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.
Paper Airplane
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by the lake you saw me
And you knew I was waiting for you
Looking in between those long reeds
Your reflection it fell upon.
How we missed that love.
(Buck 65)
A game of solitaire with no card to play
Paper airplane so far away
(Jenn Grant)
How we missed that love
(Buck 65)
The words written on my hand are hard to say
A game of solitaire with no card to play
Paper airplane so far away
(Jenn Grant)
Crying for your letters
Looking all through the pictures
They're surviving the long way,
To get from me to you.
Get to me.
You're writing me a letter
Looking for my heart to send you-
Oh it all in words
I'm writing my heart out,
My heart out for you.
(Buck 65)
Distant tower,
Hour on resistant hour,
Signals with consistent power.
Eventually the shepherd must slaughter his sheep.
The sky is ripped open and the water is deep
Somewhere else your burning fire,
Your tempting charms
I'm lost in the woods with no voice and empty arms
Admitting I'm stranded.
Committing my plan
And two stories written by hand.
(Jenn Grant)
Play me again your memory.
(Buck 65)
The hands on the clock on the wall are the enemy
I feel them on my throat
Girls are called Emily
Stillness
Is Illness
Your voice is the remedy.
(Jenn Grant)
Polaroid picture gonna find me
(Buck 65)
The illusion is blinding
Aches that remind me
Finally behind me
Yesterday is in the fire
Drawn to these words
Until my hands begin to tire
At war with now
Desperately seeking then
Cursing my body
And torturing a bleeding pen
Memories of your voice
Circling through rooms
Wondering where
And imagining two moons
There is one for each of us
Anguish is my guiding grace
I keep all your lyrics in a secret hiding place
Building a boar made with a sail of paper
Words written down
No sound
And a trail of vapor
(Jenn Grant)
How we missed that love
How we
How we missed that love.
How we
The song "Paper Airplane" by Buck 65 featuring Jenn Grant tells a sad love story through the lyrics. Jenn Grant starts off the song by describing how she was waiting for someone by the lake, and the person saw her looking in between the long reeds. She expresses how they missed their love, possibly indicating that they've grown apart. Buck 65 then sings about how the words written on his hand are hard to say, and he feels like he's playing a game of solitaire with no cards to play. He also mentions a paper airplane that's so far away, perhaps indicating a lost connection.
Jenn Grant continues with her verse, expressing her sadness and how she's crying for her letters while looking through pictures. She's waiting for the letters to come from the other person who's surviving through the long way to get to her. Meanwhile, Buck 65 describes the pain and struggle he's going through while admitting he's stranded and committing to his plan. He mentions being lost in the woods with no voice and empty arms, indicating a feeling of hopelessness.
Towards the end, both artists express how they missed that love, the love they once had but no longer have now. The song has a melancholic and wistful tone, with the lyrics painting a picture of lost connections and missed opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
Down by the lake you saw me
You saw me waiting for you by the lake
And you knew I was waiting for you
You were aware that I was waiting for you
Looking in between those long reeds
You searched between the reeds for me
Your reflection it fell upon.
You saw your own reflection on the water's surface
How we missed that love.
We both long for the love we once had
The words written on my hand are hard to say
The message I have written on my hand is difficult to utter
A game of solitaire with no card to play
I am trying to play solitaire, but I have no cards to use
Paper airplane so far away
I send my message by paper airplane, but it seems so distant
Crying for your letters
I am weeping, waiting for your letters to arrive
Looking all through the pictures
I look through our pictures to remember our love
They're surviving the long way,
The letters and photos have traveled a long distance to reach me
To get from me to you.
The letters and photos were sent to reach you
Get to me.
Please come to me
You're writing me a letter
You are composing a message for me
Looking for my heart to send you-
You are seeking my affection to reciprocate your message
Oh it all in words
Our love is expressed through our written words
I'm writing my heart out,
I am expressing my love through my words
My heart out for you.
My love is strong and sincere for you
Distant tower,
A far off watchtower
Hour on resistant hour,
Enduring time, hour by hour
Signals with consistent power.
The signals are consistent and strong
Eventually the shepherd must slaughter his sheep.
At some point, a shepherd must make tough decisions
The sky is ripped open and the water is deep
The sky and water are both vast and open
Somewhere else your burning fire,
Your passion is elsewhere
Your tempting charms
You are alluring and enticing
I'm lost in the woods with no voice and empty arms
I feel lost and alone, unable to express myself
Admitting I'm stranded.
I confess to being lost and isolated
Committing my plan
I am determined to continue with my plan
And two stories written by hand.
I have written two stories by hand
The hands on the clock on the wall are the enemy
The clock hands symbolize time as a foe
I feel them on my throat
I feel like time is suffocating me
Girls are called Emily
The name Emily is commonly given to girls
Stillness
Silence and calmness
Is illness
Too much stillness can lead to sickness
Your voice is the remedy.
Your voice is a cure for my silence and loneliness
Polaroid picture gonna find me
A Polaroid will capture my likeness
The illusion is blinding
An illusion is deceiving me
Aches that remind me
Painful memories resurface
Finally behind me
Those memories are now in the past
Yesterday is in the fire
The past is gone and cannot be reclaimed
Drawn to these words
I am compelled to read and write
Until my hands begin to tire
I write until my hands grow weary
At war with now
I struggle with the present moment
Desperately seeking then
I yearn for a past time
Cursing my body
I am displeased with myself
And torturing a bleeding pen
I am writing with intense emotion
Memories of your voice
I think of your speaking voice
Circling through rooms
The sound of your voice echoes through my mind
Wondering where
I think of where you might be
And imagining two moons
I imagine two moons, perhaps a symbol for dualism
There is one for each of us
We each have our own symbolic moon
Anguish is my guiding grace
My suffering and pain motivate me
I keep all your lyrics in a secret hiding place
I keep your words close to me, hidden from others
Building a boar made with a sail of paper
I create a boat out of paper, perhaps as a metaphor for vulnerability
Words written down
Words recorded on paper
No sound
The words remain silent
And a trail of vapor
A trace of something left behind in the air
Play me again your memory.
Please remember and recall our past experiences
How we missed that love.
We remember and long for the love we once shared
How we
How we missed that love.
Contributed by Arianna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The1Mustache3
Hope the snatch was worth the trap.
Looking in between those long reeds. Did she chose you? What are these women to you?
Voices.
That is how I see and value them.
They come and go.
Does it hurt the to know they are a transient felling/muse.
Do you.
You are too tier imo.
You are The equivalent of your partner once you no longer chose to work alone.
Think
anticooool
I love Rich and Jenn! Both are so unique and original, and they couldn't sound any better together! Makes me proud to be Nova Scotian!
D C
Best Province
Kosher
Coming back ten years later to just say wow what an artist
GeordyColeman
I have listened to this song about 100 times now, I absolutely love it
Diamond Dust
Absolutely amazing artist. I love his lyrics, his phrasing, and incredible talent.
Mimi Jones
Absolutely love him... Great voice combo
Nic
This song helped me through such a hard time many many moons ago.
Anna Zavala
Such a heartthrob... his voice makes me melt
Nate Power
I had the pleasure to see Buck 65 perform with the NS Symphony orchestra, he was phenomenal.
Try Again
NatopowerGaming oh man, HOW i wish i could of seen that. He's so amazing. Im so in love with the music he makes.💗❤