover to have sweet dreams and be with them
Sweet dream baby (dream baby)
The singer repeats their plea for their lover to have sweet dreams and be with them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLIFF FRIEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andre
Another great version of a Roy Orbison Classic from the 60 s
pauline watson
Great cover but cant beat the masters version ROY ORBISON
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 76yo Aussie fan.