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.
This Is All I Have To Give
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two arms to hold you tight,
And a heart that longs for you,
Each day and every night,
I can only give a love that′s true,
For this is all I've got to give to you,
Or diamond rings that shine,
I can only give myself,
Until the end of time,
I can you give pretty skies of blue,
For this is all I've got to give to you,
Someday we'll have magic sunsets,
Together we′ll have each night,
I promise you this my darling,
Everything′s gonna be alright,
Darling, I must go away,
Far across the sea,
But you hold the lock to my heart,
And I'll give you the key,
I can′t give you anymore, it's true,
For this is all I′ve got to give to you.
In Del Shannon's song "This Is All I Have to Give," the lyrics express a deep and sincere love for someone, emphasizing the limited material possessions the singer offers but emphasizing the value and authenticity of their love. The first stanza sets the tone, as the singer acknowledges having only two arms to hold their beloved Tight and a heart that yearns for their presence each day and night. It showcases a desire for closeness and connection.
The second stanza reinforces the idea that material wealth means little compared to the love the singer can offer. They admit to not being able to provide a castle of gold or sparkling diamond rings, but instead, they can only give themselves fully and unconditionally until the end of time. It highlights the singer's commitment and willingness to be there for their loved one, despite a lack of luxurious possessions.
The third stanza introduces a hopeful and promising future. The singer envisions magical sunsets and nights together, assuring their beloved that everything will be alright. This section highlights their optimism and reassurance that their love will prevail, even in their physical absence.
The final stanza suggests a separation or parting that lies ahead, as the singer states that they must go away far across the sea. However, they assert that the person they love holds the key to their heart. It signifies the importance of their bond and their willingness to entrust their heart completely to their beloved, despite the distance between them.
Overall, "This Is All I Have to Give" portrays a love that is rooted in authenticity, depth, and an understanding that material possessions cannot compare to genuine connection and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
I have these two arms,
I possess a pair of arms
Two arms to hold you tight,
My arms are meant to embrace you firmly
And a heart that longs for you,
In addition, I possess a heart that deeply desires your presence
Each day and every night,
Every single day and night, my longing persists
I can only give a love that′s true,
The only thing I can offer is a sincere and genuine love
For this is all I've got to give to you,
It is the sole offering I am capable of providing to you
I can′t give you a castle of gold,
Regrettably, I do not possess the ability to present you with a golden fortress
Or diamond rings that shine,
Nor can I bestow upon you shiny rings adorned with diamonds
I can only give myself,
However, I am able to offer my whole being to you
Until the end of time,
This devotion will endure for eternity
I can you give pretty skies of blue,
As compensation, I can grant you the beauty of vivid blue skies
For this is all I've got to give to you,
Once again, it emphasizes that it is the only gift within my grasp
Someday we'll have magic sunsets,
In the future, we will experience enchanting sunsets together
Together we′ll have each night,
As a couple, we will possess and share every night
I promise you this my darling,
My beloved, I assure you of this pledge
Everything′s gonna be alright,
No need to worry, everything will be fine
Darling, I must go away,
Dearest, I must depart
Far across the sea,
To a distant location beyond the ocean
But you hold the lock to my heart,
Yet, you possess the key that secures my heart
And I'll give you the key,
Consequently, I will offer you the corresponding key
I can′t give you anymore, it's true,
To be truthful, I am unable to offer anything more
For this is all I′ve got to give to you.
Since all I have available to present to you is what has been previously mentioned.
Writer(s): Del Shannon
Contributed by Evelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Cassells
on Runaway '67 (Fake Live Mono Version)
Doesn't seem to be the 'fake live' version