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".
Blue Monday )
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got me workin' like a dog all day
Here comes Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday
I'm so tired, I've got no time to play
Look out Wednesday I'm beat to my bone
My girl calls, I gotta tell her I'm not home
She knows Thursday is a hard workin day
Til Friday I get paid
All my tired has gone away
Got my money and my honey
And we're out on the town to play
Sunday morning my head is bad
But it's worth it, all the times I had
But I've still got to get my rest
For Monday is a mess Saturday morning,
Oh Satirday morning
All my tired has gone away
Me and my honey, we got some money
And were out on the town play
Sunday morning my head is bad
But it's worth all the times I had
But I've got to go and get some rest
For Monday is a mess!
The song "Blue Monday" by Buddy Holly & The Three Tunes portrays the feeling of dread and exhaustion that we all feel when we have to return to work on Monday. In the song, the singer laments having to work "like a dog" on Monday and then being exhausted for the rest of the week. He is so tired that he doesn't even have time to play. However, Saturday morning brings a sense of relief as he is finally free to enjoy his time with his girlfriend and spend his hard earned money. Despite the hangover and headache that he experiences on Sunday morning, he believes that it was worth it to have a good time.
The song is very relatable as many people experience similar feelings on Mondays. The emphasis on the days of the week creates a sense of routine and monotony that evokes sympathy from the listener. The repetition of the phrase "Blue Monday" throughout the song also highlights the theme of monotony and dread.
Overall, "Blue Monday" is a catchy and upbeat song that captures the universal feeling of dread and relief that comes with the start and end of a work week.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue Monday, how I hate blue Monday
I despise the beginning of the week, it brings me down with a heavy heart.
Got me workin' like a dog all day
The workload is unbearable, it's as if I am labouring like a canine for hours on end.
Here comes Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday
Tuesday is just as dreadful as Monday, it's an arduous day that's not easy to trudge through.
I'm so tired, I've got no time to play
I am completely drained of energy, I don't have any time or enthusiasm to relax and enjoy myself.
Look out Wednesday I'm beat to my bone
By the middle of the week, I am thoroughly exhausted and depleted of all my vigour.
My girl calls, I gotta tell her I'm not home
When my partner reaches out to me, I have to lie and say that I am unavailable because I am too sleep-deprived to talk.
She knows Thursday is a hard workin day
My significant other comprehends that Thursday is an intense day of work.
Til Friday I get paid
I have to wait until Friday to receive my paycheque for all the effort I put in throughout the week.
Oh Saturday morning, Saturday morning
The beginning of the weekend is a welcome relief, as I wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
All my tired has gone away
I no longer feel exhausted, my energy has been restored.
Got my money and my honey
I've received my earnings and I can spend time with my beloved.
And we're out on the town to play
We're going out to have some fun and make the most of our time together.
Sunday morning my head is bad
The morning after a night of fun and frolic, I experience a headache and feel less than optimal.
But it's worth it, all the times I had
Despite the discomfort, the memories of the good times make it all worth it.
But I've still got to get my rest
Regardless, it is still essential for me to get some sleep in order to recover from the weekend's activities.
For Monday is a mess
Since Monday marks the start of another laborious week, it's imperative for me to be well-rested and energized.
Saturday morning, Oh Saturday morning
Once again, we wake up on Saturday feeling refreshed and energized.
Me and my honey, we got some money
We have our earnings, and we plan to have a good time with each other.
And were out on the town play
We are going out on the town to fully enjoy the weekend night life.
But I've got to go and get some rest
Nevertheless, sleep is still essential for me to be adequately prepared for the strenuous work week ahead.
For Monday is a mess!
Monday is still an uninviting aspect of the week that I need to be adequately prepared for in order to have a better week.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON ROBEY, GILBERT G. CAPLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gerard van Leeuwen
The man who bring Rock'n Roll to another level !!
Ferreira
Brought
José Adan
Underrated tune from Holly
LooghcasMusic
Wow this Sound is amazing 😅
Brenda Wright
Rock
nroll ain t been same since day Buddy Holly died --- John MillinerFernando NIRVANA
Show, aprendi fazer esse solo hoje!
Michael Craig
I cover this song. This is the best version of this song for sure!
Ferry Yuwanto
excellent.......great rocker
Steve Fortenberry
Great artist. Died way to early.
WAYCNF
How does it feel?
To treat me like you do?
When you- oh wait wrong Blue Monday