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".
Tell Me How
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
Don't you know that I love you
Let me show why I'm true blue
When I know our love is true
If you would say to me today
The time for love is now
Could I sway your love my way
Then I say tell me how
Tell me how to keep your love
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
If you would say to me today
The time for love is now
Could I sway your love my way
Then I say tell me how
Tell me how to keep your love
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
The song "Tell Me How" by Buddy Holly & The Crickets is a classic rock and roll love song. The lyrics convey the singer's plea to his lover to tell him how to keep her love and not keep it from him. He expresses his love and loyalty to her and asks for her reciprocation. Throughout the song, the singer is trying to negotiate the terms of his lover's love so that they can be happy together. He wants her to open up to him and let him understand her better so that they can build a strong and lasting relationship.
One interpretation of the song is that it reflects the anxieties and insecurities of young love. The singer is trying to figure out how to communicate with his lover and keep their love alive. He is aware that relationships can be complex, and he wants to make sure that he is doing everything right to keep his lover happy. The repeated use of the phrase "tell me how" suggests a sense of desperation and urgency in his voice, as if he knows that he needs to act fast before he loses the love of his life.
Overall, "Tell Me How" is a heartfelt and sincere expression of young love. The song's simple and catchy melody, coupled with the lyrics' emotional appeal, make it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me how to keep your love
The singer wants to know how to maintain the romance in their relationship.
You know how I need your love
The singer acknowledges that they are dependent on their partner's affection.
Tell me how you keep the love
The singer wants to know what their partner does to maintain their feelings for each other.
Within your heart from me
The artist wonders how their partner keeps their love for them alive and growing.
Don't you know that I love you
The artist wants their partner to realize that they are deeply in love with them.
Let me show why I'm true blue
The singer wants to demonstrate how dedicated and loyal they are to their partner.
When I know our love is true
The singer believes that their love is genuine and real.
Don't keep your love from me
The artist doesn't want their partner to hold back their love and affection.
If you would say to me today
The artist is curious what their partner would say if they expressed their feelings.
The time for love is now
The artist believes that the time is ripe for them to take their relationship to the next level.
Could I sway your love my way
The singer wonders if they could convince their partner to fall more deeply in love with them.
Then I say tell me how
The artist is asking again how they can keep their love strong for each other.
Tell me how you keep the love
The singer reiterates that they want to know what their partner does to maintain their love.
Within your heart from me
The singer is still curious how their partner keeps their love growing and thriving.
Tell me how you keep the love
Again, the singer wants to learn what their partner does to nurture their relationship.
Within your heart from me
The artist is still wondering how to keep their partner's love alive and growing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Norman Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind