Picariello grew up in the North Boston suburb of Lynn and learned to play guitar as a boy. In high school, he formed a band and tried to emulate the hard-driving style of Little Richard. Picariello eventually signed with Philadelphia label Swan Records, a recording studio in which Dick Clark had an interest. Clark brought Picariello national exposure through numerous appearances on Clark's TV show, American Bandstand. Cannon holds the record for most appearances by a performer (110) on Bandstand! He and Clark continued to collaborate on Bandstand reunion concerts long after the TV show ended.
By 1959, Picariello was singing using the stage name, Freddy Cannon. He was also called "Boom Boom" because of his thundering musical renditions and the "Cannon" name. From 1959 through the early 60s, Cannon had three Top Ten hit:
Palisades Park
Tallahassee Lassie (A song written by Cannon's mother. It was also the first of 22 songs which appeared on the Billboard Charts for Cannon.)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
On June 24, 1966, Cannon played himself and performed one of his own songs during the final episode of the teen soap opera "Never Too Young." The role of Cannon was played by David Julian Hirsh in George Clooney's 2003 film, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.'
As of 2006, Cannon was a resident of Tarzana, California, and continued performing in concert.
Dedication Song
Freddy Cannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
completely changed most of the lyrics without Boom Boom's permission)
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
This song goes out to Bobby, dedicated from Sue,
She just wants him to know, her love for him is true.
And this song goes out to Soraya, dedicated from Nick,
He would like another tour of the pyramids!
Don't touch that dial,
Leave it on the station,
I'm going to make, another Dedication
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
This song goes out to Mary, dedicated from Bryce
He's so sorry they had a fight and he promises he'll be nice.
And this song goes out to Neko, dedicated from Dave,
He just wants her to know that after Bronson she's the fave!
Don't touch that dial,
Leave it on the station,
I'm going to make, another Dedication
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
This goes out to all the kids who've come out to see one of our crummy show!
I'm talkin' about that guy I grabbed by the hair in San Francisco,
And that guy I put in a headlock in Moncton New Brunswick
And that chick I kicked in the ass, in fuck, was it Kamloops?
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
This song goes out to CC, dedicated from Beez, (BEEZ: "That's ME!")
He just belched and he's so sorry that he's such a sleaze.
And this song goes out to Jenni, WHERE ARE YOU?, dedicated from Grant,
It'd be nice, if you would come, and pick up your pants!
Don't touch that dial,
Leave it on the station,
I'm going to make, another Dedication
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
And this one goes out to the kid I beat with a mic stand in Atlanta (sorry)
And to my aunt and uncle in Albany I'm sorry I clogged up that toilet
And to that stupid skinhead in Lafayette!
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
The Dedication Song is a humorous tribute to various people, both real and fictional, with a twist. Each of the dedications is a story of love, regret, or apology. The song's structure is relatively simple - a repetitive verse and an upbeat tune. It starts with dedications from Sue to Bobby and Nick to Soraya. The next dedications come from Bryce to Mary and Dave to Neko. After that, Freddy Cannon takes a comical turn and dedicates the song to people he has wronged throughout his career as a performer, including someone he grabbed by the hair in San Francisco, someone he put in a headlock in Moncton New Brunswick, and someone he kicked in the ass in Kamloops. The song concludes with belching by Beez and a plea from Grant to Jenni to pick up her pants.
The Dedication Song is a fun and lighthearted tune. However, there is a deeper meaning behind the lyrics. The song tells a tale of love, apology, and reconciliation. It reminds us that we are all human and that we all make mistakes. We can learn from these experiences and grow as individuals. The Dedication Song takes a humorous approach to love and relationships but reminds us of the importance of affection and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
The song is getting started with a lively and upbeat intro.
This song goes out to Bobby, dedicated from Sue, She just wants him to know, her love for him is true.
The first dedication is to Bobby, and he is being serenaded by Sue. Sue wants to express her love for Bobby through this song.
And this song goes out to Soraya, dedicated from Nick, He would like another tour of the pyramids!
Nick wants to dedicate this song to Soraya and wants to go back to the pyramids with her someday.
Don't touch that dial, Leave it on the station, I'm going to make, another Dedication
The DJ is requesting his listeners to not switch channels and promises to dedicate more songs soon.
This song goes out to Mary, dedicated from Bryce He's so sorry they had a fight and he promises he'll be nice.
This dedication is from Bryce to Mary. He wants to say sorry to her for their fight and promises to be nice from now on.
And this song goes out to Neko, dedicated from Dave, He just wants her to know that after Bronson she's the fave!
Dave wants to dedicate this song to Neko and tells her that she is his favorite after Bronson.
This goes out to all the kids who've come out to see one of our crummy show! I'm talkin' about that guy I grabbed by the hair in San Francisco, And that guy I put in a headlock in Moncton New Brunswick And that chick I kicked in the ass, in fuck, was it Kamloops?
The singer is dedicating this song to all the kids who attended their bad shows. He's remembering the incidents of grabbing a guy's hair in San Francisco, putting another guy in headlock in Moncton and kicking a girl in Kamloops.
This song goes out to CC, dedicated from Beez, (BEEZ: "That's ME!") He just belched and he's so sorry that he's such a sleaze.
CC is being dedicated by Beez through this song, and Beez apologizes for belching and being a sleazy person.
And this song goes out to Jenni, WHERE ARE YOU?, dedicated from Grant, It'd be nice, if you would come, and pick up your pants!
Grant wants to request Jenni (who is missing) through this song to pick up her pants and be with him.
And this one goes out to the kid I beat with a mic stand in Atlanta (sorry) And to my aunt and uncle in Albany I'm sorry I clogged up that toilet And to that stupid skinhead in Lafayette!
The singer wants to dedicate this song to the kid he beat with a mic stand in Atlanta and apologize to his aunt and uncle in Albany for clogging up the toilet. He also remembers the stupid skinhead in Lafayette.
Don't touch that dial, Leave it on the station, I'm going to make, another Dedication
The DJ reminds the listeners once again to not change the station as they will make more song dedications.
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh Yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
The song concludes with the same energetic tune as it began.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RUSS REGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
horarwgt
"The Dedication Song" was actually a hit in the spring of 1966, a few months after "Action," and the two of them together were not only among Freddy's greatest hits but also his last after 20 before these since 1959. Freddy would not chart again until 1981 when he put out "Let's Put The Fun Back In Rock 'n' Roll." Incredibly, THIS classic rocker missed the national Top 40, cresting at #41. "The Dedication Song" should have charted far higher, as it remains a soul-lifting delight even today.
horarwgt
"The Dedication Song" just missed the national Top 40 following it's debut in February 1966. Over it's six week chart run it peaked at #41 -- inxplicably -- because it is such a GREAT record. It was also Freddy's last to reach Billboard's Hot 100 national singles chart until 1981, when he came back with "Let's Put The Fun Back in Rock 'n' Roll." As it deals with radio dedications, it closes out the classic Reader's Digest CD box set "Dedicated To The One I Love."
Bryan Palmer
This is GREAT-a real swinging tune with an infectious enthusiasm to it.This song,Action and Abigail Beecher are my favorite Freddy Cannon hits-ya can't beat em!
altfactor
Being from Boston (Freddy Cannon's hometown), I recall that this record got quite a bit of airplay on the city's two top-40 stations at the time (WBZ and the old WMEX) in early 1966 (I was a young lad then!).
Ron Lavallee
B-side of this single was "Come On, Come On," another rockin' tune...Warner Bros really dropped the ball promoting his music...Were these songs ever on any album?
shmuli9
I'd have to say this is his best hit (it was way ahead of its time - this sound like something from the 1970s). I'm surprised it wasn't quite a bit bigger.
Kit Nelson
Why wasn't this a hit? I'm 67 and I've never heard it before. Wow!
Tumbipungi
Always one of my favorite songs.
Romulus Hill
He makes me wanna get up and dance
jeff werner
I'll be back in a little while! Boom Boom was the best..he was electric..his songs were fun and watching this video brings back so many memories of the Friday night dances in my hometown. Thank you so much for uploading it! Jeff'