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".
That's What They Say
Buddy Holly Lyrics
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When true love will come your way
There comes a time for everybody
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
I didn't hear them say a word
Of when that time will be
I only know that what they say
You just keep waiting
And love will come your way
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
There comes a time for everybody
When true love will come your way
There comes a time for everybody
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
I didn't hear them say a word
Of when that time will be
I only know that what they say
Has not come true for me
You just keep waiting
And love will come your way
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
The lyrics to Buddy Holly's "That's What They Say" are reflective of the universal theme of searching for love. The opening lines convey the idea that true love will eventually come to everyone. This sentiment is echoed throughout the song, as the phrase "that's what they tell me, that's what they say" is repeated several times. However, the singer notes that they did not hear anyone mention when this would happen. This line speaks to the uncertainty of love and how it can be difficult to predict when we will find our true match.
The second verse continues with the theme of waiting for love to arrive. The singer notes that they have not yet experienced the love that others have promised, despite their waiting. The final stanza reinforces the idea presented in the beginning of the song - that true love will come to everyone eventually. The repetition of "that's what they tell me, that's what they say" creates a cyclical effect, suggesting that the search for love is ongoing and never-ending.
Overall, the song presents a bittersweet take on the search for love. While the chorus reinforces the idea of the inevitability of finding true love, the lyrics also acknowledge the reality that this may take time and patience.
Line by Line Meaning
There comes a time for everybody
At some point in life, everyone will experience a significant moment.
When true love will come your way
During that moment, one will find themselves encountering their true love.
There comes a time for everybody
Again, highlighting the universality of this experience.
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
This information is hearsay from others, not necessarily from personal experience.
I didn't hear them say a word
Despite hearing the sentiment repeatedly, there was no specific instruction on when this moment would occur.
Of when that time will be
There was no clarity given on the timing of when someone would encounter true love.
I only know that what they say
The singer has only heard the general concept of experiencing true love during a specific time in life but has not yet experienced it themselves.
Has not come true for me
Despite waiting for it, the singer has not yet encountered their true love.
You just keep waiting
The advice given is to remain patient in the expectation of this significant moment to happen.
And love will come your way
Assurance that true love is still expected to happen as long as one remains patient.
That's what they tell me, that's what they say
Repeated for emphasis, the singer acknowledges that the advice given to them on encountering true love is based on hearsay and not their own experiences.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BUDDY HOLLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind