Del Shannon (30 December 1934–8 February 1990) (born Charles Weedon Westove… Read Full Bio ↴Del Shannon (30 December 1934–8 February 1990) (born Charles Weedon Westover in Coopersville, Michigan) was an American rock and roller who launched into fame with the No. 1 hit "Runaway" (1961) which introduced the musitron, an early form of the synthesizer played by "Runaway" co-writer and keyboard player Max Crook.

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.

I’m Gonna Move On
Del Shannon Lyrics

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I've been in this town, I guess too long
Too many parties and too many songs
Ain't got no job ain't got no gold
The sheriff's coming so I better go.

He let me out of jail just yesterday
Said get a job or be on my way
Working never did agree with me

It tires you down and you can't be free

So I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
It's been fun but I've gotta run
I'm gonna move on

We had a big party one Saturday night
Someone got drunk and it started a fight
I got thirty days in the county jail
I didn't have money couldn't post my bail
So I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
It's been fun but I've gotta run
I'm gonna move on

Maybe some day I'll settle down
Find a wife and quit bumming around
But not until I'll do I'll be on the run
Going to parties and-a having fun

I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
It's been fun but I've gotta run
I'm gonna move on
I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)

I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)
I'm gonna move on (I'm moving on)

Overall Meaning

Del Shannon's "I'm Gonna Move On" is a song about a man who has been living in a town for too long, going to too many parties and drinking too many songs. He finds himself in trouble with the law and spends time in jail. Upon being released, the sheriff gives him an ultimatum to either get a job or leave town. The man realizes that he is not cut out for a life of work, feeling that it tires him down and prevents him from being truly free, so he decides to move on. He plans to continue to live his life of partying and fun until the day he settles down and finds a wife. Until then, he will continue to run and move on.

The song captures the spirit of restlessness and the desire for freedom that many people feel at some point in their lives. It speaks to those who are dissatisfied with the status quo and yearn to break free from the constraints of society. The song is also a commentary on the idea that work and responsibility can be suffocating, and that the pursuit of pleasure and excitement is preferable.

I’m Gonna Move OnDel Shannon Lyrics

David Cassells

on Runaway '67 (Fake Live Mono Version)

I’m Gonna Move On
Del Shannon Lyrics