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.
Out of time
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't know what's going on
You've been away for far too long
You can't come back and think you are still mine.
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor discarded baby
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
You are left out, out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
The girl who wants to run away
Discovers that she's had her day
It's no good your thinking that you are still mine
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor unfaithful baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Yes you are left out, out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
You thought you were a clever girl
Giving up your social whirl
But you can't come back and be the first in line, on no.
You're obsolete, my baby
My poor old-fashioned baby
I said baby, baby, baby you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Yes you are left out, out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Sing a song.
Baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Aaaaaah .
Baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
You don’t know what’s going on
You’ve been away for much too long
But you can come back and ………….
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor discarded baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Yes you are left out, yes you are, I said you’re left out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time, alright.
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
The lyrics of Del Shannon's song "Out of Time" focus on a relationship that has come to an end due to one person being "out of touch" and "out of time." The singer addresses their former partner, who has been away for too long and can't come back and expect to still be a part of the singer's life. The lyrics emphasize that the person is obsolete, old-fashioned, and unfaithful, and that it is no use for them to even try to come back.
The song is clearly expressing frustration and anger towards the person who has left and is trying to come back into the singer's life. The lyrics are conveying the message that the person is no longer welcome and that they have missed their chance. The repetition of "baby, baby, baby, you're out of time" throughout the song emphasizes the finality of the situation and the fact that there is no going back.
Interestingly, the song was actually written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. While the song was not originally a hit for Del Shannon, it has since become a favorite among fans of 1960s music.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know what's going on
You are unaware of what is happening
You've been away for far too long
You have been absent for an extended period
You can't come back and think you are still mine.
You cannot return and assume that we are still in a relationship
You're out of touch, my baby
You are disconnected from reality, my dear
My poor discarded baby
You have been rejected and are now unwanted, my dear
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
I reiterate that you have missed your window of opportunity
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Once again, I proclaim that you are too late
You are left out, out of there without a doubt
There is no question that you are excluded and cannot participate
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
The reason for your exclusion is that you have missed your chance
The girl who wants to run away
The girl who desires to escape
Discovers that she's had her day
Realizes that her moment has passed
It's no good your thinking that you are still mine
Do not delude yourself into believing that we are still together
You're out of touch, my baby
Once again, you are disconnected from reality, my dear
My poor unfaithful baby
You have been disloyal and are now unwanted, my dear
You thought you were a clever girl
You believed you were intelligent
Giving up your social whirl
Abandoning your social life
But you can't come back and be the first in line, on no.
However, you cannot return and claim priority
You're obsolete, my baby
You are outdated and irrelevant, my dear
My poor old-fashioned baby
You are outdated and unwanted, my dear
Sing a song.
A call to perform a musical number
Aaaaaah .
A prolonged vocalization
Contributed by Penelope P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tun Ahmad Najib Zulkifli
"Out Of Time"
You don't know what's going on
You've been away for far too long
You can't come back and think you are still mine.
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor discarded baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
You are left out, out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
The girl who wants to run away
Discovers that she's had her day
It's no good your thinking that you are still mine
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor unfaithful baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Yes you are left out, out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
You thought you were a clever girl
Giving up your social whirl
But you can't come back and be the first in line, on no.
You're obsolete, my baby
My poor old-fashioned baby
I said baby, baby, baby you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Yes you are left out, out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Sing a song.
Baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
You don’t know what’s going on
You’ve been away for much too long
But you can come back and...
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor discarded baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time.
Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
Yes you are left out, yes you are,
I said you’re left out of there without a doubt
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're out of time, alright.
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
STANLEY ARTINGER
EVERY TIME I HEAR A SONG SUNG BY DEL WARMS MY HEART, AND I WISH HE WAS STILL WITH US!
sarah wood
Better than Mick, never thought I'd say that! Beautiful rendition - love Del.
Frank M
+sarah wood Yeah I have to agree, this is pretty amazing
Celeste Santucci
Del was so good. Tears up this Stones tune.
Marshall K. Whitaker
god bless you! Del Shannon! I cannot hear this too much!!!
Ron Mann
Outstanding version. Dell is certainly missed. Great backup by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers too.
Linda Panknin
Great job, as usual, by Del...a genius who left us way too soon💖🌈.
STANLEY ARTINGER
Del can sing no bad song for me. I love listening to his music!
LouZ ontek
Wonderful. Never get tired of this song, Chris Farlowe my favorite, the Stones, but Del's is up there with them.
Michael Kedor
What a great version of this classic Song. Del is such a great interpreter of this material. I believe this was from an alum Del released in the 80's. if you like this check out his own "Runaway" with The Traveling Wilburys. Enjoy the music.