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 Suede Shoes
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two for the show
Three to get ready
Now go, cat, go
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
Step in my face
Slander my name
All over the place
Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh
Honey, lay off of my shoes
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
You can burn my house
Steal my car
Drink my liquor
From an old fruit jar
Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh
Honey, lay off of my shoes
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
Buddy Holly’s “Blue Suede Shoes” is a classic rock and roll song that was first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. The song is a metaphor for the rebellious spirit of the 1950s youth, who were defying societal norms and breaking free from traditional restrictions. The song’s opening lines, “Well it’s one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, now, go cat, go” encapsulate the excitement, energy, and urgency of the rock and roll scene.
Throughout the song, Holly sings about the importance of his blue suede shoes and how he doesn’t want anyone to damage them. The lyrics convey a sense of pride and individualism, as Holly asserts his own identity and asks others not to infringe upon it. He warns that he can tolerate insults to his reputation or belongings, but not to his blue suede shoes. For him, the shoes represent a symbol of his identity and freedom.
The song has become known as a classic rock and roll anthem, and is often associated with the rebellious, free-spirited nature of the 1950s youth culture. The lyrics are simple, yet effective, and the catchy melody and driving rhythm have made it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it's one for the money
The singer is saying that the beginning of something is just the start; that the money is merely a symbol of the beginning.
Two for the show
By adding a show, the singer provided something to entertain the audience.
Three to get ready
The number three is an important part of the sequence; the singer is telling his band to get ready for what comes next.
Now go, cat, go
The singer wants the group to start moving and wants them to move now.
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
The singer is telling someone not to damage his shoes that look nice.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
The singer is telling someone they can do whatever they want as long as his shoes are not damaged.
Well, you can knock me down
The singer is saying that he's not afraid and that he can handle being knocked down.
Step in my face
The singer is telling whoever he's speaking to that they can confront him directly…or confrontation is always an option.
Slander my name
The singer is able to handle people saying mean things about him.
All over the place
The singer has heard all of these things many times before and is asking the person confronting him to stop doing it.
Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh
The singer is letting people know that they are free to do whatever they like, but there are certain lines that they must not cross.
Honey, lay off of my shoes
The singer is basically begging whoever is confronting him to leave his shoes alone.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
The singer is telling whoever he's speaking to that they have the freedom to do just about anything except damage his beautiful blue suede shoes.
You can burn my house
The singer is challenging whoever he's talking to, daring them to light his house on fire.
Steal my car
The singer is informing whoever he's talking to that they could steal his car and he would still not be happy about them damaging his shoes.
Drink my liquor
The singer is allowing whoever he's talking to drink as much of his alcohol as they like.
From an old fruit jar
The singer is telling everyone that the alcohol will not be in a fancy or expensive container; it will be in a cheap jar.
Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh
The singer is once again reminding anyone listening that they are free to do what they want, but not to touch his shoes.
Honey, lay off of my shoes
The singer is becoming more and more serious about asking people to leave his shoes alone.
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
The singer is making a clear demand that his shoes are not to be stepped on or damaged in any way.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
The singer is ending his song with the same message he started with: let people do whatever they want, except for damaging his beloved blue suede shoes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Carl Perkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@foggymountainmusic3468
An interesting fact:
look almost just like him. I’m from Texas, have a bit of a similar voice, and play guitar and some other instruments. I remember singing a while ago and my parents and everybody said I reminded them of Buddy Holly. Then my parents looked at my family tree. There he was. On my family tree. I’m also same religion as him. I’m a baptist he was too. And I realized that my father looked like buddy too. I am happy to be related to him. I impersonate him
Some information about Buddy Holly:
Buddy Holly was only 22 when he died and sang since he was around 13. He was in a country and western duo with bob Montgomery for a while then he joined the crickets in late 1957. They had good songs together, such as, Oh Boy!, Peggy Sue, That’ll be the day, Everyday, and words of love. He was no doubt great at a lot. I don’t like him because he’s my relative, I like him because he has talent. I was a fan of him before I figured out I was related to him. But his band was mainly friends but he had his 3rd cousin by marriage join. Niki Sullivan was in there but then quit because he wasn’t a fan of the traveling. Then it was stuck with Buddy Holly, Joe B Mauldin, and Jerry Allison. Then the crickets got in a argument because Buddy wanted to record in New York. But Jerry and joe wanted to stay in Clovis New Mexico. Also Joe and Jerry were drinking a little bit. Then Buddy on a tour that took his life along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Maria Elena Holly had a miscarriage and lost the baby. She was devastated and she never remarried again. February 3rd 1959 was then nicknamed The Day The Music Died. And there is some theories that Buddy shot The Big Bopper but there was no way it was possible for Buddy, Ritchie, or The Big Bopper to live. The last thing I want to say is....
R.I.P
@roasted420
Listen, I was raised on Elvis. The man could sing any song how HE wanted too. Buddy Holly fills the same billing. God rest them both.
@carlsmith1263
Godfathers of Rock
@deckjacobson4230
Elvis was like Buddy, except he couldn't emote as well, had a smaller vocal range and couldn't play any of his own solos.
@strahinjagov
How about some love for Carl Perkins, the guy who wrote this song?
@strahinjagov
@Deck Jacobson seriously, why do people like to shit on elvis these days? 🤦♂️
@Manoswild
@Deck Jacobson Elvis had a smaller vocal range? hahahahaha...nice joke!!!
@hollyhawk8682
No end to this boy's talent..
@Tonetwisters
Only what a badly designed altimeter could do ...
@areuokay4984
Literally no end it’s insane
@joegongora2200
This song was recorded in his family's garage in Lubbock, Texas. Probably in 1956 when he'd get together with the guys. At the time Buddy & guys were still doing Country & Western gigs. Some of those songs that were recorded in the garage. Later were worked on in Petty's studio. With The Fireballs providing back up music. These tape & The apartment tapes were the ones that Norman Petty provided the additional backup music. He did a great rendition of Blue Suede Shoes. Definitely he was a great rocker.