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Backstory: Bob Seger’s “Shame on the Moon”

By on December 18, 2023

Bob Seger’s 1982 hit “Shame on the Moon” was not written by him, but by Rodney Crowell, a country singer-songwriter who had been part of Emmylou Harris’s backing band. Crowell had recorded the song for his self-titled album in 1981, but it was Seger who made it a crossover success, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

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Bob_Seger, photographed in a live concert performance. (Photo Credit: Larry Philpot / SoundstagePhotography.com)

The song is a melancholic reflection on the difficulties of love and life, with the narrator blaming the moon for his troubles. “Shame on the moon / For making me want something I can’t have,” he sings in the chorus. The lyrics also reference the astrological signs of the zodiac, suggesting that the narrator feels out of sync with his partner and the world.

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Bob Seger, photographed in a live concert performance. (Photo Credit: Larry Philpot / SoundstagePhotography.com)

Seger recorded the song with his Silver Bullet Band, but he also enlisted the help of some notable backing vocalists: Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles. The trio added their signature harmonies to the song, giving it a rich and warm sound. Seger later said that he was grateful for their contribution, as they were busy working on their own album at the time.

File Photo: Don Henley, and Glenn Frey of the Eagles in Indianapolis, Indiana in, 2013. Used with Permission. (Photo Credit: Onstage Media/ Kurt Anno)
File Photo: Timothy B. Schmidt, of the Eagles in Indianapolis, Indiana in, 2013. Used with Permission. (Photo Credit: Onstage Media/ Kurt Anno)

“Shame on the Moon” was one of Seger’s biggest hits, and it earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It also helped to boost Crowell’s career as a songwriter, as he went on to write hits for other artists such as Rosanne Cash, Crystal Gayle, and Keith Urban. The song remains a classic example of Seger’s ability to blend rock and country influences, and to express universal emotions with simple and honest words.

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