The oldest of three sons born to Shirley Jones and Broadway entertainer/television star Jack Cassidy, he first found success as a teen idol, following in the footsteps of his elder half-brother, David Cassidy of TV's The Partridge Family. He went to Beverly Hills High School.
He released several successful singles in the late 1970s. His first single, "Morning Girl", a The Neon Philharmonic classic, didn't chart in the USA but did well in Europe.[citation needed] His second single, a cover version of The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron", hit #1 in the United States in 1977, and he, like David, became a major teen idol. He achieved two further top ten singles with cover versions of Eric Carmen's "That's Rock 'N' Roll" and "Hey Deanie" in 1977 and his first three albums also sold well. Cassidy and his mother Shirley Jones of the Partridge Family are the only mother and son to each have a song reach number one on the Billboard Hot One Hundred Charts.[citation needed] Cassidy also achieved chart success and toured in Australia.
Cassidy starred opposite Parker Stevenson in the popular The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries television series, which ran for several seasons on ABC-TV, starting in 1977. In 1987, Cassidy joined the cast of the Daytime Soap Opera General Hospital for several months, playing the character of Dusty Walker from 1987–1988. He was first in a series of young, male, blond actors to appear on General Hospital, followed by Chris Aable in 1988 and Steve Burton in 1989. Cassidy made his Broadway debut in 1993 in a production of Blood Brothers alongside brother David Cassidy - the first time the two brothers had ever appeared together professionally. Along with Petula Clark who played the mother, this production was a major success and achieved great critical acclaim.
Among his credits as a TV producer were the creation of the short-lived Fox Television Network Action/Adventure series Roar, which starred the then-unknown Heath Ledger. Other writing and producing credits include Cold Case, The Agency, and the creation of American Gothic as well as the 2005 ABC series Invasion.
Cassidy has two children from his first marriage with model Ann Pennington, and one child from his second marriage, with actress Susan Diol. On August 28, 2004, Cassidy married a third time, to producer Tracey Turner, with whom he has two children.
I Wanna Be With You
Shaun Cassidy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that dress come back for more
Don't you run, don't be afraid
You're gonna be glad that you stayed
(What do you wanna say?)
I wanna send love to you
(What do you wanna do?)
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you
I know that dress got what I need
(Know that dress got what I need)
Not gonna quit 'til I succeed
(Not gonna quit 'till I succeed)
Just give me a chance to show to you
(Show to you)
What a boogyin' boy like me can do
(Oh, oh)
(What do you wanna say?)
I wanna send love to you
(What do you wanna do?)
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you
(What do you wanna say?)
I wanna send love to you
(What do you wanna do?)
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna, wanna
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Be with you, yeah
The lyrics to Shaun Cassidy's I Wanna Be With You is about a boy who sees a girl in a dress that he knows is meant for him. He wants to be with her and he's not going to stop until he succeeds. He urges her not to run and be afraid because she's going to be glad if she stays. He states that he adores her and he just wants to send love to her. The chorus repeats his desire to be with her, where he emphasizes that he doesn't just want to be with her, but he really wants it. He knows that the girl's dress has what he needs, and he's not going to quit until he achieves his goal.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and romantic, with the singer's pursuit of the girl being driven by his passion for her. It's an upbeat pop song, with Cassidy's youthful voice providing the perfect soundtrack for young love. This song has remained a classic for over four decades, and it's still played by couples all over the world.
Line by Line Meaning
See that dress come in the door
I notice that dress walking in
I know that dress come back for more
That dress is here for another round
Don't you run, don't be afraid
Don't leave, don't be scared
You're gonna be glad that you stayed
You'll be happy you stuck around
(What do you wanna say?)
(What do you want me to say?)
I wanna send love to you
I want to express my affection for you
(What do you wanna do?)
(What you would like to do?)
I wanna be with you
I want to spend time with you
I wanna, wanna
I really, really want
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Really, really, really want
Be with you
To spend time together
I know that dress got what I need
I am in need of what that dress has
(Know that dress got what I need)
(I'm certain that dress has what I require)
Not gonna quit 'til I succeed
I won't stop until I achieve my goal
(Not gonna quit 'till I succeed)
(I'm not giving up until I've accomplished what I want)
Just give me a chance to show to you
Allow me the opportunity to prove to you
(Show to you)
(Demonstrate)
What a boogyin' boy like me can do
What kind of moves I, a dancing guy, can pull off
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
I wanna be with you
I want to spend time with you
I wanna, wanna
I really, really want
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Really, really, really want
Be with you
To spend time together
(What do you wanna say?)
(What do you want to tell me?)
I wanna send love to you
I want to convey affection for you
(What do you wanna do?)
(What you would like to do?)
I wanna be with you
I want to spend time with you
I wanna, wanna
I really, really want
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Really, really, really want
Be with you
To spend time together
I wanna be with you
I want to spend time with you
I wanna, wanna
I really, really want
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Really, really, really want
Be with you
To spend time together
I wanna be with you
I want to spend time with you
I wanna, wanna
I really, really want
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Really, really, really want
Be with you
To spend time together
I wanna be with you, yeah
I want to spend time with you, yes
Writer(s): Michael Lloyd
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.