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.
Lightning Strikes
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're old enough to know the makings of a man,
Listen to me baby its hard to settle down,
Am I asking to much for u to stick around?
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end,
Baby that's u,
Won't u wait but till then?
When I see your lips begging to be kissed,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Pictures taking over my 1 track mind,
Believe it or not you're in my heart all the time,
All the girls are saying you'll end up a fool,
For the time being baby live by the rules
When I settle down I want 1 baby on my mind,
Forgive and forget and I'll make up for all lost time.
If she's put together fine and she's reading my mind,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
There'; s a chapel in the pines,
Waiting for us around the bend,
Picture in your mind,
Love forever until then
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
(Repeat Till Fade)
The lyrics to Del Shannon’s song “Lightning Strikes” explore the theme of trying to settle down and make a lasting connection with a love interest. The first verse is directed at the woman he is interested in. He asks if he is asking too much of her to want her to stick around and talks about how every boy wants a girl he can trust. He can’t control his desire when she is near him and when he sees her lips begging to be kissed.
The chorus of the song is “Lightning Strikes,” which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the spark he feels when he is around the woman he desires. He speaks about how she is always on his mind and pictures of her are taking over his one-track mind. He dismisses the other girls who say that he is going to end up a fool.
The song ends with him picturing a future with the woman he loves at a chapel in the pines, waiting for them around the bend. This song explores the idea of the intensity and unpredictability of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to me baby you gotta understand,
I am about to share some important information with you, and I hope you will pay attention and comprehend.
You're old enough to know the makings of a man,
I believe you are at an age where you can identify the qualities that make up a good man.
Listen to me baby it's hard to settle down,
I know it's not easy to commit to one person and stay with them for the long haul.
Am I asking too much for you to stick around?
I hope you'll consider staying with me despite the challenges we may face together.
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end,
It's a universal desire for a man to have a woman he can rely on through thick and thin.
Baby that's you, Won't you wait but till then?
I believe you are that girl, but if we're not ready to commit just yet, will you at least wait for me?
When I see your lips begging to be kissed, I can't stop, I can't stop myself
Your beauty and desire for intimacy overwhelms me and I cannot resist you.
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Our connection is as electric and powerful as a lightning bolt, striking again and again.
Pictures taking over my 1 track mind,
I can't stop thinking about you.
Believe it or not you're in my heart all the time,
You occupy a special place in my heart constantly, whether you realize it or not.
All the girls are saying you'll end up a fool,
Other women are warning me that you will ultimately hurt me if I get too involved with you.
For the time being baby live by the rules
While we figure things out, maybe we should follow the conventional norms and not take any drastic risks.
When I settle down I want 1 baby on my mind,
When I'm ready to commit, I want to have just one woman on my mind.
Forgive and forget and I'll make up for all lost time.
If there have been issues in the past, I want to move on from them and make up for any lost opportunities.
If she's put together fine and she's reading my mind,
If a woman is attractive and seems to understand me on a deep level, I find it hard to resist her.
There's a chapel in the pines, Waiting for us around the bend,
There is a bright future ahead for us if we stick together, and I see us getting married.
Picture in your mind, Love forever until then
Can you imagine our future together, and the love that will last forever until then?
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time,
If a woman shows me that she is interested in spending time with me, I find it hard to resist her.
I can't stop, I can't stop myself
My desire for intimacy with that woman is so strong that I am powerless to resist it.
Contributed by Elijah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ericjtruempy5003
Lightning Strikes
By del shannon
Listen to me baby you gotta understand,
You're old enough to know the makings of a man,
Listen to me baby its hard to settle down,
Am I asking to much for u to stick around?
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end,
Baby that's u,
Won't u wait but till then?
When I see your lips begging to be kissed,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Pictures taking over my 1 track mind,
Believe it or not you're in my heart all the time,
All the girls are saying you'll end up a fool,
For the time being baby live by the rules
When I settle down I want 1 baby on my mind,
Forgive and forget and I'll make up for all lost time.
If she's put together fine and she's reading my mind,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
There'; s a chapel in the pines,
Waiting for us around the bend,
Picture in your mind,
Love forever until then
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
(Repeat Till Fade)Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
(Repeat Till Fade)
@jillrobinson6908
Back at this. Such a talent. Such a nice man. Such a sad story!
@terrysacravitch8270
This is a great cover of the Lou Christie smash hit of 1966. Del also did great covers of Pretty Woman, Satisfaction, Rag Doll, Everybody Loves A Clown and Tell Her No.
@wagamonspond
I loved this song when it came out -- 1966? 1965? -- it's so great to hear it again.
@Mars-
LOVE THIS GUYS FALSETTO.
Soul ...man 👌🏼✨
@ericjtruempy5003
Lightning Strikes
By del shannon
Listen to me baby you gotta understand,
You're old enough to know the makings of a man,
Listen to me baby its hard to settle down,
Am I asking to much for u to stick around?
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end,
Baby that's u,
Won't u wait but till then?
When I see your lips begging to be kissed,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Pictures taking over my 1 track mind,
Believe it or not you're in my heart all the time,
All the girls are saying you'll end up a fool,
For the time being baby live by the rules
When I settle down I want 1 baby on my mind,
Forgive and forget and I'll make up for all lost time.
If she's put together fine and she's reading my mind,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
There'; s a chapel in the pines,
Waiting for us around the bend,
Picture in your mind,
Love forever until then
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time,
I can't stop,
I can't stop myself
Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
(Repeat Till Fade)Lightning strikin'; again, Lightning strikin'; again
(Repeat Till Fade)
@augustin36
Love this song by the king of falsetto mr Del Shannon. Tom.
@1979cl1
Hmm, i thought the king of falsetto was Frankie Vallee and Lou Christies the prince of falsetto.
@henritopintado9984
This is my fav version of Lightnin' Strikes-Del Shannon.R.I.P.
@jillrobinson6908
Well done in every detail.
@tundegombkoto2491
R.I.P.Del,you were the BEST,I will always love you,what a waste of a beautiful man!