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.
Thinkin' It Over
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone that's gonna paint rainbows above you
We've been through so much before
But I can't take it anymore
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
And girl I think it's all over with you
Don't you know you better find someone to love you
Cause I've had about all I can take of you
Girl this time you've gone too far
Now I see just where we are
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
And girl I think it's all over with you
And I can see you standing there
And I can see you feel you holding me
But I need someone to hold me who won't try to hold my mind
There you go again, yes
So I think I'm past this time
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
And girl I think it's all over with you
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
The lyrics to Del Shannon's song 'Thinkin' It Over' convey a message of a relationship that has come to an end. Del Shannon sings to his partner, telling her that he cannot take it anymore and that he thinks it's all over with her. He advises her to find someone who will love her and paint rainbows above her. The song's first stanza urges the partner to find someone to love them who will put them first and make them feel loved. He has been through a lot with his partner, but it's time to move on.
The chorus of "Lately, I know I've been thinking it over" emphasizes the decision-making process Del is going through about ending the relationship. He needs someone to hold him who won't try to control his mind, indicating that his partner has been suffocating him in some way. When he sees her standing there, he realizes that it's time to end it. The lyrics suggest that he has tried to make the relationship work, but it's no longer possible. The song evokes feelings of frustration, sadness, and regret.
Overall, 'Thinkin' it Over' is an introspective song in which Del reflects on his failing relationship. The lyrics express a feeling of the necessary ending of something that is no longer working, and the frustration that comes along with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you know you better find someone to love you
You need to find someone who truly loves you and cares about you.
Someone that's gonna paint rainbows above you
Someone who will bring happiness and positivity into your life.
We've been through so much before
We have been together for a long time and have faced many challenges.
But I can't take it anymore
I have reached my limit and cannot endure any more of the difficulties in our relationship.
Lately I know I've been thinking it over
I have been reflecting and contemplating our relationship recently.
And girl I think it's all over with you
I believe our relationship is finished and it is time for us to move on.
Cause I've had about all I can take of you
I have reached my limit of the negative aspects of our relationship.
Girl this time you've gone too far
Your actions have crossed a line and have finally caused me to realize the true state of our relationship.
Now I see just where we are
I have finally come to the realization of the true state of our relationship.
And I can see you standing there
I can picture you in front of me
And I can see you feel you holding me
I can envision you feeling and holding me in your arms.
But I need someone to hold me who won't try to hold my mind
I require someone who will comfort me without affecting my thoughts and actions.
There you go again, yes
You are behaving in your typical manner.
So I think I'm past this time
I believe our relationship has come to an end and I need to move on.
Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Capnnick21
This album needs to be on iTunes or Spotify
Peter- ClipstoneFilms
it''s on Spotify now
Richard Cameron
I definitely hear the influence of Colin Blunstone (lead singer of the Zombies) and the production values of Chris White on this track. It stands up very nicely. A good artistic move, even if it was too late to turn his career around.
Terry Cullen
How sad,that so few, know the Album. Del was a musical genius. Rock on DEL.
POP! alberta
I sent a link of this song to an old girlfriend. Del summed it up brilliantly. R.I.P. Charles.
THE CLARENCES
Long live the memory of the late, great Del Shannon. xoxo The Clarences
joe gongora
Sounds like what the Partride Family would later be playing. But Del was ahead of his time he came first.
Robert Purkhart
Sein schönster Song
Kurt Miller
This is a run away from Runaway
Paul Joseph
A recurrent soundscape from Del. That is to say he often copied it. Perfection desires company