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.
Oh How Happy
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (you have made me)
I have kissed your lips
A thousand times
And more times than i can count
I have called you mine
In my darkest hours
Sing
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (you have made me)
In our years together
We've got stormy weathers
But our love has been so strong
For some how we carry on
Sing
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (you have made me), ooh, ooh
You brought joy
To my empty life, yeah
And all that was wrong
You made it right
Our love (our love)
Our love (our love)
Our love, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (you have made me)
Oh how happy (oh how happy)
Oh how happy (oh how happy)
Oh how happy, ooh... You...
You have made me (you have made me)
You have made me (you have made me)
You have made me (you have made me)
The Del Shannon song "Oh How Happy" starts with the repetitive doo-wops that sets the tone of a heartwarming and joyful love song. Shannon sings about the euphoria he feels because of his lover who has made him happy. The repetition of the line "Oh how happy you have made me" drives home the central theme of the song, which is the power of love to transform a person's life. The chorus is catchy, and the listener can't help but sing along to the lyrics.
Shannon then sings about the moments he has spent with his lover, kissing her lips more than a thousand times and calling her his own. He acknowledges the tough times they've been through, the stormy weathers, but sings about how their love for each other has always been strong enough to carry them through. The last verse of the song emphasizes how his lover has brought joy to his life and how she has made everything right. The song ends with Shannon's gratefulness and acknowledgement of the love that has made him oh so happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh how happy (you have made me)
The singer expresses how joyous they are since the other person in the relationship came into their life
I have kissed your lips
The singer states they have shared an intimate moment with their partner
A thousand times
The singer emphasizes how frequent they have shared an intimate moment with their partner
And more times than i can count
The singer stresses how innumerable the times they have shared an intimate moment with their partner are
I have called you mine
The singer recognizes their partner as their beloved
You have stood by me
The singer acknowledges their partner's loyalty and support towards them
In my darkest hours
The singer highlights that their partner has been there for them during the most difficult moments
In our years together
The singer reflects on the time they have spent together with their partner
We've got stormy weathers
The singer acknowledges the challenges their relationship has faced
But our love has been so strong
The singer expresses the strength and endurance of their love
For some how we carry on
The singer marvels at how their love persists despite the challenges they have faced
You brought joy
The singer credits their partner for bringing happiness into their life
To my empty life, yeah
The singer admits their life was unfulfilled before their partner came into their life
And all that was wrong
The singer recognizes that their partner has fixed all the problems in their life
You made it right
The singer acknowledges their partner as the source of their happiness
Our love (our love)
The singer affirms their shared love and connection
Our love (our love)
The singer repeats the affirmation of their shared love and connection
Our love, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
The singer celebrates and affirms their love with enthusiasm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWIN STARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Cassells
on Runaway '67 (Fake Live Mono Version)
Doesn't seem to be the 'fake live' version