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.
Memphis
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me find a party that tried to get in touch with me
She could not leave a number but I know who placed the call'cause my uncle took a message and he wrote it on the wall Help me, information, get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd call me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high upon a ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge Last time I saw Marie she was wavin' me goodbye
With "hurry-home" drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
In Del Shannon's song "Memphis", the singer is trying to find a way to get in touch with a girl named Marie who lives in Memphis, Tennessee. He knows that she tried to reach him but couldn't leave a number. He asks for help from the operator to get in touch with her. It's clear that they have a past together, and the last time they saw each other, Marie was crying and saying goodbye. However, they were separated by her mother who didn't approve of their relationship and she tore apart their happy home. The singer misses her and wants to talk to her again.
The song paints a picture of a love that was torn apart by outside forces, like many others. The lyrics show the singer's deep longing to reconnect with Marie and how his thoughts of her still consume him. He holds on to the memories of their time together and the good times they had in Memphis. The song uses repetition to emphasize the longing for Marie and the efforts being made to reconnect.
Line by Line Meaning
Long distance information, give me Memphis Tennessee
Asking for help to find a certain place in Memphis with no phone number
Help me find a party that tried to get in touch with me
Looking for a person who is trying to reach out to him without leaving a contact number
She could not leave a number but I know who placed the call'cause my uncle took a message and he wrote it on the wall
Although there is no contact number, he knows the identity of the caller because his uncle wrote down a message on the wall
Help me, information, get in touch with my Marie
Asking for assistance to get connected with a person named Marie
She's the only one who'd call me here from Memphis Tennessee
Marie is the only person who contacts him from that specific location
Her home is on the south side, high upon a ridge
Marie's residence is located on an elevated area on the southern part of Memphis
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge
The distance of Marie's house from Mississippi bridge is just half a mile
Last time I saw Marie she was wavin' me goodbye
Recalling the last memory of seeing Marie saying farewell
With "hurry-home" drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie cried while saying goodbye, reflecting how much she wanted him to return to her
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
They were separated because Marie's mother disapproved of their relationship
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Their home in Memphis Tennessee was disrupted by Marie's mother's decision
Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Asking for additional information about Marie but has nothing else to contribute
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
Expressing how much he longs for Marie and the happy memories they shared
Marie is only six years old, information please
Revealing that Marie is just six years old and seeking more details about her
Try to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
Requesting to be connected to Marie at her location in Memphis Tennessee
Writer(s): Chuck Berry Copyright: Arc Music Corp.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael A
Great song from the one and only Del
Ron Walker
Great version
Rockin' T.C.
Trying to copy Johnny Rivers version by making it sound live but is a studio recording with friends etc. to make the crowd noises, clapping et al: Good version though. In fact anything Del does is fantastic.