In 1962, Del Shannon released a yodeling novelty single, and it did far better abroad than at home. “The Swiss Maid” reached number two on the UK singles chart and went to number one in Australia. In the United States it stalled at number 64 on the Billboard chart.
It was an unusual record for a singer known for “Runaway.” Shannon was not the song’s writer, and he did not record it first.
| Artist | Del Shannon |
|---|---|
| Released | 1962 |
| Album | Hats Off to Del Shannon |
| Length | 2:07 |
| Composer | Roger Miller |
| Lyricist | Roger Miller |
| ISRC | NLG620467033 |
Source: MusicBrainz, as of October 2026.
A Roger Miller song first
The song was written by Roger Miller, the country singer-songwriter. Miller recorded it in 1961 under the title “Fair Swiss Maiden.” Shannon’s version came a year later. A release database lists its first recording date as May 9, 1962, and its single release as August 1962.
Songfacts describes it as the first international hit for Miller as a writer. Miller later became famous worldwide in the mid-1960s for honky-tonk-flavored novelty songs. This was an early sign of that gift.
The record in its time
The single came out on Big Top, the label behind Shannon’s early hits. The US pressing was catalogued as 45-3117, and the flip side was “You Never Talked About Me,” written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Both sides are credited to other writers, so the single was unusual among Shannon’s releases, which he often wrote himself.
The sound is built around gimmicks. Shannon’s performance includes a distinctive yodel, a style then used in some country music. Songfacts also notes a hiccup-style vocal trick in the manner of Buddy Holly. The story is a simple, folk-tale-like one. A lonely young woman lives high in the Swiss mountains and longs for love that never arrives, and the narrator wonders about her fate and hopes for a kinder ending. It is a small fable, told with a light touch.
Charts and reception
The song’s fortunes varied sharply by country:
- United Kingdom: number two.
- Australia: number one. Songfacts says it held the top spot for three weeks.
- Canada: number 17.
- United States: number 64 on the Billboard chart, and number 19 on the Easy Listening chart. It was the only Shannon record of his early career to cross over to that chart.
One fan-site account calls it Shannon’s sixth UK chart hit. Songfacts places the song on the album Runaway with Del Shannon, dated 1962.
The next single, “Little Town Flirt,” came out in December 1962. It reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Ireland and Australia. In America, that put Shannon back on firmer ground.
Covers
The song has been covered by Wayne Horsburgh, The Rockin’ Devils, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, and Chuck Layburn, among others. Miller’s own “Fair Swiss Maiden” remains the original.
FAQ
Who wrote “The Swiss Maid”?
Roger Miller wrote it. He recorded it himself in 1961 as “Fair Swiss Maiden,” before Del Shannon’s hit version.
How well did it chart?
It peaked at number two in the UK and number one in Australia. In the US it reached number 64 on the Billboard chart and number 19 on the Easy Listening chart.