A Rock and Roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted only eight months. During this time, however, he scored several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which was originally a Mexican folk song that Valens transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement.
Valens died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa while on the Winter Dance Party tour. Also killed in the crash were the pilot of the plane and rock and roll stars Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The song American Pie, by Don McLean is a tribute to the three musicians who died, and a reflection of the changes in music since their deaths. In the song he calls the day of their death "the day the music died," a phrase that came from newspaper headlines that announced the tragedy on February 3, 1959
Brought up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as flamenco guitar, R&B and jump blues, by the age of 5 he expressed an interest in making music of his own. He was encouraged by his father to take up guitar and trumpet, and it is also known that he later taught himself the drums. One day, a neighbour came across Ritchie trying to play a guitar that had only two strings. He re-strung the instrument, and taught Ritchie the fingerings of some chords. While Ritchie was left-handed, he was so eager to learn the guitar that he mastered the traditionally right-handed version of the instrument. By the time he was attending Pacoima Jr. High School, his proficiency on the guitar was such that he brought the instrument to school and would sing and play songs to his friends on the bleachers.
When he was sixteen years old, he was invited to join a local band named The Silhouettes as guitarist. Later on, the main vocalist left the group and Ritchie assumed this position as well. In addition to the performances with The Silhouettes, he would play solo at parties and other social gatherings.
A completely self-taught musician, Valenzuela was an accomplished singer and guitarist. At his appearances he often improvised new lyrics and added new riffs to popular songs while he was playing. This is an aspect of his music that is, sadly, not heard in his commercial studio recordings. Due to his high-energy performances, Valenzuela earned the nickname "The Little Richard of the Valley".
In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. "La Bamba" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. In 2004, "La Bamba" was named #345 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time.
Come on Let's Go
Ritchie Valens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I will never never never let you go
Come darlin', let's go on by by by
Take my by the hand once again, darlin'
Tell me that you love me and you'll never never leave me
That's the way I wanna do, ooo-ee, ooo-ee
Let's go down to the park once again
There we'll love each other again and again
Tell me that you'll always love me so
I'll give you once, kiss you again
And darlin' I'll hold your hand
And I'll never never let you go
Come on baby, won't you love me so?
Oh, now let's go by, by again
Come on little baby, go back in
And I'll never never let your love go, let's go
Well, now you tell me that you love me so
And you'll never let me go
I'll love you, baby, until then
Until death do us part
So come on down, let's go by back again
Come on little baby, go back in
And I'll never never let your love go, let's go
Ritchie Valens’s song “Come On Let’s Go” tells a story of a young couple in love and their desire to always be together. The song starts with Ritchie professing his love to his partner, Jessie, assuring her that he would never let her go no matter what. He pleads with her to take his hand and to promise him that she would never leave him, highlighting the passionate love between them.
The couple then heads to a park where they can be alone and profess their love to each other again and again. Ritchie holds Jessie’s hand, kisses her, and assures her he would never let her go, creating a powerful and emotional moment.
These lyrics are an expression of the intense feelings and emotions associated with young love. Valens captures this feeling perfectly with his high energy and upbeat melody. The deep and sincere love between the couple in the song is emphasised with the repetition of “never let you go,” a sentiment that has been used in many other love songs over time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Jessie, doll, darlin', I love you so
The singer addresses a person named Jessie and expresses his love for her using affectionate nicknames.
Oh, I will never never never let you go
The singer emphasizes his commitment to never letting go of Jessie.
Come darlin', let's go on by by by
The singer invites Jessie to leave their current location and move on to a new one together.
Take my by the hand once again, darlin'
The singer asks Jessie to hold his hand, possibly after having done so before.
Tell me that you love me and you'll never never leave me
The singer requests Jessie's affirmation of her love for him and her commitment to staying together.
That's the way I wanna do, ooo-ee, ooo-ee
The singer emphasizes that the above request is what he desires.
Let's go down to the park once again
The singer suggests they go to the park together, possibly having gone there before together.
There we'll love each other again and again
The singer imagines that they will express their love for each other repeatedly while at the park.
Tell me that you'll always love me so
The singer requests assurance from Jessie that she will always love him.
I'll give you once, kiss you again
The singer implies that he has previously kissed Jessie and looks forward to doing so again.
And darlin' I'll hold your hand
The singer expresses his intention to continue holding Jessie's hand.
And I'll never never let you go
The singer reiterates his commitment to not letting go of Jessie.
Come on baby, won't you love me so?
The singer asks Jessie to love him as he loves her.
Oh, now let's go by, by again
The singer suggests leaving their current location again and moving on to another.
Come on little baby, go back in
The singer implores Jessie to return with him to their previous location, possibly the park.
And I'll never never let your love go, let's go
The singer affirms again that he will never let go of Jessie's love and suggests they move on to the next location together.
Well, now you tell me that you love me so
The singer repeats Jessie's earlier affirmation of love.
And you'll never let me go
The singer repeats Jessie's commitment to staying together.
I'll love you, baby, until then
The singer expresses his own commitment to loving Jessie until the end of his life.
Until death do us part
The singer explicitly invokes the traditional marriage vow of staying together until death separates them.
So come on down, let's go by back again
The singer again suggests moving to a different location together, possibly returning to where they've been before.
Come on little baby, go back in
The singer again implores Jessie to return with him to a previous location.
And I'll never never let your love go, let's go
The singer repeats his commitment to never letting go of Jessie's love and again suggests they move on together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ritchie Valens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind