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".
Gone
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sun, the moon, the stars in the sky
Know the reason why I cry
I know I'm wrong - I'm all alone
Now you're gone
Oh, what I've give
For the lifetime I've wasted
I'm all alone - I know I'm wrong
Now you're gone
The song "Gone" by Buddy Holly is a heartbreaking ballad about the pain and regret of lost love. The opening line "Now you're gone" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Holly sings about how the sun, moon, and stars all know why he's crying. The imagery of celestial bodies further emphasizes the magnitude of his loss, as if the entire universe is mourning with him. Despite knowing he's wrong and being all alone, he can't help but long for the love he once had. The line "Oh, what I've give for the lifetime I've wasted" is particularly poignant, as he expresses regret for not cherishing the love he had while it was still there.
The repetition of the phrase "Now you're gone" throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder of what Holly has lost. The melody is simple and melancholic, adding to the sense of sorrow and longing conveyed in the lyrics. Overall, "Gone" is a raw and emotional expression of heartbreak that still resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you're gone
Since you left, I am without you.
The sun, the moon, the stars in the sky
Even the celestial objects bear witness to my grief.
Know the reason why I cry
They understand why I weep.
I know I'm wrong - I'm all alone
I realize my mistakes and suffer in solitude.
Oh, what I've give
I would give anything
For the lifetime I've wasted
To have the time back that I squandered.
The love that I've tasted
To have the wonderful love I experienced once again.
I'm all alone - I know I'm wrong
I am still by myself and acknowledge my errors.
Now you're gone
The chorus repeats the sentence that serves as the song's title.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SMOKEY ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind