Sharon Myers adopted the name Jackie DeShannon, believed to be an Irish ancestor. Record company executives at Liberty Records thought the name Sharon Myers wouldn't sell records. (She once reported that record executives added "Shannon" to "Jackie Dee," one of the names under which she recorded, to create her name.)
Life and early career:
DeShannon was born the daughter of musically inclined farming parents, Sandra Jean and James Erwin Myers, DeShannon was introduced to singing country tunes on a local radio show at the age of six. By the age of eleven, DeShannon was already hosting her own radio program. When life on the farm became too difficult, the family moved to Aurora, Illinois, her mother's home town, and her father resumed his other career as a barber. After a year, they moved up the Fox River to Batavia, Illinois, where Sharon attended high school.
Recording under various names such as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee, and Jackie Shannon, she had little success. However, her interpretations of country songs "Buddy" and "Trouble" gained the attention of Eddie Cochran who arranged for her to travel to California and meet singer-songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who formed a writing partnership with DeShannon in 1960. The partnership produced hits such as "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee and "I Love Anastasia" for The Fleetwoods. The latter was named after one of her good friends in high school.
In 1960, DeShannon signed with Liberty Records. She made the WLS Chicago survey with "Lonely Girl" in late 1960. A string of mostly flop singles followed, although "The Prince" bubbled under at #108 in the United States in early 1962, and "Faded Love" (#97 in February 1963) became her first U.S. Hot 100 hit, albeit just barely .
She broke through a little more solidly singing "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room" later in 1963. Both reached the lower rungs of the U.S. pop charts, but were substantial top 40 hits in Canada, where "Needles and Pins" made it all the way to #1. "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room" later became U.S. and UK hits for The Searchers.
DeShannon recorded many other singles that encompassed teen pop, country ballads, rockabilly, gospel, and Ray Charles-style soul that didn't fare as well on the charts. During these years it was her songwriting and public profile rather than her recording career that kept her contracted to Liberty Records. DeShannon dated Elvis Presley and formed friendships with The Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson. She also co-starred and sang with Bobby Vinton in the teen surf movie Surf Party.
DeShannon's biggest break came in February 1964, when she supported The Beatles on their first U.S. tour, and formed a touring band with guitarist Ry Cooder. DeShannon also wrote "Don't Doubt Yourself Babe" for debut album by The Byrds. Her music at this stage was heavily influenced by the American West Coast sounds and folk music. Staying briefly in England in 1965, DeShannon formed a songwriting partnership with Jimmy Page, which resulted in the hit singles "Dream Boy" and "Don't Turn Your Back On Me". Page and DeShannon also wrote material for singer Marianne Faithfull, including her Top Ten UK and U.S. hit "Come and Stay With Me". DeShannon also appeared on the television show Ready Steady Go!
Hit love songs:
Moving to New York, DeShannon co-wrote with Randy Newman, producing such songs as "She Don't Understand Him" and "Did He Call Today Mama?", as well as writing "You Have No Choice" for Delaney Bramlett. In March 1965, DeShannon recorded Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "What the World Needs Now Is Love," which provided her first Number 1 hit and regular appearances on television shows and club tours. (DeShannon's recording of the song was subsequently used in the 1969 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.) She appeared in the 1967 film C'mon Let's Live a Little, with Bobby Vee, as a folk singer. DeShannon continued writing and recording but it was not until 1969 that she scored her next biggest smash single and album, both entitled "Put a Little Love in Your Heart". The single "Love Will Find A Way" from the same album was also a moderate hit. Switching to Atlantic Records in 1970 and moving to Los Angeles, DeShannon recorded the critically acclaimed albums Jackie and Your Baby Is A Lady, but they failed to produce the same commercial success as previous releases. In 1973, she was invited by Van Morrison to sing on his Hard Nose the Highway album.
"Put A Little Love In Your Heart" was performed as the closing number at the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly in 1979.
Later career:
While DeShannon has not produced any further Top Ten singles of her own, her songs have been covered by other artists who have in turn converted them into hits. In 1974, with Donna Weiss, she composed "Queen Of The Rodeo" and "Bette Davis Eyes" for her album New Arrangement. The song "Bette Davis Eyes" later became a world-wide Number 1 single for singer Kim Carnes in 1981. It earned DeShannon the 1982 Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
The songs "Breakaway", recorded by Tracey Ullman in 1983, and "Put A Little Love In Your Heart", recorded by Annie Lennox and Al Green in 1988, also became huge hits, the latter of which Dolly Parton also covered in 1993. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks had a Top 40 U.S. hit in 1986 with a cover of "Needles And Pins", which was a song DeShannon originally recorded, although not one she wrote. A version of "When You Walk In The Room" by Pam Tillis in 1994 topped the country charts. Another recent cover of "When You Walk In The Room" was by ex-ABBA vocalist Agnetha Fältskog, both in her comeback album My Colouring Book and as a UK and European hit single.
Jackie was portrayed by singer Liz Phair in an episode of the NBC period drama American Dreams.
Personal life:
DeShannon is married to singer/songwriter and film music composer Randy Edelman, who is her third husband. Her first husband was Liberty Records executive Irving "Bud" Dain, whom she married on January 29, 1966. She has also dated Jimmy Page and Love guitarist Bryan MacLean. It is likely that Jimmy Page wrote the song "Tangerine" (which appeared on the third Led Zeppelin album) after the breakup of his relationship with DeShannon in early 1965.
I'm With You
Jackie DeShannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't got a lot but I've got you, yeah
And I believe in everything you do
I like it here near you
And my eyes are takin' pictures
Of everything that you do
In many ways, times and places
Joys are found in common places
Look around it's not hard to find
What have I got when I'm with you?
I've got alot when I've got you, yes
And I can feel the dream is comin' true
I like it here near you
And the morning looks like sunshine
And everything feels so new
In many ways, times and places
Faces changin' all the time
Joys are found in common places
Look around it's not hard to find
As long as I'm with you, yeah
As long as I'm with you, oh, ho
As long as I'm with you, oh, yeah
As long as I'm with you, ah
As long as I'm with you, ah
As long as I'm with you, ah
As long as I'm with you, oh, yeah
As long as I'm with you, just
As long as I'm with you
As long as I'm with you
In "I'm With You," Jackie DeShannon sings about being in love and how being with her significant other is all that matters. She sings, "Like it or not I'm with you, Ain't got a lot but I've got you, yeah, And I believe in everything you do." These lyrics suggest that even when things may not be perfect, she is willing to stick with her loved one no matter what. Even though she may not have material riches, her love and loyalty are worth more. In the chorus, she declares how being with her special one makes her feel, "What have I got when I'm with you? I've got a lot when I've got you, yes, And I can feel the dream is coming true, I like it here near you." She is happy to be simply near her loved one, and she feels like her dreams are coming true because she is with the person she loves.
Throughout the song, DeShannon paints a picture of the different experiences she has with her loved one, describing them as "times and places, faces changin' all the time." Yet, despite the constant changes in their lives, she finds joy in common places and encourages the listener to "look around, it's not hard to find." Her lyrics depict the idea that being in love makes everything look brighter, like "the morning looks like sunshine" and "everything feels so new," even if it's not objectively so. In essence, through this song, DeShannon communicates the idea that true love is about finding joy in the little things and being loyal no matter what life throws your way.
Line by Line Meaning
Like it or not I'm with you
Whether you like it or not, I am by your side
Ain't got a lot but I've got you, yeah
Although I do not have many things, I have you and that is enough
And I believe in everything you do
I have faith in every action and decision you make
I like it here near you
Being close to you brings me happiness
And my eyes are takin' pictures
I am constantly observing and documenting everything you do
Of everything that you do
I am capturing every action and movement you make
In many ways, times and places
We have shared experiences in multiple situations and settings
Faces changin' all the time
The people around us constantly change, but we remain constant
Joys are found in common places
We find happiness in the ordinary and familiar
Look around it's not hard to find
We can easily find reasons to be happy in our surroundings
What have I got when I'm with you?
Being with you brings me a sense of richness and fulfillment
I've got alot when I've got you, yes
Having you in my life makes me feel abundant and content
And I can feel the dream is comin' true
With you by my side, I am achieving my goals and aspirations
And the morning looks like sunshine
Every day feels bright and hopeful when I am with you
And everything feels so new
With you, every experience feels fresh and exciting
As long as I'm with you, yeah
I will continue to be with you as long as I can
As long as I'm with you, oh, ho
As long as we are together, life will be good
As long as I'm with you, oh, yeah
I am committed to being by your side for as long as possible
As long as I'm with you, ah
As long as you are near, everything will be alright
As long as I'm with you, oh, yeah
With you, I know I am on the right path
As long as I'm with you, just
Being with you is enough for me
As long as I'm with you
Being with you is all that matters
Writer(s): ALAN LEE GORDON, GARRY OWEN BONNER
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@edwarddawson7653
1963 a young female comes along writes and sings her own songs in a Male dominated industry, she was special
@garyshields8299
pl
@tomhoffmann6442
So great 🎉😂
@user-fg8kh8jf3x
Yes but who had a hit with it a male band from the era! There's is more memorable
@steveeyre6975
@@user-fg8kh8jf3xthe searchers
@barryh.4220
This is a fabulous song, and she is terrific ....
@stewartfenton7660
I love to watch old stuff like this, but it hurts too. The memories and all. That time will never happen again.
@deanl0
Don't worry The price is that you were there at the 1st. place
@paulcardsfan
No one can beat the way she sings it . Nothing like the original. This is the best !!!! 👌
@evanhughes1510
Pam Tillis did a really great version of it in the 90s