The New York Times said,: “Stanley ‘Buckwheat’ Dural leads one of the best bands in America. A down-home and high-powered celebration, meaty and muscular with a fine-tuned sense of dynamics…propulsive rhythms, incendiary performances.” USA Today called him “a zydeco trailblazer.” Buckwheat Zydeco performed with a large number of famous musicians from Eric Clapton (with whom he also recorded) and U2 to the Boston Pops. The band performed at the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics to a worldwide audience of three billion people. Buckwheat performed for President Clinton twice, celebrating both of his inaugurations. The band appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, CNN, The Today Show, MTV, NBC News, CBS Morning News, National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition.
Dural was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He acquired his nickname as a youth, because, with his braided hair, he looked like the character Buckwheat from Our Gang/The Little Rascals movies. His father, a farmer, was an accomplished amateur traditional Creole accordion player, but young Dural preferred listening to and playing rhythm and blues.
Dural became proficient at the organ, and by the late 1950s he was backing Joe Tex, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and many others.
In 1971, he founded Buckwheat & the Hitchhikers, a funk band that he led for five years before switching to zydeco. They were a local sensation and found success with the single, “It’s Hard To Get,” recorded for a local Louisiana-based label.
He began backing Clifton Chenier, one of the most legendary zydeco performers. Though not a traditional zydeco fan when growing up, Buckwheat accepted an invitation in 1976 to join Clifton Chenier’s Red Hot Louisiana Band as organist. He quickly discovered the popularity of zydeco music, and marveled at the effect the music had on the audience. “Everywhere, people young and old just loved zydeco music,” Dural says. “I had so much fun playing that first night with Clifton. We played for four hours and I wasn’t ready to quit.”
Dural's relationship with the legendary Chenier led him to take up the accordion in 1978. After practicing for a year, he felt ready to start his own band under the name Buckwheat Zydeco. They debuted with One for the Road in 1979 on the Blues Unlimited label and then recorded for New Orleans’ Black Top label. In 1983, they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Turning Point and in 1985 for Waitin’ For My Ya Ya after switching to the Rounder Records label. The band then signed to Island Records, becoming the first zydeco act on a major label, and released On a Night Like This, a critically acclaimed album that was nominated for a Grammy as well. The band appeared in the movie The Big Easy in 1987.
In 1988, Eric Clapton invited the band to open his North American tour as well as his 12-night stand at London’s Royal Albert Hall. As even more doors opened, Buckwheat found himself sharing stages and/or recording with Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, David Hidalgo, Dwight Yoakam, Paul Simon, Ry Cooder, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and many others, including indie music stalwarts Yo La Tengo on the soundtrack to the Bob Dylan bio-pic, I'm Not There. His music has been featured in films including The Waterboy, The Big Easy, Fletch Lives and Hard Target. BET’s show Comic View, used his live version of “What You Gonna Do?” as theme music for the program’s 10th anniversary “Pardi Gras” season. He also wrote and performed the theme music for the PBS television series Pierre Franey’s Cooking In America. Buckwheat won an Emmy for his music in the CBS TV movie, Pistol Pete: The Life And Times Of Pete Maravich.
Buckwheat Zydeco has played many major music festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (numerous times), Newport Folk Festival, Summerfest, San Diego Street Scene, Bumbershoot, Montreux Jazz Festival, the Voodoo Experience, and countless others.
During the 1990s and early 2000s Buckwheat recorded for his own Tomorrow Recordings label and maintained an extensive touring schedule. Buckwheat Zydeco's latest album, Lay Your Burden Down, was released on May 5, 2009 on the Alligator Records label. It was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and included guest appearances by guitarists Warren Haynes and Sonny Landreth, Trombone Shorty, JJ Grey and Berlin himself. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award. Sonicboomers.com says, “The CD is a vastly entertaining and appealingly diverse package. Bandleader Dural remains an ever-engaging vocalist and a whiz on any keyboard he touches. So, for Buckwheat Zydeco fans, Lay Your Burden Down finds the maestro and his group near the top of their form. For listeners with less interest in the ol' accordion get-down, the collection supplies enough interesting wrinkles to get the good times rolling."
Buckwheat’s especially powerful and haunting version of the classic "Cryin' in the Streets" appears on the benefit album for Hurricane Katrina recovery, Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast.
Buckwheat's version of Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy's "When the Levee Breaks" appeared on 2011's Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection. It originally appeared on the 2009 Buckwheat Zydeco album Lay Your Burden Down.
Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr. died on September 24, 2016, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Dural, who had lung cancer, was 68.
On A Night Like This
Buckwheat Zydeco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold on to me so tight and heat up some coffee grounds
We got much to talk about and much to reminisce
It sure feels right, on a night like this
Well on a night like this, i,'m so glad you're here to stay
Hold on to me, pretty miss and say you'll never go away to stray
Run your fingers down my spine, bring me a touch of bliss
Well on a night like this, I can't get any sleep
The air is so cold outside and the snow's so very deep
Build a fire, throw on logs and listen to it hiss
And let it burn, burn, burn, burn, on a night like this
Get your body next to mine and keep me company
There is plenty a room for all, but don't you elbow me
Let the four winds blow, around this old cabin door
If I'm not too far off, I think we did this once before
There's more frost on the window glass, with each new tender kiss
And I sure feels right, on a night like this
The lyrics of Buckwheat Zydeco's "On A Night Like This" describe a romantic evening between two people who have a lot to talk about and reminisce. The singer is grateful for the company of his partner and asks her to hold him tightly and bring him some coffee. He wants her to stay with him forever and promises her that he will bring her happiness. The cold winter night is comforting, and they light a fire to keep themselves warm. As they snuggle by the fire, the singer describes the physical sensations of love and affection. The window is covered with frost, and each tender kiss seems to increase the frost. It's clear that the couple is in love and enjoying every moment of their time together.
The lyrics of "On A Night Like This" capture the warmth and intimacy of a winter night, but they also suggest something more profound. The song is about human connection and the power of love. It's a reminder that no matter how cold and lonely the world may seem, there is always someone out there who can bring us comfort and joy. The song also conveys the idea that love is not just physical attraction, but also a deep emotional bond that endures even on the coldest nights.
Line by Line Meaning
On a night like this, I'm so glad you came around
I am very happy that you are here with me tonight.
Hold on to me so tight and heat up some coffee grounds
Please hug me tightly and prepare some coffee to warm us up.
We got much to talk about and much to reminisce
We have a lot of things to discuss and remember.
It sure feels right, on a night like this
This moment definitely feels perfect.
Well on a night like this, i,'m so glad you're here to stay
I am delighted that you plan to spend the night with me.
Hold on to me, pretty miss and say you'll never go away to stray
Embrace me, my lovely companion, and promise you won't leave me.
Run your fingers down my spine, bring me a touch of bliss
Gently caress my back and bring me a feeling of happiness.
And it sure feels right, on a night like this
This moment definitely feels perfect.
Well on a night like this, I can't get any sleep
I am having trouble sleeping on a night like this.
The air is so cold outside and the snow's so very deep
The weather is freezing and there is a lot of snow outside.
Build a fire, throw on logs and listen to it hiss
Let's start a fire and enjoy the sound it makes.
And let it burn, burn, burn, burn, on a night like this
Let the fire burn brightly on this particular night.
Get your body next to mine and keep me company
Come closer and keep me company.
There is plenty a room for all, but don't you elbow me
There's enough space for both of us, but please don't elbow me.
Let the four winds blow, around this old cabin door
Let the wind blow around the cabin we are in.
If I'm not too far off, I think we did this once before
I believe we have done this before, if my memory serves me correctly.
There's more frost on the window glass, with each new tender kiss
The windows are getting frostier with each affectionate kiss we share.
And I sure feels right, on a night like this
This moment definitely feels perfect.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zenobia Chaney
on Mon Papa
I've always loved the Music in this Cajun Waltz-I Loved my grandpapas. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and their generation.