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.
Who Left Who
Del Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She tries to bring me down
She knows when to cry
And she knows exactly what to say
She turns the truth around
And makes it sound like I'm the one to blame
But I'm not the one who introduced her
To her latest flame
And I'll always remember that night
She said we were through
When she's not with him she forgets
Who left who
She don't really want me
But she don't want me to be free
Her pride can't stand the thought
Of someone else lovin' me
She still wants control
Of a love that she let go
When she said goodbye
She says I'm to blame for all the pain
That she feels inside
But I'll always remember that night
She found someone new
When he's not around she forgets
Who left who, who left who
All alone to sing the blues
And who told who
The found somebody new
And I'll always remember
Who broke my heart in two
When he's not around she forgets
Who left who
When he's not around she forgets
Who left who
Who left who
Del Shannon's Who Left Who? is a song about a tumultuous on-and-off love affair. The singer is lamenting his ex-partner's behavior every time they meet. He notes that she tries to bring him down with her and plays the victim despite her actions contributing to their breakup. He further highlights her manipulation tactics, where she twists the truth and lays blame on him for introducing her to her latest flame, despite being the one who left him.
The chorus is particularly biting, where he says that she doesn't want him but won't allow him to be free either. Her pride struggles with someone else loving him, and she's still yearning to hold onto a love that she let go of. She accuses him of being responsible for all the pain she feels inside, even though he remembers the night she found someone new, and how she said they were through.
The bridge serves as a reminder of the hurt she caused and how he was left to sing the blues. He makes it clear that he'll never forget who broke his heart in two, even if his ex-partner forgets who left who when her current partner is not around. Overall, the song is a painful reminder of how self-centered some lovers can be and how challenging it is to move on from toxic relationships and clingy exes.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I see her
Whenever I happen to see her face
She tries to bring me down
She tries to upset me with her behavior
She knows when to cry
She can cry at the right moments to manipulate her situation
And she knows exactly what to say
She is very clever with her words
She turns the truth around
She is good at twisting facts in her favor
And makes it sound like I'm the one to blame
She makes me sound guilty for things I didn't do
But I'm not the one who introduced her
But I didn't have anything to do with her current situation
To her latest flame
To the person she is with now
And I'll always remember that night
I'll never forget that particular moment
She said we were through
The moment she told me that it was over between us
When she's not with him she forgets
She conveniently forgets when she's not with the other guy
Who left who
Who broke up with who
She don't really want me
She doesn't genuinely want to be with me
But she don't want me to be free
But she doesn't want me to move on with my life
Her pride can't stand the thought
She can't bear the idea of me being happy with someone else
Of someone else lovin' me
Of someone else showing me affection
She still wants control
She still wants to have power over our past relationship
Of a love that she let go
She let our love go, but still wants to control it
When she said goodbye
When she ended our relationship
She says I'm to blame for all the pain
She accuses me of causing all her hurt
That she feels inside
That she is feeling deep down inside
But I'll always remember that night
But I'll never forget that specific occasion
She found someone new
When she found someone else to be with
When he's not around she forgets
When he's away she once again forgets
Who left who, who left who
Who parted ways with who
All alone to sing the blues
Feeling sad and lonely, with no one to turn to
And who told who
Who informed whom
The found somebody new
When they each found someone new
And I'll always remember
And it's ingrained in my memory
Who broke my heart in two
Who shattered by heart into two
When he's not around she forgets
When he's not there she forgets again
Who left who
Who left who despite all that happened
When he's not around she forgets
When he's gone she chooses to forget once again
Who left who
Who ended things between them for good
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DEL SHANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Smith
Del was one of the most talented rock musicians ever... Who Left Who, Callin' Out My Name, Lost In A Memory, I Go To Pieces (which he wrote) and his cover of Crying... ever cut on the "Rock On" album. Great vocals, vocal range and rhythm guitar playing. Right up there with the Everly Brothers and Neil and Tim Finn (NZL) as my favorite musicians.
Thomas Andersen
Jack Smith I agree,,,,that voice is just pure honey for the soul...this album is just insanely good
samisunc
Everytime I think of this man taking his own life my heart bleeds for him. I've sufferd from the same depression for years and I know what he must have been going through. I pray to God he is resting in peace. Love you Del.
Terry Booker
Magnificent song, words just cannot describe the talent that this man had
310607Mrs
Wow what a song the words are very powerful Del Shannon is and will always be remembered for the legend he was and will always be !
Joe Schmoo
What a Great Great song ..Del's voice & backup instrumentals are soft but harsh meaning comes through..... DAMN ..WHERE WAS I WHEN THIS SONG CAME OUT..I completely missed it until today...I Love this song PERIOD ! Thanks for posting
Marty Penrose
Del should have been made an honorary Wilbury...this is truly in the same spirit...I can't believe i have just discovered it....a true legend...live on..walk..on...runaway Del... thanks so much for putting it up...now i have to hunt down the CD...
Linda Panknin
Love Del Shannon...great talent...Gone too soon.
VICTOR BALIT
Wow! Del's best song since the Sixties!
ed bowen
What a great song.