Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Budd… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock.

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".

I'll Just Pretend
Buddy Holly Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You spurned the love I gave you darling
A love you once was proud to own
You found someone who you love better
And in my Dreams I walk alone

I'll just pretend that I don't love you
I'll just pretend that I don't care
And when I meet you face to face dear

I'll turn my head I'll just pretend

Those happy hours we spent together
Forever in my heart will live
That's all I have for each tomorrow
For we will never meet again

I'll try my best to forget you
To love you now is such a sin

And as I'm facing all my fears, dear
They'll understand I won't pretend

Overall Meaning

In this song, Buddy Holly is singing about a lost love. He loved someone deeply but, unfortunately, that person left him for another lover. Even though he is alone now, he cannot get over the fact that he was once happy with that person. They had many happy moments, and he will always remember them in his heart. However, he has to pretend that he doesn't care anymore, especially when he faces that person in person. Holly is trying to forget his love, but it is not easy for him as he still feels a strong connection with that person. He is afraid of facing his fear of losing the person he once loved, but he is determined not to pretend anymore, and to face up to his true feelings.

I'll Just PretendBuddy Holly Lyrics

I'll Just Pretend
Buddy Holly Lyrics