Something I never knew.
The song "Shannon" by Henry Gross, released in 1976, is about a dog, but not his own. It was inspired by the death of an Irish Setter named Shannon, owned by Beach Boys member Carl Wilson. While touring with the Beach Boys in 1975, Gross visited Wilson’s home and mentioned he had an Irish Setter named Shannon. Wilson shared that he, too, had an Irish Setter named Shannon, which had recently been killed by a car. Moved by this coincidence and the loss, Gross wrote the song, capturing the grief of losing a beloved pet. The lyrics, with lines like “Shannon is gone, I hope she’s drifting out to sea,” reflect this emotional tribute.