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.
Hey! Little Girl
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw the shadow of a girl I had known.
And through the shadows I could see many tears,
And so I walked up and I said,
"Hey, little girl,
Let me fix your broken heart.
I'll replace each broken part that's gone.
Hey, little girl, my heart's been broken too."
"Do you remember last September
When I met you at a dance?
You were with a guy named Joe
And all at once he said you had to go.
I never even caught your name!"
"Hey, little girl,
I've been searching everywhere,
Here, there, everywhere for you
Because I have cried for you
Hey, little girl, I'm so in love with you!"
"Hey, little girl,
I can see that he was mean.
He shattered all the dreams you had.
So come with me and see
Hey, little girl, I'll make all your dreams come true!
Come, little girl, I'll make all your dreams come true!"
The lyrics in Del Shannon's song Hey Little Girl describe the singer's encounter with a girl he had known and how he tries to offer comfort to her broken heart. He walks through the streets of his town and sees the shadow of a girl he had known, who seems to be crying silently. He approaches her and offers to fix her broken heart by replacing each broken part, admitting that his own heart has been broken too. He remembers the time he met her at a dance, where she was with a guy named Joe who abruptly said she had to go without giving her name to the singer.
The singer then expresses his love and longing for the girl, saying that he has been searching for her everywhere and has cried for her. He acknowledges that Joe was mean and shattered all the dreams she had, and offers her to come with him so that he can make all her dreams come true. He insists that he can see through the pain and scars of her past and promises to give her a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I walked through the streets of my town.
I took a walk in my neighborhood last night.
I saw the shadow of a girl I had known.
I noticed the silhouette of a girl that I recognized.
And through the shadows I could see many tears,
Despite the lack of light, I could see that she was crying.
And so I walked up and I said,
I approached her and spoke.
"Hey, little girl,
I greeted her by saying "hey, little girl,
Let me fix your broken heart.
I want to help mend your heart that's hurting.
I'll replace each broken part that's gone.
I'll fix all the damaged pieces.
Because I know I could try,
I'm confident that I could make an effort to make you feel better.
Hey, little girl, my heart's been broken too."
I understand what it's like to have a broken heart, little girl.
"Do you remember last September
I asked her if she remembered something that happened the previous September.
When I met you at a dance?
When we met each other at a dance?
You were with a guy named Joe
At that time, you were together with a guy named Joe.
And all at once he said you had to go.
Suddenly he told you that you needed to leave.
I never even caught your name!"
I never even found out what your name was.
"Hey, little girl,
I addressed her again.
I've been searching everywhere,
I've been looking for you all over the place.
Here, there, everywhere for you
I mean I’ve literally looked everywhere for you, little girl.
Because I have cried for you
I've been feeling emotional about you.
Hey, little girl, I'm so in love with you!"
I confessed my love to her at the end of the day.
"Hey, little girl,
I addressed her once again.
I can see that he was mean.
I can tell that Joe wasn't nice to you.
He shattered all the dreams you had.
He destroyed all of your hopes and aspirations.
So come with me and see
I invited her to join me.
"Hey, little girl, I'll make all your dreams come true!
I promised her that I'd fulfill all of her desires.
Come, little girl, I'll make all your dreams come true!"
I restated my offer to make her dreams a reality.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joy Byers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1962 {May 3rd} "Hey! Little Girl"* by Del Shannon peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on United Kingdom's Official Top 50 Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Wonderful Land" by the Shadows
"Hey ! Little Girl" reached #12 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart and on the U.S.A Billboard's Top 100 chart it reached #38...
Between 1961 and 1965 the Grand Rapids, Michigan native had fourteen records on the UK Singles chart, eight made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Runaway", for three weeks in June of 1961....
Del Shannon, born Charles Weedon Westover, passed away at the young age of 55 on February 8th, 1990...
May he R.I.P.
* "Hey! Little Girl" was Del Shannon's first of two of his records to reached #2 on the UK singles chart, his other #2 record was "The Swiss Maid" later in 1962...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the UK Singles' Top 10 on May 3rd, 1962:
At #3. "Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel
#4. "Nut Rocker" by B.Bumble & The Stingers
#5. "Dream Baby" by Roy Orbison
#6. "Tell Me What He Said" by Helen Shapiro
#7. "Speak To Me Pretty" by Brenda Lee
#8. "Can't Help Falling In Love"/"Rock-A-Hula Baby" by Elvis Presley
#9. "Never Goodbye" by Karl Denver
#10. "Stranger On The Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk
Geoff M
The great Del Shannon. First heard this record in 1963 in a dance hall. Since then I became a fan of this wonderful singer. When I ever listen to this record, I’m straight back to the early 1960’s.
CatHouseMouse251
I sure miss having this multi-talented man in the world still today. Everything he did is so much better than the garbage going around now
Tommy Sanderson
One of my favorite songs by Del; such an underappreciated classic!
Barrie Williams
One of his best, all his songs were great, a real talent and a unique sound
Colin Smith
A big hit in England but surprisingly not in the USA. One of his very best and I love the backing on this.
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1962 {May 3rd} "Hey! Little Girl"* by Del Shannon peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on United Kingdom's Official Top 50 Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Wonderful Land" by the Shadows
"Hey ! Little Girl" reached #12 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart and on the U.S.A Billboard's Top 100 chart it reached #38...
Between 1961 and 1965 the Grand Rapids, Michigan native had fourteen records on the UK Singles chart, eight made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Runaway", for three weeks in June of 1961....
Del Shannon, born Charles Weedon Westover, passed away at the young age of 55 on February 8th, 1990...
May he R.I.P.
* "Hey! Little Girl" was Del Shannon's first of two of his records to reached #2 on the UK singles chart, his other #2 record was "The Swiss Maid" later in 1962...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the UK Singles' Top 10 on May 3rd, 1962:
At #3. "Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel
#4. "Nut Rocker" by B.Bumble & The Stingers
#5. "Dream Baby" by Roy Orbison
#6. "Tell Me What He Said" by Helen Shapiro
#7. "Speak To Me Pretty" by Brenda Lee
#8. "Can't Help Falling In Love"/"Rock-A-Hula Baby" by Elvis Presley
#9. "Never Goodbye" by Karl Denver
#10. "Stranger On The Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk
SelfridgesFan
Thanks for the info.
Geoff M
Top 10 hit in the U.K. Great dance record! Go Del!
Ronald Herrera
Hats off!! Del Shannon - R.I.P.
Soulman
Wonderful song from Del Shannon !!!