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.
Kaw-Liga
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He fell in love with an Indian maid over in the antique store
Kaw-Liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer yes or no He always wore his Sunday feathers and held a tomahawk
The maiden wore her beads and braids and hoped some day he'd talk
Kaw-Liga to stubborn to ever show a sign
Because his heart was made of knotty pine Poor old' Kaw-Liga, he never got a kiss
Poor old' Kaw-Liga, he don't know what he missed
Kaw-Liga, that poor old wooden head Kaw-Liga was a lonely Indian, never went nowhere
His heart was set on the Indian maiden with the coal black hair
Kaw-Liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer yes or no And then one day a wealthy customer bought the Indian maid
And took her, oh so far away but old' Kaw-Liga stayed
Kaw-Liga just stands there as lonely as can be
And wishes he was still an old pine tree
The song Kaw-Liga by Del Shannon tells the story of a wooden Indian named Kaw-Liga who stands by the door of an antique store. He falls in love with an Indian maiden who also works at the store, but he is too shy and stubborn to show his affection. Despite the maiden's hope that he will eventually talk to her, Kaw-Liga remains silent and still. He dresses up in his Sunday feathers and holds a tomahawk, while the maiden wears her beads and braids. Kaw-Liga's heart, however, is made of knotty pine, and he never gets a kiss from the girl he loves. He remains a lonely figure that wishes to be a pine tree once again.
The song's simple and catchy melody belies its deeper message. It reflects the theme of unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. Through Kaw-Liga's story, the song highlights the devastating effects of shyness, stubbornness and an inability to express one's emotions. The image of the wooden Indian, standing motionless with a fixed expression, is a powerful representation of the inability to break free from one's own limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Kaw-Liga was a wooden Indian, standing by the door
Kaw-Liga was a statue of a Native American made of wood and was kept near the entrance.
He fell in love with an Indian maid over in the antique store
Kaw-Liga developed romantic feelings for an American Indian woman who was in a nearby antique shop
Kaw-Liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer yes or no
Although Kaw-Liga was secretly in love with the maiden, he never revealed his feelings, so the maiden was unable to respond either affirmatively or negatively.
He always wore his Sunday feathers and held a tomahawk
The maiden wore her beads and braids and hoped someday he'd talk
Kaw-Liga dressed in his traditional Indian clothing, complete with sacred feathers and tomahawk, while the maiden wore her ornamented beads and long braids in the hope that they would both be able to converse someday in the future.
Kaw-Liga to stubborn to ever show a sign
Because his heart was made of knotty pine
Kaw-Liga was too stubborn to reveal his emotions as his heart was made of the same type of knotty pine as his statue.
Poor old' Kaw-Liga, he never got a kiss
Poor old' Kaw-Liga, he don't know what he missed
Is it any wonder that his face is red
Kaw-Liga, that poor old wooden head
Kaw-Liga never had the opportunity to experience physical contact because he did not reveal his love. It is evident why he is ashamed (red-faced) after missing out on love due to his wooden head.
Kaw-Liga was a lonely Indian, never went nowhere
His heart was set on the Indian maiden with the coal black hair
Kaw-Liga lived a lonely life because he never moved as he was fixed in place by the door. He only hoped to be with the maiden with coal-black hair and thus set his heart on her.
Kaw-Liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer yes or no
Kaw-Liga continued to conceal his feelings despite the maiden's presence, and thus, the maiden could never say yes or no regarding a possible relationship with him.
And then one day a wealthy customer bought the Indian maid
And took her, oh so far away but old' Kaw-Liga stayed
One day, the maiden was purchased by a rich customer, and then she was taken to a far-off place, but Kaw-Liga remained in his situation.
Kaw-Liga just stands there as lonely as can be
And wishes he was still an old pine tree
Kaw-Liga, now feeling lonelier than ever, desires to be an old, lonely tree again.
Writer(s): WILLIAMS HIRIAM HANK, ROSE FRED
Contributed by Maya R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brent Gartside
Kool ! Just now heard about this on Facebook.
Derek M. Theriault
#ugottalisten2b4udie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Shannon #DelShannon