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.
Handy Man
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
If your broken heart needs repair
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
Hey girls, gather round
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
If your broken heart needs repair
I'm the man to see. I whisper sweet things
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
The lyrics to Del Shannon's song "Handy Man" are a playful and flirtatious ode to someone who is willing and able to fix broken hearts. The singer of the song positions himself as a skilled "handy man" who can effortlessly repair any damaged romantic connection. The lyrics are addressed to a group of women, who are instructed to gather around and listen to what the singer is "puttin' down." He boasts that he is handy with love and is not the kind to use a ruler or pencil, suggesting that he relies on intuition and emotional intelligence rather than formal measures of skill or knowledge.
The second verse doubles down on the singer's claims: If a broken heart needs repair, he is the man to see. He knows just what sweet things to whisper and promises that if one person tells their friends, they will come running to him as well. He concludes by reiterating that he is always busy and available, framing his skills as both rare and valuable.
Overall, the song seems to be a playful and lighthearted take on traditional gender expectations around emotional labor and caregiving. The singer positions himself as uniquely adept at repairing broken hearts, casting himself as a desirable partner in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girls, gather round
Attention ladies, come here
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Listen to my words and music
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm here to help fix your problems
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I don't need tools to fix things
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I'm good at fixing broken hearts and I'm smart
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
I'm confident that I can help mend your broken heart
If your broken heart needs repair
If your heart is broken, I can help
I'm the man to see. I whisper sweet things
Come to me and I'll say kind words to comfort you
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
If I help you, you'll tell others and they'll come for my help too
Here is the main thing I want to say
This is the most important message I have
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
I'm always available to help you
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: JIMMY JONES, OTIS BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craity
(Lyrics)
Hey girls, gather round
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
If your broken heart needs repair
I'm the man to see. I whisper sweet things
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
Hey girls, gather round
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
If your broken heart needs repair
I'm the man to see. I whisper sweet things
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
Johnny Dasher
Best version of this song by a mile. Del Shannon was pure gold, such a talent. Gone too soon!
speedy45rpm
As much as I like the Jimmy Jones original, I prefer the energy Del brings to this oft-recorded song. He still managed to slip it into the Top 40 during the summer of 64, the most frenzied period of the British Invasion and the emergence of Motown and with groups like the Beach Boys and Four Seasons at their peaks. Thanks for posting another gem from the great Del Shannon.
TheYankeeSamurai
FINALLY FOUND THE SONG!!! It was playing in Ford vs Ferrari and I finally found it! Del Shannon until 2020 I never heard of him but I really like his music!
Hugo
Great movie
Jonni
DeffKanGrotling44... Yes, he was wonderful. Some of his later music was produced/joined in on by his friends George Harrison, Jeff Lynne (of ELO), Tom Petty and Mike Campbell (Tomβs lead guitarist of the Heartbreakers, now in Fleetwood Mac). He just had so much talentβ€οΈ
Rob Iacullo
I never heard of him until his first song came out. 1962? I was 13. My mom raised me on rock and roll. My dad raised me on classical. Rock won. :)
Malcolm Jones
You must be a youngster, just check out more of the 60's music and you will be amazed at what us oldies have to reminisce about, we had the greatest times and music, which will live on forever.
I M A D G A N
yup bro..today I found it
James Veliky
I used to wear his records out when I was a teenager. One of the greats.
John Carraway
One Del's best. I used to listen to it back in the day. Everything he sang was great.