The band personnel were drummer Jerry Allison, bassist Joe B. Mauldin, and rhythm guitarist Niki Sullivan. Sullivan dropped out within less than two years of touring and recording. He wasn't comfortable with the amount of traveling and to a lesser extent, he didn't fit in with Jerry and Joe. For the same reason, Jerry and Joe were not backing Holly after he moved to NYC. The big move was the real reason why the Crickets broke up, but Holly was not daunted by the breakup; he gained a new back-up band with Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings on the tour shortly after the Crickets folded. But after about 4 months, due to fans' mail and the band feeling nostalgic, a reunion was planned to start with all the original Crickets after Holly's winter tour through the northern mid-west was completed. It was on that tour that Holly was killed in a plane crash.
Bo Diddley
Buddy Holly & The Crickets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If that diamond ring don't shine
He gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He better not take that ring from me
Won't you come to my house back at home
Take a-my baby on away from home
Up to your house and gone again
Bo Diddley caught a fat cat
To make a-pretty baby a Sunday hat
Bo Diddley caught him a nanny goat
To make a pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard
My pretty baby says she wants a bird
The lyrics of the song “Bo Diddley” by Buddy Holly & The Crickets describe a man, presumably in a relationship, buying a diamond ring for his significant other, but with the condition that if the ring doesn’t shine, he would take it to a private eye to investigate its authenticity. The man warns in the song that if anyone tries to take the ring away from him, they will face the consequences. The song calls out to Bo Diddley, mentioning how he caught a fat cat to make a Sunday hat and a nanny goat to make a Sunday coat for his pretty baby. Lastly, the singer of the song reveals that his significant other has requested a bird.
Line by Line Meaning
Bo Diddley buy baby a diamond ring
Bo Diddley is purchasing a diamond ring for his baby
If that diamond ring don't shine
If the diamond does not sparkle, there will be a problem
He gonna take it to a private eye
Bo Diddley will take the diamond to a detective
If that private eye can't see
If the detective cannot determine what is wrong, there is an issue
He better not take that ring from me
Bo Diddley will become upset if the detective takes the ring away from him
Won't you come to my house back at home
Come over to Bo Diddley's house
Take a-my baby on away from home
Bo Diddley wants someone to take his baby away from home
Love a-that photo, where ya been
Bo Diddley likes a photo and is asking someone where they have been
Up to your house and gone again
Someone visited Bo Diddley's house, but then left again
Bo Diddley caught a fat cat
Bo Diddley caught a wealthy person
To make a-pretty baby a Sunday hat
Bo Diddley will use the wealth to create an extravagant outfit for his baby
Bo Diddley caught him a nanny goat
Bo Diddley caught a goat that can be used for milk and/or wool
To make a pretty baby a Sunday coat
Bo Diddley will use the goat to make another item for his baby
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard
Bo Diddley is being addressed with a question
My pretty baby says she wants a bird
Someone's baby wants a bird and they are bringing it up in discussion with Bo Diddley
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kevin zachary
Fifty nine years later and his music still matters. What a legacy he left us.
chewbacca
True. But also blues musicians from black people, which is the root. Music that came from african slaves 😉
mcmaximon1
68 now :O
eddie moore
His version is simply THE BEST version of this song....
Tom Vaughn
High praise on the video... someone deserves respect for this.
1blastman
Two early rock genius' Bo and Buddy - there's another collaboration that would've been wonderful had Buddy lived. This may have been released in 1963, but it most likely was recorded around 1957.
Tom Vaughn
I saw Buddy perform this song live on a Lubbock Television station in 1956. It is still the greatest concert I ever saw.
Frank Hughes
@Tom Vaughn Have you tried contacting the stations ?
Jörg Martin Bauer
You Got Lucky😎
mike gleco
@Kristian Stanley I wasn't there when buddy Holley was alive Tom Vaughn could answer your questions. That's his era of music but buddy lives in all of us