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".
With Till the Sun Shines Nellie
Buddy Holly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
@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"