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".
Little Baby
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little baby, baby me
In my heart you are the one
Look around and have your fun
Wo, you be my little baby
And baby me
Little baby can you see
What your love has done to me
Love that leaves me full of sighs
Wo, you be my little baby
And baby me
Little baby, baby me
Little baby, baby me
Maybe I will baby you
With a bunch of love for you
Wo, you be my little baby
And baby me
The song "Little Baby" by Buddy Holly is a love ballad about a man professing his love for a woman and asking her to reciprocate the same feelings. He repeatedly asks her to be his little baby and to let him baby her in return. He praises her beauty and acknowledges the effect her love has had on him. The lyrics evoke a sense of joy and happiness as the singer requests the woman to have fun and enjoy life with him.
The song has a sweet and innocent tone, which is characteristic of much of Buddy Holly's music. The repetition of the phrase "little baby, baby me" throughout the song creates a sense of intimacy between the man and the woman. The lyrics suggest a desire to protect and care for the woman, while acknowledging the positive impact she has had on the man's life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Little Baby" portray a love that is simple, pure, and true. It is a declaration of the singer's feelings and a request for the woman to share the same emotions. The song's message is universal and timeless, making it a beloved classic to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Little baby, baby me
Addressing the baby with a playful and affectionate tone
In my heart you are the one
The baby is the most important person in the singer's heart
Look around and have your fun
Encouraging the baby to explore and enjoy the world around them
Wo, you be my little baby
Reiteration of the singer's fondness for the baby and desire to care for them
And baby me
Enforcing the idea that both the singer and the baby need each other's care
Little baby can you see
Asking the baby to understand the impact they have on the singer's life
What your love has done to me
The baby's love has brought immense joy to the singer
Can't you see love in my eyes
The singer's affection for the baby is evident in their eyes
Love that leaves me full of sighs
The love for the baby leaves the singer feeling emotional and overwhelmed
Maybe I will baby you
The singer will show the baby love and affection in return for their care
With a bunch of love for you
The singer has ample love to give the baby and is willing to shower them with it
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BUDDY HOLLY, JR. KENDALL, NORMAN PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind