Why Do You Have To Go?

Album: From Streetcorner to Soul (1957)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Dells formed in the early '50s, and became one of the most enduring doo-wop groups of all time. This song was written by Verne Allison of The Dells, and like many of their songs, it expresses a powerful sentiment.

    Kenny Vance, who was an original member of Jay & the Americans, and performed many vocal classics with his group The Planotones, mentions this as a classic song. Vance told Songfacts: "What I loved about those songs in the early days, they created an atmosphere. They were atmospheric. It wasn't about the lyrics so much, or the melody, but when they put the whole thing together it had a certain feeling. And that's to me what connected the audience when we were kids. It just had a feeling that you couldn't get away from. When adults tried to copy those records to make money, they couldn't do it. Those records were made by teenagers. And there's something about what they captured on those records viscerally that I think entered the listener."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.