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".
An Empty Cup
Buddy Holly Lyrics
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And now I know - what a fool I've been
She was to meet me (an empty cup, a broken date)
We had a date (a broken date, an empty cup)
A date at seven - I dreamed of heaven
Now it's way past eight
No wonder I can't help but cry
To think she never cared - just tears me up
Now all I have to show for love - is this empty cup
Just like this Coke - my love is gone
I've hit the bottom - now I'm all alone
The lyrics of Buddy Holly & The Crickets's song An Empty Cup tells the story of a man who was stood up by his date at a drive-in. The first verse starts on a sad note with the singer realizing what a fool he's been. He had an appointment with his date at seven o'clock, but she is late and it's almost eight. Sadly, when she finally arrives, she drives past him in the company of another man, leaving him all alone and heartbroken. He recalls the moments they spent together and acknowledges that she never cared for him, but all he has left is an empty cup, symbolizing the emptiness he feels now that his love is gone.
The song teaches a lesson about the perils of putting too much faith in love and the unpredictability of romantic relationships. It also conveys a sense of loneliness and desperation felt by people who have been let down in matters of the heart. The use of the drive-in theater and the empty cup are powerful metaphors that evoke a nostalgic feeling for a simpler time while simultaneously highlighting the emptiness that the singer feels inside.
Line by Line Meaning
One lonely night - at this drive-in
On a quiet evening at a drive-in, where the only comfort is the serene environment.
And now I know - what a fool I've been
Realizing the foolishness of one's past actions, regretting them.
She was to meet me (an empty cup, a broken date)
Planning to meet her and being excited, but it turned out to be a letdown with a date without her.
We had a date (a broken date, an empty cup)
Anticipating being together, but feeling empty and hollow with a broken date.
A date at seven - I dreamed of heaven
Imagining the romance and excitement one may feel on a perfect date.
Now it's way past eight
Time has passed, and the date is long overdue.
She just drove by - with another guy
Witnessing the one you hoped to be with driving by with someone else.
No wonder I can't help but cry
It's understandable to be emotional and upset, given the circumstances.
To think she never cared - just tears me up
Discovering that the person you thought cared for you actually never did, it's unsettling.
Now all I have to show for love - is this empty cup
Whatever remains of love, one may ponder if it's like an empty cup with nothing left to offer.
Just like this Coke - my love is gone
Comparing the emptiness of a Coca-Cola cup with the nothingness in the heart.
I've hit the bottom - now I'm all alone
Nevertheless, the person feels incredibly lonely and lost, reaching the lowest point in one's life.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROY ORBISON, NORMAN PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind