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".
My Two-Timin
Buddy Holly Lyrics
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And reminisce with you that's my desire.
To meet where gypsies play, down in that dim cafe,
And dance 'till break of day that's my desire.
We'll sip a little glass of wine, I'll gaze into your eyes divine.
I'll feel the touch of your lips pressing on mine.
To hear you whisper low just when it's time to go,
The lyrics of the song "That's My Desire" by Buddy Holly seem to express a longing for a particular experience with a loved one. The singer imagines spending one night with this person in their old rendezvous, recalling fond memories with them. The setting is a dimly lit cafe where gypsies play, and they dance until the break of day. The singer's desire is not just physical, but also emotional, as they express a wish to connect with their partner on a deep level. They imagine sharing a glass of wine and gazing into their eyes. The most important moment, however, is when the partner whispers their love somberly just when it's time to go.
The lyrics of the song are evocative and poignant, expressing a sense of nostalgia and romantic longing. They paint a vivid picture of a special evening that the singer shares with their lover. The imagery and language used here are still loved by many generations because of their simplicity and relatability.
Line by Line Meaning
To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous
I long to be with you for a single night in the same place where we used to meet.
And reminisce with you that's my desire.
I want to recollect my past with you and that's all I want, a yearning to be with you.
To meet where gypsies play, down in that dim cafe,
I desire to be in a dim, smoky cafe where gypsies perform, to meet you there.
And dance 'till break of day that's my desire.
To dance with you all night and enjoy the time until morning is my earnest desire.
We'll sip a little glass of wine, I'll gaze into your eyes divine.
I want us to drink some wine together, while I will admire your eyes and their beauty.
I'll feel the touch of your lips pressing on mine.
The feel of our lips touching and the love shared between us is something I deeply yearn for.
To hear you whisper low just when it's time to go,
I love to hear your words softly at the end of the evening when we must part.
Cherie, I love you so, that's my desire.
My desire is to be with you and express my love for you, my Cherie.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: HELMY KRESA, CARROLL LOVEDAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Curry
Hank Snow had a popular recording of this in 1948.