He began his career fronting the group Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, managed by Paul Barrett. Also known as the The Sunsets, the 50s-esque rock n roll outfit originaled from Penarth, South Glamorgan. An early break for the band arrived when they were given a support slot for The Rolling Stones in December 1969. Yet, despite landing a recording contract with the seminal label Parlophone Records the following year, the band found success hard to come by. At least in their native Great Britain, they couldn't quite break through commercially, though they had hit singles in other countries. After seven years of constant touring and recording, Shaky left the band in 1977. He gained a lead role in Jack Good's "Elvis!" musical, which brought him praise from many critics.
Regular TV appearances on the revamped TV show Oh Boy led eventually to his first chart success, a reworked version of a Buck Owens song "Hot Dog", which Owens would go on to re-record using Stevens arrangement which had been created by pedal steel guitar player B.J. Cole.
In 1979, Shaky signed what was to be his most successful management deal with Freya Miller, and in 1981, he had his first UK number 1 with "This Ole House" and would have 10 more songs reach the top 5, including three number 1 hits with "Green Door", "Oh Julie" and "Merry Christmas Everyone", while "You Drive Me Crazy" and "A Love Worth Waiting For" reached number 2 in 1981 and 1984 respectively. His 1984 hit "Teardrops" featured Hank B. Marvin on guitar and Stevens has often featured famous musicians such as Albert Lee, Roger Taylor, Bonnie Tyler and more recently Tony Joe White on his recordings. In the mid 80s, Stevens reunited with former producer Dave Edmunds to record an album Lipstick, Powder and Paint and the Christmas smash "Merry Christmas Everyone".
The hits continued throughout the 1980s, making Stevens the biggest selling artist of the decade, and into the early 1990s. Chart successes also included his album Shaky reaching number 1.
It was in the 1990s, however, that Stevens took a lengthy break from recording and was stung by a court ruling requiring a substantial payout to former bandmates The Sunsets. In 1999, Shaky returned to performing and undertook tours that year and the year following. In 2004, things started to look up for Stevens he had a further platinum CD/DVD album in Denmark and a gold album in South Africa.
In 2005, he returned once again to the charts in the United Kingdom, with his greatest hits album The Collection, which reached the UK top 5. That year, he also appeared in the video to Tony Christie's and Peter Kay's #1 hit single "Is This the Way to Amarillo", alongside many other UK stars, including Ronnie Corbett, Jim Bowen, Michael Parkinson and Geoffrey Hayes. He was the winner on the reality television show, Hit Me Baby One More Time. This was quickly followed by a re-release of his cover and his own biggest hit sung in the show, ("Trouble" covering Pink's version) / "This Ole House"), which reached #20 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2005, his 33rd Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom.
In May 2007, Stevens released a brand new album in Denmark entitled Now Listen.
How Many Tears Can You Hide
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For you can't hide anymore
How can you keep it inside
When she says you need to be sure?
How many tears can you hide?
Before your heart is in danger
How many times do I die?
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Is the sweetest thing
(How many tears can you hide?)
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Means everything
But your love, driving me insane
How long
(How long)
Can I
(Can I)
Go on?
How many times do I hide?
Put on a happy face
Watching you walking by
Some other guy in my place
You never know how I try
To end this misery
How many tears can I hide
To you belong to me
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Is the sweetest thing
(How many tears can you hide?)
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Means everything
But your love
(Your love)
Driving me insane
How long
(How long)
Can I
(Can I)
Go on?
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Is the sweetest thing
(How many tears can you hide?)
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Means everything
(How many tears can you hide?)
But your love
(Your love)
It is driving me insane
How long
(How long)
Can I
(Can I)
Go on?
Girl your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Is the sweetest thing
(How many tears can you hide?)
Your love
(How many tears can you hide?)
Means everything
(How many tears can you hide?)
Girl, your love
(How many tears can you hide? How many tears can you hide?)
Girl, your love
(How many tears can you hide? How many tears can you hide?)
Girl, your love
(How many tears can you hide? How many tears can you hide?)
...
The song "How Many Tears Can You Hide" by Shakin' Stevens is a heartbroken ballad about unrequited love. The lyrics explore the theme of trying to hide emotions and tears for the sake of holding onto someone who may not reciprocate the same feelings. The singer is struggling to keep his emotions inside and asks how long he can continue to hide his tears and heartache. The chorus emphasizes the sweetness of the love he feels for this person, but also recognizes that it is driving him insane.
The lyrics suggest that this unrequited love is very difficult for the singer to handle, as he watches the object of his affection walk by with someone else, and tries to put on a happy face. He questions how many times he can die inside every time she is with someone who isn't him. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is aware that this situation may be detrimental to his health and well-being, as he questions how many tears he can hide before his heart is in real danger.
Overall, the lyrics convey the pain and desperation of unreciprocated love and the toll it can take on a person's emotional and mental state.
Line by Line Meaning
How many tears can you hide?
How many times can you bury your emotions and pain inside and not express them?
For you can't hide anymore
It's impossible to keep hiding your feelings any longer
How can you keep it inside
Why keep your emotions bottled up and not express them?
When she says you need to be sure?
When the person you love demands you to be certain and not confused about your feelings?
Before your heart is in danger
Before you fall victim to the pain and hurt in your heart
Each time you're with a stranger
Each time you're with someone who doesn't understand or recognize your love
Your love, is the sweetest thing
Your love is the most delightful and pleasant feeling
Means everything
Is of the utmost importance and value
But your love, driving me insane
Your love is making me go mad and lose my mind
How long can I go on?
How much longer can I bear the pain in my heart?
Put on a happy face
Conceal your pain and sadness behind a smile
Watching you walking by
Looking at you walk past me while being in love with someone else
Some other guy in my place
Seeing someone else take my place in your heart
To end this misery
To put an end to this pain and suffering
To you belong to me
You are the one meant for me and no one else
Girl your love is the sweetest thing
My love for you is pure, enjoyable, and pleasant
Means everything
It's everything to me, it's all that matters in my life
Girl, your love
The love I have for you, it's yours and always will be
Contributed by Chloe H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@deniss4848
How many tears can you hide
For you can't hide anymore
How can you keep it inside
When she says you need to be sure
How many tears can you hide
Before your heart is in danger
How many times do I die
Each time you're with a stranger
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Is the sweetest thing (how many tears can you hide)
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Means everything (how many tears can you hide)
But your love (your love) driving me insane
How long (how long)
Can I (can I) go on?
How many times do I hide
Put on a happy face
Watching you walking by
Some other guy in my place
You never know how I try
To end this misery
How many tears can I hide
To you belong to me
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Is the sweetest thing (how many tears can you hide)
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Means everything (how many tears can you hide)
But your love (your love) driving me insane
How long (how long)
Can I (can I) go on?
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Is the sweetest thing (how many tears can you hide)
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Means everything (how many tears can you hide)
But your love (your love) it is driving me insane
Oh-oh, how long (how long)
Can I (can I) go on?
Girl your love (how many tears can you hide)
Is the sweetest thing (how many tears can you hide)
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
Means everything (how many tears can you hide)
Girl your love (how many tears can you hide)
(How many tears can you hide)
Your love (how many tears can you hide)
(How many tears can you hide)
@Snoopy_2607
Shaky is so bloody good looking - he's an absolute dreamboat. This song is awesome...and his voice is a-maz-ing. Love him soooooooooooooooo much.
@chiarareeves9250
There's no 80s without Shakin
@michellekenyon6991
Whoever put thumbs down on this song don't know what good music is
@Muller-jx1gf
Kein sehr gutes Lied aber guter Gesang, guter Sound ,gutes Video und eine versteckte Botschaft Das man das Leben genießen soll
@PaulsPlace1977
An absolutely underrated shaky classic, fantastic song and should of been a big hit for him!. Shaky’s a legend - love him!
@doloressanchez8950
I love all his music even way back then I wish there was more songs like these songs and besides I grew up listening to his music ❤❤❤❤❤❤
@jeanclaudeRamiro
Manifique
@georgivasilev9130
Awesome Performer,I call him The European Elvis!!
@inis337
Elvis steht, für mich,an 2.STELLE! ❤
@elsamichelle
Facet jedynie siedzi, śpiewa i rozwala system :) I love this guy.