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 Fought The Law
Buddy Holly Lyrics
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I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I miss my baby and a good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
A-robbin' people with the zip gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
The song "I Fought The Law" is an upbeat rock and roll tune that tells the story of a man who has been caught breaking the law and seeks to justify his actions by saying he had no other choice. In the first verse, the man is described breaking rocks in the hot sun, and he fought against the law, but ultimately he lost. In the second verse, the man robs people with a zip gun and again fights against the law but ultimately loses. In the chorus, it is repeated that he fought against the law but the law won.
The final verse shows a softer side to the man as he expresses his regret for leaving his baby, despite the fact that he is a criminal. He acknowledges that his race is run and that he has lost. The song, therefore, depicts the consequences of criminality and the inevitable defeat that comes with breaking laws.
Line by Line Meaning
A-breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I was working hard labor under the sun
I miss my baby and a good fun
I miss my girlfriend and having a good time
I left my baby and I feel so bad
I left my girlfriend and I feel terrible about it
Guess my race is run
I know my chances are slim
She's the best girl that I've ever had
My girlfriend is the best I've ever had
A-robbin' people with the zip gun
I was using a gun to steal from people
I needed money 'cause I had none
I had no money and urgently needed some
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law and was caught and punished
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law and was caught and punished
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law and was caught and punished
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sonny Curtis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind