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.
Run Away
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A what went wrong whit our love
A love that was so strong
And as I still walk on
I think of the thing's we've done
Together, while our hearts were young
Tears are fallin' and I feel a pain
A wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder, I wa wa wa wa wonder
Why a why why why why why
She ran away
And I wonder where she will stay
My little runaway
My run run run run runaway
I'm a walkin' in the rain
Tears are fallin' and I feel a pain
A wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder, I wa wa wa wa wonder
Why a why why why why why
She ran awayway
And I wonder where she will stay
My little runaway
A run run run run
Runaway
Del Shannon's "Run Away" is a song about a man who is walking in the rain and reflecting on the breakdown of his love affair. He is wondering where his lover has gone and why she left him. The song's melancholic lyrics conjure up a mood of sadness and lost love. Despite the upbeat tempo, the lyrics of "Run Away" reveal a tale of loneliness and despair.
The song's opening line, "As I walk along, I wonder," creates a sense of introspection and contemplation. This line is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the singer's willingness to reflect on the past and understand what has gone wrong. The line "Why a why why why why why, she ran away" captures the song's central theme of loss and emotional abandonment. Shannon's vocal delivery, with its emotive vibrato, adds to the song's emotional impact.
The song's use of falsetto and a jangly guitar melody were innovative at the time, becoming the blueprint for the '60s pop-rock sound. Del Shannon was one of the first artists to use a Musitron, an early type of synthesizer, which produced the song's distinctive opening melody. The song's success inspired other musicians to experiment with the mix of electronic and natural sounds, leading to the development of modern music.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walk along, I wonder
While I stroll, I'm lost in thought
A what went wrong whit our love
What did we do to drive our love away?
A love that was so strong
Our love was once intense
And as I still walk on
As I continue my journey
I think of the thing's we've done
I recall all the experiences we shared
Together, while our hearts were young
When we were young, and our love was lively.
I'm a walkin' in the rain
As I stroll in the rain
Tears are fallin' and I feel a pain
The rain pours down, and I'm hurting inside
A wishin' you were here by me
I long for you to be with me
To end this misery
To put an end to my pain
And I wonder, I wa wa wa wa wonder
I question and ponder
Why a why why why why why
Why did you leave me?
She ran away
You left and abandoned me
And I wonder where she will stay
I think about where you might have gone
My little runaway
My former lover, who left me behind
My run run run run runaway
You fled from me, and I'm still hurting
And I wonder where she will stay
I still wonder where you could be
A run run run run
You're far away, and I can't chase after you.
Runaway
You've truly run away from me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Del Shannon, Max D. Crook
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@franckwortigen2217
As I walk along, I wonder
A what went wrong whit our love
A love that was so strong
And as I still walk on
I think of the thing's we've done
Together, while our hearts were young
I'm a walkin' in the rain
Tears are fallin' and I feel a pain
A wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder, I wa wa wa wa wonder
Why a why why why why why
She ran away
And I wonder where she will stay
My little runaway
My run run run run runaway
I'm a walking in the rain
Tears are fallin' and I feel a pain
A wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder, I wa wa wa wa wonder
Why a why why why why why
She ran away
And I wonder where she will stay
My little runaway
A run run run run
Runaway
@ClassicHitsStudio
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@user-zw7xr1qg8p
What are you talking about? He's Joe Camel disguised as a man😂
@macmccreadie8541
Just the kinda crap.that the Brit invasion ..ie.the Beatles pushed into.obscurity..Shannon actually snuffed himself
@christianwallot4517
😢❤
@jeannettegajst9415
Quel plaisir de ré entendre
@justint361
Hes part Native American is all.
@albzzv3
anyone from 2024 listening to this masterpiece????
@alanbennett1770
Yes ,learning it on the guitar 🎸
@albzzv3
thats awesome Alan!@@alanbennett1770
@eddie054
yep