In 1958, when Tommy was eleven, his family moved to Niles, Michigan. In 1959, when he was twelve, James formed his first band called Tom and the Tornadoes. In 1963, the band changed their name to The Shondells. By 1964, a local DJ at WNIL radio station in Niles formed his own record label, Snap Records. The Shondells were one of the local bands the DJ recorded at WNIL studios. One of the songs was the Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich ditty "Hanky Panky," which was recorded as The Raindrops. The song was a hit locally, but the label had no resources for national promotion and it was soon forgotten.
In 1965, a DJ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, found a copy of "Hanky Panky" and played it as a station "exclusive." Listener response was positive, with many wanting to know where they could get a copy of the "new" single. Another DJ started playing the song at local dance parties. Responding to the demand, a local bootlegger taped the song off the radio and began pressing copies of it. Eventual sales of the bootleg were estimated at 80,000. Pittsburgh DJ "Mad Mike" Metro tracked down Tommy James and informed him that his record was No. 1 in the city. James almost hung up on Metro, but was convinced to come to Pennsylvania and make appearances promoting the surprise hit. Soon, James was in New York, selling the original master of "Hanky Panky" to Roulette Records. By the late summer of 1966, it was the top-selling single in the nation.
The Shondells had long since broken up, and did not wish to reform in order to travel to Pittsburgh. James flew there solo, and hired a local band named The Raconteurs to become the replacement Shondells. The group needed a follow-up and selected a song called "Say I Am (What I Am)". Although not as successful as "Hanky Panky", it reached #21 on the charts later in the same year.
Roulette assigned songwriters Richie Cordell and Bob King the task of writing songs for Tommy James & The Shondells. From 1967 to 1969, the group turned out hit after hit on the Roulette label, including six more that made it to the top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Crimson and Clover" (the group's second and final U.S. #1 hit), "Sweet Cherry Wine", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion".
Tommy James and The Shondells broke up in 1970. James then went solo and had two further chart hits with "Draggin' the Line" (Written by Bob King) (#4 in 1971) and "Three Times In Love" (#19 (Adult Contemporary #1) in 1980). James has had twenty three gold singles, and nine gold and platinum albums. He also wrote and produced the million-selling 1970 hit "Tighter, Tighter" for the group Alive 'N Kickin' (Written by Bob King).
In October 2007, Tommy James and the original Shondells reunited in a New Jersey studio to record once again.
It's Only Love
Tommy James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your actin kinda funny and you don't know why
Cause your heart keeps beatin like a big bass drum
And the beats gettin strong and it?s so much fun
And you keep on singin but the words are wrong
And you can't stop laughin baby what's goin on
It's only love, tryin to get trough
It's only love, tryin to get trough
You can't run, you can't hide
No matter what you do your on a ten cent ride
Goin up, down baby and it's so much fun
And your heart keeps beatin like a big bass drum
And the beats gettin strong and it just won't quit
Better hold on baby, cause you know that
It?s only love, tryin to get trough
It?s only love, tryin to get trough
It?s only love, tryin to get trough From: "J. R. Walskey"
The lyrics to Tommy James & The Shondells's song "It's Only Love" depict the chaotic and unpredictable nature of falling in love. The first verse describes the conflicting emotions that come with love, such as feeling both happy and sad, and acting in ways that are out of character. The strong beat of the bass drum symbolizes the rapid heartbeat that comes with falling in love, and the laughter and singing represent the joy and excitement of it all. However, the second verse shows that love can also be scary and unpredictable, like a rollercoaster ride that you can't get off of. Despite this, the chorus reminds us that it is only love we are trying to get through, implying that these ups and downs are all a natural part of the journey.
Overall, the lyrics of "It's Only Love" convey the idea that love is a thrilling and sometimes confusing experience, but it is all worth it in the end. It encourages listeners to embrace the ups and downs of their romantic relationships and to remember that they are not alone in their struggles with love.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't laugh, you can't cry
You feel a range of emotions, but they're all getting mixed up, making you unsure of how to react.
Your actin kinda funny and you don't know why
Your behavior has changed, and you can't figure out why you're acting this way.
Cause your heart keeps beatin like a big bass drum
You can feel your heart beating so fast and hard that it's almost like a bass drum.
And the beats gettin strong and it?s so much fun
Despite the confusion and chaos, you're having fun and enjoying the experience.
And you keep on singin but the words are wrong
You're trying to communicate your feelings, but the words that come out don't quite capture what you're feeling.
And you can't stop laughin baby what's goin on
You're laughing uncontrollably, unsure why you're reacting this way.
It's only love, tryin to get trough
All of these sensations and behaviors are a result of the powerful force of love.
You can't run, you can't hide
You can't escape the intense feelings that love brings, no matter how hard you try.
No matter what you do your on a ten cent ride
This roller coaster ride of emotions is unavoidable and may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things.
Goin up, down baby and it's so much fun
The highs and lows of love may be unpredictable, but they're still enjoyable and thrilling.
And your heart keeps beatin like a big bass drum
Your heart continues to race with excitement and anticipation.
And the beats gettin strong and it just won't quit
The intensity of your emotions is only increasing and won't go away anytime soon.
Better hold on baby, cause you know that
You need to hold on tight because you're in for a wild ride.
It?s only love, tryin to get trough
Again, all of these feelings and experiences are simply a result of love.
It?s only love, tryin to get trough
Love can be overwhelming and confusing, but it's worth it to see it through.
It?s only love, tryin to get trough
Love may be challenging, but it's a journey that you should embrace and enjoy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MORRIS LEVY, RITCHIE CORDELL, SAL TRIMACHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tonithenightowl
I was there for THIS and I'm forever thankful.
@watsonpaddy
man i love this song
@lindastjohn5007
One of my favorite songs! Love it!
@dwightplock1162
Their 3rd hit. I’m currently reading his book.
@leonardchandler7405
Tommy James always been my favorite
@lindastjohn5007
Love this!
@oldsailorrecordshanksmith482
Oh my God, the sound of that chorus when you first hear it...
@therocker274
going to see them at the casino in AC soon can't wait
@alanstrong3295
Tommy did it.
@GE-eb3qg
The oldies stations rarely play this and my other 2 favorites --Say I Am & Mirage but play Hanky Panky & I Think We're Alone Now of which the audio engineers may have modified to make MIRAGE !!!