I Can Never Go Home Anymore

Album: Shangri-Las-65! (1965)
Charted: 6
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a tale of a teenage girl who threatens to run away if her mother won't let her do as she pleases. The girl is advised not to leave home by another girl (the lead character) who did the same thing and now regrets it. When the lead girl fell in love with a boy, her mother told her to break up with him because she was too young to be in love. Strangely enough, after she left home, she forgot the boy completely, and her mind filled with memories of her caring mother. It's too late for the lead girl to return home because her mother died of a broken heart.
  • This was the last big hit for the Shangri-Las, who are best known for "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" and "Leader Of The Pack." It was written by their producer, George "Shadow" Morton, who liked to ramp up the drama in his songs. Like the group's previous hits, "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" features a long spoken section.
  • Originally, this was not included on the album. It was added after it became a hit single. Later on, the album's name was changed with this as the title track. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for all above
  • Shangri-Las lead singer Mary Weiss recalled in The Telegraph magazine April 14, 2007, "I had not been speaking to my mother for a few years at that point and when I was in the studios, I was crying."

Comments: 3

  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaFirst heard this song about a year ago, and it just touched me to my soul. so sad about the early death of the two members; one before I even graduated from school. Does anyone know if that is the members of the Wrecking Crew playing on this song?
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 5th 1965, "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" by the Shangri-Las peaked at #6 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on November 11th, 1965 and stayed on the Top 100 for 11 weeks...
    Between 1964 and 1966 the group had eleven Top 100 records, with three of them reaching the Top 10 and one peaking at #1 ("Leader of the Pack" for 1 week in 1964)...
    Two members have passed away; Mary Ann Ganser March 14th, 1970 (at aged 22) and her sister Marge Ganser on July 28th, 1996 (at age 48).
  • Alex from Gatineau, CanadaTip: If making a mixed tape with this song, insist on following this song up immediately with "I Feel Good (I Got You)" by James Brown.

    Watch hilarity ensue.
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