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".
Slippin' And Slidin'
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
been told a long time ago
slippin a-slidin - peepin and a-hidin
been told a long time ago
I've been told baby youve been bold
I won't be you're fool no more
Oh my Linda, she's a solid sender
oh my Linda, she's a solid sender
know you better surrender
slippin a-slidin - peepin a-hidin
I won't be you're fool no more
Oh big conniver - nothin but a child
I done got hip to your jive
oh big conniver - nothin but a child
I done got hip to your jive
slippin a-slidin - peepin a-hidin
I won't be you're fool no more
The song "Slippin' and Slidin'" by Buddy Holly is a blues-inspired rock and roll tune that features the classic 12-bar blues chord progression. The song begins with a repeated verse where the singer is hiding and sliding away from someone who has been described as bold. The main character is stating that they have been told that their partner has deceived them in the past and this is the reason why they won't be their fool anymore. The chorus features the singer calling out the name of a woman named Linda who he describes as a solid sender and warns others to surrender to her.
In the second verse, the main character addresses a person they are calling a big conniver, describing them as nothing but a child. The main character appears to have caught on to the deceitful behavior and has gotten hip to their jive. The song then ends with another chorus where he repeats that he won't be a fool any longer. These lyrics appear to be expressing frustration with deceitful, conniving people who are not being truthful in their relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Slippin a-slidin - peepin and a-hidin
I have been sneaking around and trying to hide my actions.
been told a long time ago
I have been advised before by someone who is experienced and wise.
I've been told baby youve been bold
I have heard that you have been bold and reckless in your behavior, my dear.
I won't be you're fool no more
I will not allow you to make a fool out of me any longer.
Oh my Linda, she's a solid sender
My Linda is a trustworthy and reliable person.
know you better surrender
You should give up and accept defeat because you are powerless against her.
Oh big conniver - nothin but a child
You are a deceitful and manipulative person who acts like a child.
I done got hip to your jive
I have become aware of your tricks and schemes.
slippin a-slidin - peepin a-hidin
I have been sneaking around and trying to hide my actions.
I won't be you're fool no more
I will not allow you to make a fool out of me any longer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Albert Collins, Edurin Bogage, James Smith, Richard Penniman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rachelle D
This is the best arrangement of this song I have ever heard. I love how Buddy strips it down and gives it an acoustic sound. Its cool and sultry. He plays with such precision and strength. Very Buddy. Awesome vision.
Wesley Cook
Notice that he uses the lead in from Bird Dog an Everly Brothers song on this.
Rachelle D
@Wesley Cook Yes! I have been trying to figure out whether it's originally Buddy's or the Everly's. I think it's Don's riff. That seems to be the consensus from fan clubs. 🌞🌞
Wesley Cook
@Rachelle D It's from an Everly Brothers song. Pull up Bird Dog by them and see. Buddy and the Everlies' were close friends. Buddy just uses the lead in and the tune changes and it's all Buddy.
Rachelle D
@Wesley Cook Yep, definitely the Everly brothers.
Wesley Cook
@Rachelle D Little Richard called Buddy " such a nice polite boy. He calls Little Richard and asks me if he could cover my song. " Little Richard also said the same thing about the Beatles later on. Paul sang several Little Richard songs. Little Richard didn't mind later covers but when Pat Boone put out Tutti Frutti the same time Little Richard did, the war was on. Pat also covered Ain't That A Shame,a Fats Domino hit but Fats knocked him out of contention when his version outsold Pat. It wasn't Pat's fault though. He only recorded what his record producer told him too..Later, he changed labels and started recording things like Moody River . He asked the radio stations to not play the covers. No problem. Alan Freed had trashed them years before.
the king
Let the world never forget the music of buddy holly. RIP 🎸🎸🎸
Ratboy1955
Had he lived, he would've changed music even more than he did, I believe. Funny thing to me about this song is that Little Richard's version, even though he wrote it, is not as good as this Buddy Holly version or that of John Lennon on his Rock & Roll album. " Done got hip to your jive ".
Sean Magee
@Ratboy1955 like all 3 versions. First heard Buddys from an LP my brother had. John's version pretty good, - - 'lyrical phrasing' is similar to Buddy.👍. Richards version is a RnR/RnB classic. All three versions 👍👍👍. (but Richards is my favourite.)😋😘
D Doeser
R.I.P ONVERGETELIJK JAAR 2O22 ❤🇳🇱🌏🙏