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.
For Me and My Gal
Freddy Cannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The birds are singing for me and my gal.
Ev'rybody's been knowing to a wedding they're going.
And for weeks they've been sewing every Suzie and Sal.
They're congregating for me and my gal.
The parson's waiting for me and my gal.
And sometime I'm gonna build a little home for two for three or four or more
In love land, for me and my gal.
The first two lines of this song by Freddy Cannon exude happiness and excitement over a wedding that’s about to take place. The bells ringing and the birds singing are typical tropes used in songs to indicate joyful and happy occasions. The third line of the song tells us that everyone knows about the impending wedding and has been preparing for it for weeks. The last two lines of this verse -- “And for weeks they’ve been sewing every Suzie and Sal. / They’re congregating for me and my gal” -- indicate the anticipation of the wedding day and the preparations that have gone into its planning.
The second verse tells us that the “parson’s waiting” and implies that the couple is ready for their new life together. The last two lines of the verse -- “And sometime I’m gonna build a little home for two for three or four or more / In love land, for me and my gal” -- reveal the couple’s plans for their future together beyond just the wedding day. They want to build a home together in a land of love, indicating that their love is strong and they are committed to each other for the long term.
Line by Line Meaning
The bells are ringing for me and my gal.
The joyous sound of bells is a sign that a celebration is about to begin for me and my beloved.
The birds are singing for me and my gal.
The cheerful songs of the birds seem to be celebrating the love between me and my beloved.
Ev'rybody's been knowing to a wedding they're going.
Everyone is aware of the upcoming wedding that me and my sweetheart are about to solemnize.
And for weeks they've been sewing every Suzie and Sal.
For several weeks, every Suzie and Sal have been busy preparing for the wedding ceremony that is about to take place for me and my beloved.
They're congregating for me and my gal.
People from all around are gathering to celebrate the union of me and my sweetheart.
The parson's waiting for me and my gal.
The priest/parson is eagerly waiting to bless the union of me and my beloved as husband and wife.
And sometime I'm gonna build a little home for two for three or four or more
There is a dream to build a sweet, loving home for me and my partner where more than just two people can wow to live together.
In love land, for me and my gal.
This loving home would be situated in a fairy-tale setting of love and harmony, where me and my beloved would spend our whole life together exploring the richness of love's paradise.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind