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Del Shannon Runaway

Rock n Roll

Del Shannon wrote and recorded “Runaway” with keyboardist Max Crook. It’s a song about a broken relationship, as the singer wonders why she ran away from him. “Runaway” became a number one hit and a timeless rock and roll classic, going to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. The interesting keyboard  instrument used is Crook’s invention, which was called the Musitron, an early version of the synthesizer. The song was featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti.  There have been many covers of the song, including those by Elvis Presley and Bonnie Raitt). “Runaway”  is on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Del Shannon was born Charles Weedon Westover in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1934. As a child he played the ukulele and guitar, with an interest in country and western music. While in the U.S. Army (he was drafted in 1954), he played guitar in a band called The Cool Flames. In 1959, when signing with Big Top records, he changed his name to Del Shannon. Del Shannon had success as well with “Hats Off to Larry” and “Little Town Flirt” in 1961 and 1962, respectively.  His end is one of the sad stories of the entertainment business, in that he suffered from depression, and at the age of 55, he committed suicide at his home in California.

Here are the lyrics to “Runaway” by Del Shannon:

“As I walk along, I wonder
Oh, what went wrong with our love
A love that was so strong

And as I still walk on
I think of the things we’ve done together
Oh, while our hearts were young

I’m a-walking in the rain, tears are falling and I feel a pain
A wishing you were here by me to end this misery
And I wonder, I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder

Why, why why why why why she ran away
And I wonder, oh where she will stay, yay
My little runaway, a-run-run-run-run-runaway

I’m a-walking in the rain, tears are falling and I feel a pain
A wishing you were here by me to end this misery
I wonder, I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder

Why, why why why why why she ran away
And I wonder, oh where she will stay, yay
My little runaway, a-run-run-run-run-runaway
A-run-run-run-run-runaway, a-run-run-run-run-runaway”

If you are interested in other songs by Del Shannon: “Little Town Flirt” and “Hats Off to Larry.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Runaway” by Del Shannon.

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