Hey, Shannon!
Art & Lyrics
Sometimes, in matters of love, all the stars seem to line up… or so I have been told. How, out of all the possible combinations of people on this earth, two people ever get together, is beyond mind-blowing to me. My Mom called it “kismet”; others call it “fate” or “destiny”. At any rate, I will give you my word, the following is a true story.
Many years ago, when I was still single, I was about to have one of life’s landmark birthdays. My plan was to celebrate with a group of close friends at a fancy restaurant. My friends would handle the arrangements; all I had to do was find a "date" to share the evening with. A few weeks before the big night, I still was without a “date”. My best friend warned me that “time was running out” for me to come up with a date, and that if I fumbled, he would find one for me. I wasn’t sure if that was a warning or a threat. He recently had a beautiful single young lady come through his place of business, and being happily married, he thought of me. (I told you; he was my best friend.) Having similar tastes in women, this was not the worst news in the world, but hopefully, I would find my own. I did not date a lot when I was single. I believed in quality over quantity, but I was determined (desperate). As the day drew closer, I was hurrying through the local mall at lunchtime, picking up a couple of things when, whoa! I caught a glimpse of one of the prettiest girls I’d ever seen. I won’t say that I immediately fumbled, but really, short of an ambush, how do you approach someone in a mall? I began walking so that I could stay within sight of her but kept enough distance that I didn’t give myself away and freak her out. I may have been one of the original “stalkers”. I vaguely remember tripping over a trash can and bench as I struggled to keep her in sight, but I managed to stay close. I was hoping an opportunity would miraculously appear. Picture “Barney Fife” in your mind. Anyway, this went on for about 10 minutes or so until she finally ducked into a store. My luck, it was a Victoria’s Secret store and there was no way I was following her there! So, acting quickly, I pretended to use a payphone in front of the store, faking a call (pay phones were still around back then) as I waited for her to come back out. It was do or die. After waiting another 10 minutes or so for her to exit the store, I finally just gave up. My pathetic “game” had just reached a new low. It just wasn’t going to happen.
That night I told my friend what had happened. His response was kind and gentle… something like, “ok, loser… your time’s up”! He took the ball and arranged a lunch date for me a few days before my birthday, to meet the girl he drafted, and with no other options, I obliged, still kicking myself for the opportunity lost. The day arrived, and I stood waiting in the restaurant parking lot where I would meet her. She was a couple of minutes late, and I remember thinking that to add insult to injury, I was about o get stood up on my blind date lunch! After a brief wait, though, I finally heard a soft voice behind me inquiring, “Jeff?” and turned around… to find… THE SAME GIRL FROM THE MALL!!! It was one of the most amazing coincidences of my life. I thought my head would explode! Through lunch, I told her the whole story. It was amazing (probably more so for me than for her). She would be my special birthday date, and I was proud and honored. (I shouldn’t tell you this, but we never went out again. (She told me right away that she had just started seeing another person, but that she had promised my friend, so she showed up. I’m happy to say that things worked out for her with the other guy... coincidentally, another “Jeff”.) Fact.
Lyrics:
Hey, Shannon! Words & music JRRothrock 4/16/1995
Alone on the beach on a rainy night. A million tears falling down on me.
Remembering “love” in a quiet way. Darkness stretching out so endlessly.
Out in the distance, there’s a shimmering light… a lonely sailor out at sea.
Hey!? Isn’t that me???!
As waves keep rolling in from afar… I search the heavens for a single star.
I know it’s darkest just before the dawn, but I found a star to make a wish upon!
And then, you wouldn’t believe… what… happened to me!!!!
For the first time just the other day, I saw a face that blew my blues away!
Although I didn’t have a thing to say, I had to find a way to make her stay.
I know I may not get another shot. One wish per star, I know, is all I’ve got!
… but you know, I let her walk away.
Oooooh… Woah!!! I let her walk away!
… I let her walk away
… I let her walk away…. yeah…
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A few days later, I went out to eat, and meet a new girl my friend thought was sweet.
I sat there waiting for her to arrive, knowing there was no other girl alive.
How I wish the one who’s coming here was like the girl that I let disappear.
Then I heard a voice and looked around. You won’t believe what I found!
Lightning can strike twice!!!!!!!!
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I can’t believe what’s happened! Hey, Shannon… don’t fade away!
Hey, Shannon! I want to know you, Shannon! I want to hold you, Shannon!
There’s one more thing I’d like to say…
Girl, you took my breath away! Hey, hey!
Woah, Shannon! Hey Shannon…
Don’t fade away!
Don’t fade away!!! away!!!