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".
Look At Me
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's gonna happen to you
When you've broken too many people's hearts
And can't find anyone new
Say say look at me and tell me
About that twinkle in your eye
Is the twinkle in your eye meant for me
Look at me from now on
Know the love we share
Look at me from now on
Let me know you care
Hey hey look at me and tell me
What's gonna happen to you
When you've spoken sweet words of love to me
And I want to marry you
Buddy Holly's song "Look at Me" is a melancholic tune that talks about the doubts and insecurities that come with love. The song begins with a plea to the person he loves to look at him and tell him what is going to happen to them when they break too many hearts and cannot find any new ones. The singer seems to be expressing his fear about their relationship's future and how it may eventually end up just like the others.
The first verse suggests that the person he loves may have a habit of breaking hearts, and the singer wonders what may happen once there are no more hearts left to break. He goes on to ask her to look at him and tell him about the twinkle in her eyes, whether it is meant for him or someone else. This line indicates that the singer is questioning the trust he has in his partner, which is a common concern for someone who is in love.
The chorus is a plea for his partner to take notice of their love and to demonstrate her care for him by looking at him from now on. The words "let me know you care" further emphasize the singer's apprehensions about his partner's commitment to their relationship. The last verse is even more poignant as the singer admits his desire to marry her, but he questions what will happen when he reveals his feelings, and she does not reciprocate them.
Overall, "Look at Me" is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the doubts and fears that come along with falling in love. The lyrics express uncertainty, and the melody creates a somber mood that effectively conveys the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey hey look at me and tell me
Hey, pay attention to me and answer honestly
What's gonna happen to you
What consequences will you face
When you've broken too many people's hearts
After hurting many others
And can't find anyone new
When you're left feeling alone
Say say look at me and tell me
Please, focus on me and be truthful
About that twinkle in your eye
Tell me the meaning behind the look in your eyes
Is the twinkle in your eye meant for me
Is your attention directed towards me
Or meant for some other guy
Or is someone else on your mind
Look at me from now on
Pay attention to me from this moment on
Know the love we share
Understand the depth of our relationship
Let me know you care
Show me that you truly care for me
Hey hey look at me and tell me
Hey, pay attention to me and answer honestly
When you've spoken sweet words of love to me
After making romantic promises to me
And I want to marry you
When I express a desire to spend our lives together
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BUDDY HOLLY, JERRY ALLISON, NORMAN PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hollys Buddy
I have always considered this to be his best track and it is so underrated by the so called experts. With the help of a friend, I now have the song with just Buddy singing vocals as my mate took all the backing out. When you hear the song with just vocals it puts a whole new reflection on the vocals that Holly had. Marvellous what these tech experts can do these days. The piano on this track is just so good! I have also got the song with just the instrumental backing and the piano is mighty good!
John
Buddy Holly will never die, he lives on in the hearts of his followers. Rock on Buddy !
david gifford
My older sister and I pooled our pocket money back in 58 and bought our first LP, Buddy Holly Greatest Hits and I have never grown tired of listening to this giant of Rock and Roll. Thing that impresses me most is the range that the songs covered, all quite simple but all quite different to each other. What a gift he gave us.
puppetlady1
One of my favorite Buddy Holly songs. It is particularly great to listen to during my morning walks. (too bad they don't make headsets for dogs.)
Greg Hayes
I've never heard this song before. Very nice. I know Buddy was only in his early twenties when he made his recordings and his songs are about teenage love but those tunes come across to me with such a great maturity. It's not the words he uses but the great conviction he has in his voice as if he has a wisdom way beyond his years.
Dave Low
Just wonderful. The person tinkling those ivories just makes this. It's short but sweet, melodic and captivating.
charlyW34
Sad news for all Buddy Holly fans: The dean of our fraternity, the great Bill Griggs of Lubbock Texas, THE Buddy Holly expert, true rock and roll fan and researcher extraordinaire, has passed away. We will miss his friendship and dedication to great music. Rave On Bill!
StillBowling4Dollars
Yet another fantastic Buddy Holly tune! Buddy wrote so many of them........thanks for sharing! BUDDY HOLLY LIVES!
Ian Carrick
Even today (2017) this song still has; beat, great words and not out of date...
rockinmosquito
...and not out of date... -- Our Great-Great Grandchildren will be saying the same thing 100 years from now. Lost so much 2/3/1959