Terfry is also a host at CBC Radio 3, with hosting a program on the CBC Radio 3 website's web radio station during weekdays. In addition, he will be the host of the weekday 3-6pm CBC Radio 2 show beginning in the fall of 2008.
Early career and influences
Terfry was born in 1972 and raised in Mount Uniacke, a rural community outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was first exposed to rap music in the mid-1980s while listening to CBC Radio's late night show Brave New Waves, and then by listening to Halifax campus community radio station CKDU. CKDU then broadcast at only 33 watts, and he had to climb a tree in his yard to hear the station's hip hop show on his cheap transistor radio. Fascinated by hip hop, the young Terfry taught himself how to rap, DJ, and, later, to produce records. His musical influences include MC Shan, David Lynch, Gitche Manitou, and Kool Keith.
Using the moniker DJ Critical, he later hosted a hip-hop show on CKDU called "The Bassment" (later renamed "The Treatment Program", when he assumed the stage name Jesus Murphy), which aired for several years. This period overlapped with many of his non-major-label releases.
Stage Names
Buck 65 has also used a number of other stage names including Johnny Rockwell, Stinkin' Rich, Haslam, and Uncle Climax. These pseudonyms typically represent different characters in his raps (as in Uncle Climax, Johnny Rockwell and Stinkin' Rich) or different aspects of Buck's creativity (as noted above, DJ Critical was his DJ name on CKDU.) Rumours abound that Buck 65's alias comes from his childhood nickname of Buck and his weight of 165 pounds; possibly the pseudonym comes from the weight of the first buck he shot or the $1.65 standard bus fare for Halifax Regional Municipality riders. He has been known to say on stage, "They call me Buck 65... I don't know why." Buck 65's website mentioned previously that he was named after his uncle's 1965 Buick automobile ("'65 Buick" is a track on the Synesthesia album); he performed a show under that name but the promoter mistakenly wrote the name as it is now spelled.
Recently Buck 65 has recorded an EP under the name of Dirk Thornton alongside Irishman DJ Flip, it was scheduled for release early 2007 but the date was not set.
The first release under Dirk Thornton will be a 7" single with the tracks "Yesterday's News" and "Catwalk".
He is also involved in an online collaboration with "Greetings From Tuskan" auteur Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê, as Bike For Three, though a release is yet unforthcoming.
Early releases
In 1993, he released his first cassette of rap tunes while performing under the alias Stinkin' Rich on the Halifax label No Records. The five song cassette was titled Chin Music, which was a reference to his past interest in baseball. The release brought Stinkin' Rich to the attention of members of Halifax alternative rock band Sloan. Sloan signed him to their independent record label Murderecords and released a 7" single and a full length cassette called Game Tight, again featuring a reference to baseball. (Terfry has often stated in interviews that in his teens he had been scouted to play for the New York Yankees but that the death of the talent scout coupled with an injury had caused the deal to fall through)
After a brief break, Terfry returned reconstituted as Buck 65, releasing Language Arts on cassette and the 12" single Wildlife Trilogy, followed by Vertex, which included his popular song "The Centaur." He recorded Sebutonedef (released in 1996 by Funtrip Records) as a collaboration with fellow Halifax artist Sixtoo. Other releases by the duo, known as the Sebutones, are Psoriasis and 50/50 Where It Counts. While still far from mainstream success, he received several odd jobs in Canada's entertainment industry, including making soundtrack music and providing narration for a TV commercial for NBA apparel, and song lyrics for the popular children's program Sesame Street. During a live performance Buck 65 told a story in which he attributed why he was chosen for Sesame Street to three things; his upstanding lifestyle of not drinking, smoking, or doing drugs, his intelligence that wasn't too intelligent for the kids, and Sesame Street's assumption that he was a virgin.
Man Overboard, originally released on the anticon. label, was a significant turning point in his career. The record, and the entire anticon. collective (of which Sixtoo was also a part), were considered hallmarks of a new avant-garde movement in underground hip hop. It was at this time that Buck met Cincinnati DJ Mr. Dibbs who inducted him into the 1200 Hobos, a loosely-knit hip-hop collective named for their proficiency in manipulating the Technics 1200 turntable.
Critical Acclaim
Many of his early projects attracted attention after they were re-released, first on the independent Metaforensics label and subsequently by Warner Music Canada. While Buck 65 has gained critical acclaim and worldwide exposure through his major label deal, commercial success has escaped him. Although Warner's worldwide affiliates distribute his records, Warner USA does not. After a deal was signed with V2 USA, This Right Here Is Buck 65 was released in the States, a sort of "Best of" that was marketed as an introduction to his work. However after V2 chose not to release his next effort, Secret House Against the World, the deal was amicably dissolved. Since then Buck 65 was signed onto Strange Famous Records where he's planning on taking over hip-hop with Sage Francis. His latest release is titled "Situation".
Buck's most recent albums have gradually moved away from his original 'pure' hip-hop sound into territory influenced by folk, blues and electronica, with some even comparing elements of his sound to Tom Waits. Some of Buck 65's music is used on the Canadian show Trailer Park Boys, frequently in the character Julian's car. He gained additional recognition in 2006 when he appeared at the national Juno Awards with Pamela Anderson.
Kerrang! “Controversy”
In August 2004, he sparked controversy in the underground hip-hop world over comments he made to an interviewer in Kerrang! magazine. Buck was quoted as saying:
“I now hate hip hop, the more I’ve educated myself about music, the more I’ve grown to hate it. I don’t use that word lightly, either.”
In response, former anticon. label-mate Sage Francis (in a post on his website) stated that
"Buck has had his head up his arse for many years now."
Buck later wrote in a letter to Exclaim!:
“I’m apologizing for all that. I lost my cool on tape which is never good. The journalist was provoking me, calling me a sell-out and a whore. I was trying to make a point by playing devil’s advocate, but I went way overboard. No hint of irony or role-playing or intelligence came across in the story. Now I just look like an idiot. I take it back. I don’t really believe any of that. I don’t think being able to read music is a concern. Most of my favourite music was made by non-educated musicians. It doesn’t matter. I still have heavy criticisms of most hip hop, but I really didn’t make them well on this particular day. I put my foot in my mouth and I’m apologizing for that."
Dirty Work
Buck 65 released a 5 song digital EP called "Dirty Work". It was released over a month long campaign, adding one song per week for free download via his MySpace page. All five tracks are still available for download on his official website. The EP comes with artwork drawn by Buck himself, and the tracks are all b-sides from the full length record 'Situation'.
Situation to present
Buck 65 released the album Situation on October 30th, 2007, on Strange Famous Records in the US and Warner Music worldwide. The album is a concept album based around the year 1957, and is a return to a more 'pure' hip-hop sound than the previous blues, country and avant-garde influences in Secret House Against the World. It was produced by fellow Halifax DJ Skratch Bastid, aimed at making a "classic hip-hop record that pulses with joy and clarity of purpose".
Buck 65 is currently working on a new album which, judging from live material, will feature much more prominent electronic beats than before. Additionally, Buck 65's collaboration project with "Greetings From Tuskan" auteur Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê, Bike for Three!, has its debut album completed for release in early 2009.
He has been a host of CBC Radio 3's web radio for the past year, and recently accepted daily hosting duties on CBC Radio 2's national radio beginning fall 2008.
1957
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devoid of conviction, conflicted, annoyed.
Kicked at and worn down, 6 6 6.
Beat. Looking for the next quick fix.
Unpopular prophets with problems
Up against angels in disguise who want to rob them;
Who didn't want to end up crushed by god?s embrace
In the age of the cold wind blowing and dogs in space;
They're the loneliest drunk.
In empty rooms haunted by Thelonious Monk.
Felonious punks and plate glass squares
That see empty eyes that look straight past theirs.
Street walking cheetahs with a gun in each hand
Who are lost at sea and are desperate to reach land.
Orpheus descending.
Swimming in the crooked waters.
Hello Sid Vicious, goodbye Brooklyn Dodgers
No joke. Hit the low note.
We all go to heaven in a little row boat.
1957 Chevy Bel Air.
Interior velvet especially.
Bloody probably. Stereo,
Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley.
Black Flame Trilogy.
Quadruple louder bass.
Battle sites. Little Rock.
Satellites in outer space
Words won?t help but a few bucks can.
Crew cuts and black leather.
Ku Klux Klan.
Men wear hats.
In fact, harems are shared.
Opiates addicted to and parents scared.
The underground is real.
Delivered greens to river queens.
Perpetual motion of free-thinkers and libertines.
Who suffer alone all night with pains
Hooked on drums and who fight with chains.
It?s Faulkner and Baldwin.
Insult and curse reality.
Spy vs. spy and the cult of personality.
What can the numbers
And the words in my head mean?
Killroy was here
And so was Buster Crab and Ed Gein.
No joke.
Hit the low note.
We all go to heaven
In a little row boat.
The pen keeps moving
In attempt to sink the jingoes.
Fight ?em with hula hoops,
Frisbee's and pink flamingos.
Up running all night.
Late sleep ordered.
?Have gun will travel?.
Great leap forward.
Man on the corner
With dark glasses free and preaching.
Appetite is monstrous.
Diet is Dionysian.
All over the world,
So much peril in one show.
Playwright Arthur Miller
Marries Marilyn Monroe.
Hard rain falling.
Babies sleeping in God's palms.
Alarm clocks ringing.
Warrior monks and bomb squads.
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.
Clairvoyants and mediums.
Believers in nothing.
Speed freaks and bohemians.
Red is the new black.
Identity files.
Rebels and grand dragons.
Obscenity trials.
Lolita and Bobby Fisher country.
No part is red,
Just black and white.
Humphrey Bogart is dead.
No joke.
Hit the low note.
We all go to heaven in a little row boat.
Buck 65's "1957" is a commentary on the state of society during that year. The opening lines are a reference to Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl": "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed," which speaks to the disillusionment and loss of faith felt by those in the counterculture movement at the time. Buck then goes on to describe the various struggles and conflicts facing individuals and groups in this era, including addiction, societal pressure, and political tension.
The references to popular culture, such as Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, serve as a reminder of how society focuses on superficial distractions while important issues go unaddressed. The lyrics also comment on identity and perception, with lines like "words won't help but a few bucks can" and "identity files" emphasizing the struggle to be seen and understood in a world that often ignores or misunderstands individual experiences.
The final lines, "No joke. Hit the low note. We all go to heaven in a little row boat," bring a sense of finality and acceptance to the song's message. The idea that we are all in this together, and that life is both fleeting and meaningful, is a powerful reminder to appreciate what we have and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed.
I witnessed the intelligent and driven individuals of my age group lose their purpose and drive.
Devoid of conviction, conflicted, annoyed.
They lacked strong beliefs or determination, had internal struggles, and felt frustrated and discontent.
Kicked at and worn down, 6 6 6.
They were relentlessly attacked and exhausted, possibly referencing the devil's number and symbolizing their unfortunate situation.
Beat. Looking for the next quick fix.
They were defeated and searching for easy solutions to their problems.
Unpopular prophets with problems
Outspoken revolutionaries with personal difficulties who were not popular among society.
Up against angels in disguise who want to rob them;
They faced disguised and harmful individuals who wanted to take advantage of them.
Who didn't want to end up crushed by god?s embrace
They didn't want to be suffocated or oppressed by the dominant culture or religion.
In the age of the cold wind blowing and dogs in space;
In a time of harsh conditions and unusual occurrences, possibly referencing the Soviet space program.
Who's faces are fading.
Their faces and memories are starting to blur with time.
They're the loneliest drunk.
They feel isolated in their intoxicated state.
In empty rooms haunted by Thelonious Monk.
They are in lonely spaces filled only with the ever-present memory of Thelonious Monk's jazz music.
Felonious punks and plate glass squares
Criminals and oppressive societal structures.
That see empty eyes that look straight past theirs.
They see individuals with no passion or focus who are not receptive to their revolutionary ideas or struggles.
Street walking cheetahs with a gun in each hand
Possibly referencing the Iggy Pop song, describing individuals with desperate and dangerous lifestyles.
Who are lost at sea and are desperate to reach land.
Individuals who are adrift and trying to find stability and a sense of belonging.
Orpheus descending.
Referencing the Tennessee Williams play, describing a character who descends into chaos and destruction to save his lover.
Swimming in the crooked waters.
Navigating through difficult and questionable situations.
Hello Sid Vicious, goodbye Brooklyn Dodgers
Referencing the punk musician and the baseball team of the era, possibly representing the shift towards counterculture and away from traditional culture.
1957 Chevy Bel Air.
Referencing the classic car, potentially as a symbol of American culture and nostalgia.
Interior velvet especially.
Emphasizing the luxurious feel of the car's interior.
Bloody probably. Stereo, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley.
Possibly referencing a violent incident that occurred while listening to popular musicians of the time.
Black Flame Trilogy.
Unclear, but potentially referencing a series of books or movies with dark themes.
Quadruple louder bass.
The music played with intense volume and power.
Battle sites. Little Rock.
Referencing the Little Rock Nine and the Civil Rights Movement, specifically the conflict in Arkansas in 1957.
Satellites in outer space
The new frontier of exploration and discovery.
Words won?t help but a few bucks can.
In this difficult time, money is more helpful than words of encouragement.
Crew cuts and black leather.
Describing the style of rebellious subcultures that rejected traditional looks.
Ku Klux Klan.
Referencing the hate group and their actions during the era.
Men wear hats.
Possibly referencing the fashion trends of the 1950s.
In fact, harems are shared.
Contrasting the traditional expectations of monogamy and committed relationships.
Opiates addicted to and parents scared.
Describing the widespread drug addiction that occurred during the era, and the fear felt by parents and authorities.
The underground is real.
The existence of secret or underground movements and groups is undeniable.
Delivered greens to river queens.
Unclear, possibly referencing a drug deal or covert operation.
Perpetual motion of free-thinkers and libertines.
Individuals who always strive for progress and freedom of thought and expression.
Who suffer alone all night with pains
Individuals who silently suffer through personal struggles and pain.
Hooked on drums and who fight with chains.
Describing a rebellious and violent subculture that embraces music and has a confrontational nature fueled by anger and oppression.
It?s Faulkner and Baldwin.
Referencing the acclaimed authors and their works that have important cultural and social commentary.
Insult and curse reality.
Rejecting and challenging the accepted norms of society and culture.
Spy vs. spy and the cult of personality.
Referencing the espionage and intrigue of the Cold War, as well as the obsession with celebrities and famous figures.
What can the numbers
The hopelessness and confusion felt in the face of data, trends, and statistics.
And the words in my head mean?
Questioning the significance and importance of one's own thoughts and ideas.
Killroy was here
Referencing the graffiti tag, potentially representing a desire to be seen or acknowledged.
And so was Buster Crab and Ed Gein.
Referencing the actor and the serial killer.
The pen keeps moving
The desire to write and express oneself, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
In attempt to sink the jingoes.
Fighting against extreme patriotism and nationalism that often leads to violence or oppression.
Fight ?em with hula hoops, Frisbee's and pink flamingos.
Finding humor and absurdity in the face of conflict, and finding creative ways to combat hate or adversity.
Up running all night.
Persisting through struggles and challenges, always in motion.
Late sleep ordered.
The desire for rest and relaxation in the middle of chaos.
Have gun will travel.
Referencing the Western television show, potentially as a symbol of the desire to seek adventure and escape.
Great leap forward.
Referencing the Chinese economic and social campaign, and possibly the hope for progress and change.
Man on the corner
Describing a particular individual who is seen on the street corner often.
With dark glasses free and preaching.
Possibly referencing a religious or political preacher with a mysterious aesthetic.
Appetite is monstrous.
The desire for excess and indulgence, often driven by stifled desires or oppression.
Diet is Dionysian.
A reference to the Greek god of wine, representing a life full of excess, pleasure, and debauchery.
All over the world,
This struggle and rebellion is taking place everywhere, not limited to any particular country or culture.
So much peril in one show.
The overwhelming danger and chaos of the era.
Playwright Arthur Miller
Referencing the famous playwright, potentially as a commentary on art and its relation to society.
Marries Marilyn Monroe.
Referencing the famous actress, potentially as a commentary on the complexity and beauty of human relationships.
Hard rain falling.
Referencing the Bob Dylan song, potentially as a nod to the chaotic and tumultuous time period.
Babies sleeping in God's palms.
A poetic image of innocence and protection.
Alarm clocks ringing.
The chaos and pressure of civilization and the daily grind.
Warrior monks and bomb squads.
Referencing the religious orders and military personnel of the era.
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.
Referencing the science fiction movie, potentially as a commentary on the dehumanizing and terrifying aspects of society.
Clairvoyants and mediums.
People who claim to have psychic abilities or can communicate with the dead. Representing the search for meaning and guidance in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
Believers in nothing.
Individuals who have lost faith in traditional values or beliefs, feeling disillusioned and empty.
Speed freaks and bohemians.
Describing the subculture of individuals who love fast cars and freedom, often associated with drug use and alternative lifestyles.
Red is the new black.
Describing the shifting cultural trends and fashion, symbolizing the rebellion against traditional norms.
Identity files.
Possibly referencing government tracking or surveillance, symbolizing the loss of privacy and individuality in society.
Rebels and grand dragons.
Describing two opposing sides in the conflict and implosion of societal structures.
Obscenity trials.
Referencing the censorship and attempts to control media and expression, symbolizing the fear and oppression felt by many.
Lolita and Bobby Fisher country.
Referencing the infamous novel and the young chess prodigy, possibly symbolizing the innocence and corruption of societal structures.
No part is red,
A rejection of the cultural and societal divisions, seeing only black and white in the world.
Just black and white.
The simplicity and clarity of this view of the world.
Humphrey Bogart is dead.
Referencing the iconic actor, potentially as a commentary on the inevitability of change and death.
No joke.
A serious and sorrowful statement about the state of the world and life.
Hit the low note.
To acknowledge the difficult and negative aspects of life.
We all go to heaven in a little row boat.
A poetic image of death and the acceptance of one's mortality.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PAUL R MURPHY, RICHARD TERFRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind