With Till the Sun Shines Nellie
Buddy Holly Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

By and by
Wait till the sun shines Nellie
And the clouds go drifting by
We will be happy Nellie
Don't you cry
Down lover's lane we'll wander
Sweetheart you and I
Wait till the sun shines Nellie
By and by





Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buddy Holly's song Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie convey a sense of optimistic longing and anticipation for a happier future with his beloved Nellie. The phrase "wait till the sun shines" serves as a metaphor for the hope of brighter and more joyful times ahead, while the suggestion to "wander down lover's lane" connotes a sense of romance and intimacy. Though the title character, Nellie, is encouraged not to cry, there is an acknowledgement of potential sadness in the present moment that is contrasted with the promise of a better future.


The repetition of "wait till the sun shines Nellie" serves as both a refrain and a reminder of the song's central message. The natural imagery of drifting clouds, sunshine, and a lover's lane create an idyllic scene of happiness and love that is yet to come, but is eagerly anticipated. Overall, the lyrics of Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie express a sense of hope, longing, and optimism for the future, while acknowledging the presence of some sadness or difficulty in the present moment.


Line by Line Meaning

By and by
Eventually, after a period of time


Wait till the sun shines Nellie
We must have patience and wait for brighter days to come


And the clouds go drifting by
Once the dark and dreary times pass over us


We will be happy Nellie
We will find joy and contentment in the future


Don't you cry
There is no need for sadness or tears


Down lover's lane we'll wander
Together, we will take a leisurely stroll through the scenic path of love


Sweetheart you and I
Both of us, my beloved and I


Wait till the sun shines Nellie
Once again, we must have patience and wait for brighter days to come


By and by
Eventually, after a period of time




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE RIZZO, HARRY VON TILZER, ANDREW B. STERLING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Playbyplaymedia

I'm not sure about the mixed chorus at the beginning of the record but find Buddy Holly's vocal very spirited, especially for an apartment recording.

@JamalSteve-fl1ql

I think the crickets overdubbed some of his songs after he died

@ausfan100

Amazingly. this original single version has never appeared on any legit CD release. Even the Buddy Holly "Not Fade Away" CD set featured the wrong version which included later additional overdubs by The Fireballs.

@user-ww7ec2ot4n

Lyrics:

Wait till the sun shines, Nellie
Wait till the sun shines, Nellie
By and by

Wait till the sun shines , Nellie
And the clouds go a-drifting by
We will be happy, Nellie
Don’t you cry

Down Lover’s Lane we’ll wander
Sweethearts you and I
Wait till the sun shines, Nellie
By and by

Down Lover’s Lane we’ll wander
Sweethearts you and I
Wait till the sun shines, Nellie
By and by

@ThePeaceableKingdom

Very Cool! I've never heard this one.

@wetpuppet4718

Oh wow! Thanks for uploading this!

@Blitz9H

Yes!!! Thank you!!!

@danielhayes7967

Should've put this on "Cheers" episode.

@mattcollier5957

"The Master"

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