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".
True Love Ways
Buddy Holly Lyrics
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Why you and I
Will bye and bye
Know true love ways
Sometimes we'll sigh
Sometimes we'll cry
And we'll know why
Know true love ways
Throughout the days
Our true love ways
Will bring us joys to share
With those who really care
Sometimes we'll sigh
Sometimes we'll cry
And we'll know why
Just you and I
Know true love ways
Throughout the days
Our true love ways
Will bring us joys to share
With those who really care
Sometimes we'll sigh
Sometimes we'll cry
And we'll know why
Just you and I
Know true love ways
In Buddy Holly's song True Love Ways, the singer expresses the depth of his love to a special someone. He sings that only they know why they are meant to be together and that one day they will fully understand the true love ways that bind them. The song speaks to both the joys and struggles of being in love, as the couple will have moments of happiness as well as times of sadness, but through it all, they will always have each other. Holly also suggests that their love is not only for them to enjoy but it will bring them closer to the people they care about, as they will share their joys with those who truly care for them.
The song's lyrics may appear simple, but they are profound in their message, capturing the essence of true love. Holly's tender and emotive delivery adds to the song's charm, and the smooth harmonies of the backing vocals create a dreamlike atmosphere that encapsulates the sweetness of love. The repetition of certain lines throughout the song adds to its emotive power, emphasizing the message that even in the face of sadness, true love prevails.
Line by Line Meaning
Just you know why
Only you know why we are meant for each other
Why you and I
Why we were brought together
Will bye and bye
Over time we will discover
Know true love ways
The essence of true love and how to show it
Sometimes we'll sigh
Though things won't always be easy
Sometimes we'll cry
And tears will be shed
And we'll know why
We'll still hold on to our love in our hearts
Just you and I
Together, through the ups and downs
Know true love ways
We'll learn how to love each other, truly and deeply
Throughout the days
Through every moment and every hour
Our true love ways
Our love will remain strong and true
Will bring us joys to share
And will bring us happiness we can't help but share
With those who really care
With those who truly matter in our lives
Sometimes we'll sigh
Even when we're feeling low
Sometimes we'll cry
Even when things get tough
And we'll know why
We will have each other and the love we share
Just you and I
Together, we'll face anything and everything
Know true love ways
With the help of true love, we'll make it through anything
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Buddy Holly, Norman Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind