He was born in Lubbock, Texas, to a musical family during the Great Depression, and learned to play guitar and sing alongside his siblings. His style was influenced by gospel music, country music, and rhythm and blues acts, and he performed in Lubbock with his friends from high school. He made his first appearance on local television in 1952, and the following year he formed the group "Buddy and Bob" with his friend Bob Montgomery. In 1955, after opening for Elvis Presley, he decided to pursue a career in music. He opened for Presley three times that year; his band's style shifted from country and western to entirely rock and roll. In October that year, when he opened for Bill Haley & His Comets, he was spotted by Nashville scout Eddie Crandall, who helped him get a contract with Decca Records.
Holly's recording sessions at Decca were produced by Owen Bradley. Unhappy with Bradley's control in the studio and with the sound he achieved there, he went to producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico, and recorded a demo of "That'll Be the Day", among other songs. Petty became the band's manager and sent the demo to Brunswick Records, which released it as a single credited to "The Crickets", which became the name of Holly's band. In September 1957, as the band toured, "That'll Be the Day" topped the US "Best Sellers in Stores" chart and the UK Singles Chart. Its success was followed in October by another major hit, "Peggy Sue".
The album Chirping Crickets, released in November 1957, reached number five on the UK Albums Chart. Holly made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1958 and soon after, toured Australia and then the UK. In early 1959, he assembled a new band, consisting of future country music star Waylon Jennings (bass), famed session musician Tommy Allsup (guitar), and Carl Bunch (drums), and embarked on a tour of the midwestern U.S. After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, he chartered an airplane to travel to his next show, in Moorhead, Minnesota. Soon after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing him, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson in a tragedy later referred to by Don McLean as "The Day the Music Died".
During his short career, Holly wrote, recorded, and produced his own material. He is often regarded as the artist who defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass, and drums. He was a major influence on later popular music artists, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Weezer, and Elton John. He was among the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1986. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 13 in its list of "100 Greatest Artists".
Dearest
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please don't ever ummm yeah, ever say we'll part
You scold, and you're so bold
Years together ummm yeah, our love will grow old
Ummm yeah, our love will grow old
You may-ay-ay-ay be a million miles away
Please believe me ummm yeah, when you hear me say
Come ho-o-o-ome, keep me from these sleepless nights
Try my love again ummm yeah
I'm gonna treat you right, ummm yeah, I'm gonna treat you right
The song "Dearest" by Buddy Holly is a love song that expresses the depth of the singer's love and devotion for his partner. The opening line "Dearest, though you're the nearest to my heart" signifies the importance of the partner to the singer, not just in terms of distance but also in terms of emotional presence. The singer implores the partner to never say they'll part, emphasizing how important the relationship is to him. The partner scolds him but the singer willingly accepts it, indicating that he is not perfect but is willing to grow old with his love. The outro repeats "our love will grow old" reiterating this desire for a lifelong commitment.
The next verse suggests that physical distance does not affect the singer's love for his partner. Even though they may be miles apart, the singer assures his partner that he loves her. He also adds a plea for the partner to come back home to keep him from these sleepless nights. The final line "I'm gonna treat you right" conveys the singer's desire to make things right in their relationship and implies that there may have been problems between them before.
Overall, the song exhibits a lover's passion, commitment, and desire for a lifelong relationship. The lyrics convey a deep-seated love that is willing to accept imperfections and overcome the barriers of physical distance. It's a sentiment that resonates even today, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Dearest, though you're the nearest to my heart
My dearest one, even though you're closest to my heart
Please don't ever ummm yeah, ever say we'll part
Please don't allow the words of separation ever leave your mouth
You scold, and you're so bold
You can be critical and assertive
Years together ummm yeah, our love will grow old
As we age, our love will only strengthen and deepen
Ummm yeah, our love will grow old
Yes, our love will mature with time
You may-ay-ay-ay be a million miles away
Even if you're far from me
Please believe me ummm yeah, when you hear me say
Trust me when I say
I love you, I love you
That I love you deeply, I really do
Come ho-o-o-ome, keep me from these sleepless nights
Please come back to me and keep me from losing sleep
Try my love again ummm yeah
Give our love another chance, I believe it's worth it
I'm gonna treat you right, ummm yeah, I'm gonna treat you right
I promise to treat you well and make things right between us
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ellas Mcdaniels, Prentice Herman Jr. Polk, Samuel Robert Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind