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.
Sister Isabelle
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inside the church, there stands a girl I knew so well
As I get closer I can feel the chill
She's changing her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle
Isabelle, can you hear the words I say?
Isabelle, can you hear me while a-frame?
She said we'll meet again someday in a place under the new sky
But why have I stopped singing? I no longer hear the bells
She's changed her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle
Isabelle, am I really, really gonna lose you?
Isabelle, does he need you more than I do?
Isabelle, am I really gonna lose you?
Isabelle, does he need you more than I do?
Isabelle, no, no, Isabelle
Isabelle, no, no, Isabelle
Isabelle, am I really gonna lose you?
Del Shannon’s song Sister Isabelle tells the story of a man who has returned to a familiar church to revisit his past and the woman he loved. As the lyrics of the song unfold, the man hears the church bells ringing in the distance as he approaches the church. When he enters the church, he immediately recognizes a girl he once knew, Laura, who has now changed her name to Sister Isabelle.
The singer of the song, referred to only as “I,” is coming to terms with the fact that he has lost the person he loved. He remembers the night they said their goodbyes, an emotional moment where Laura promised they would meet someday under a new sky. But now, as he stands in the church, he realizes that Sister Isabelle, the girl he loved, has left him behind to dedicate herself to a higher power, and he wonders if he will ever see her again.
The song is poignant and melancholy, exploring the themes of loss and the fleeting nature of love. It speaks to the heartbreak of letting go of something we hold dear and the pain of moving on after a love has been lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Far off in the distance I can hear the bells
I can hear the church bells from far away
Inside the church, there stands a girl I knew so well
A girl he knows is now inside the church
As I get closer I can feel the chill
He feels a coldness as he gets closer
She's changing her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle
She is becoming a nun and changing her name
Isabelle, can you hear the words I say?
He wonders if she can hear him
Isabelle, can you hear me while a-frame?
He is asking if she can hear him when he prays
I can still remember the night she said goodbye
He remembers the night she left
She said we'll meet again someday in a place under the new sky
She promised they'd meet again in heaven
But why have I stopped singing? I no longer hear the bells
He's wondering why he feels numb and can't hear the church bells
She's changed her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle
The girl he knew is now known as Sister Isabelle
Isabelle, am I really, really gonna lose you?
He fears losing her forever
Isabelle, does he need you more than I do?
He wonders if God needs her more than he does
Isabelle, no, no, Isabelle
He addresses her by name in desperation
Isabelle, am I really gonna lose you?
He repeats his fear of losing her
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN HYLAND, DEL SHANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Postove
Wow..from 1970. And Del was every bit as powerful in his writing and singing as 1962. Great track!
Terry Cullen
Great song, ROCK ON DEL.
ThePurpleUFO
Who else would write a song about being in love with a nun??? No one...except Del Shannon!!! GREAT SONG!!!!!!
ramblin man
Thanks for posting this rare track.. Its just one of a few really good songs Del wrote with Brian Hyland between 1968 & 1970 for the Dunhill label.... Only 4 were released at the time on 2 singles - "Sister Isabelle", "Comin Back To Me" & the 2 B sides - "Colorado Rain" & "Sweet Mary Lou"... All great songs..
bayswaterjames
rare song indeed, thanks for posting
cometclear
Great song.
Jonathan Roberts
The ultimate “I lost her to another man” song.
Carl Rennhack
@vaguemartin Talk about finding Mr. Right...
vaguemartin
The big man :)
Paul Joseph
Jonathan Roberts Yes to a vocation