The oldest of four children whose father was also a musician, he was born in Torrey, Utah. At age eight, he got his first guitar and soon enough, began performing live with his father's band, The Fremont River Rangers. When he was eleven, he even appeared with his dad live on local television station KYDL in Salt Lake City.
When the family moved out to Los Angeles, California in the early 1950s, Buddy continued to perfect his musical skills, playing both the acoustic guitar and the steel guitar. He also began to do home recordings of himself playing rhythm guitar to a song, which was how the legendary Les Paul did in the recording studios. He also continued to perform live throughout high school in dances, social functions and at clubs.
On the Lawrence Welk Show
Merrill joined the Lawrence Welk Show in 1955, the same year it first went national on ABC. At nineteen his youth and energy made him very popular with the ladies and his artistry with the guitar made him highly-sought after as a live performer, studio musician and also garnered him respect within the music industry. He briefly left the show from 1959 to 1962 when he was drafted by the Army. On his return to the Music Makers he was joined in the band's rhythm section with fellow guitarist Neil Levang. For the next twelve years the two would be television's most dynamic guitar duo, attracting a whole legion of fans and admirers.
Accomplishments after Welk
In 1974, Buddy left the Welk orchestra to devote more time to writing music and recording for Accent Records. He had signed with the latter in 1964, creating a lasting partnership with owner Scott Seely on both a personal and professional level. Buddy continued to perform live, either as a solo artist or with a band, until 1988 when he retired from the road. He also continued to perform as a studio musician. He even penned a symphonic work, "Living Sea," as well as original compositions for tape programmers and television commercials. Today he lives in Lake Elsinore, California with his wife Connie, whom he married in 1983.
Buddy is left handed.
Discography
* Classics in Rhythm, Accent ACD 5054, 2001
* Classic Guitars, Accent ACD 6042, 2001
* Guitars Express, ACD 6041, 1998
* The Exciting Guitars of Buddy Merrill, ACD 5038, 1998
* World of Guitars, ACD 6030, 1994 (sampler of Buddy's compositions)
* Beyond the Reef, ACD 5034, 1992
* Classics in Rhythm, ACS 5054, 1980
* Guitar Sounds of Buddy Merrill, ACS 50100, 1977
* Buddy Merrill Today, ACS 5052, 1975
* Upbeat M.O.R., ACS 5048, 1975
* World of Guitars, ACS 5042, 1972
* Country Capers, ACS 5040, 1972
* 25 Great All-Time Hits, ACS 5038, 1971
* Steel Guitar Country,ACS 5036, 1970
* Beyond the Reef,ACS 5034, 1970
* Guitar Sounds of the 70's, ACS 5032, 1970
* The Best of Buddy Merrill, ACS 5034, 1969
* Electrosonic Guitars, ACS 5028, 1969
* Land of a Thousand Guitars, ACS 5026, 1967
* Sounds of Love, ACS 5024, 1967
* The Many Splendored Guitars of Buddy Merrill, ACS 5022, 1967
* Guitars on Fire, Accent SQBO 91997
* The Exciting World of Buddy Merrill, ACS 5020, 1966
* Latin Festival, ACS 5018, 1966
* Holiday from Guitars, Accent AC 5016, 1965
* The Guitar Sounds of Buddy Merrill, ACS 5010, 1965
* Songs of the Islands (with Lawrence Welk), Dot DLP 3251, 1960 (re-issued by Ranwood R 8022 and R 2007)
Spanish Eyes
Buddy Merrill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
Please, please don't cry
This is just adios and not goodbye
Soon I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si, si"
Blue Spanish eyes
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
True Spanish eyes
Please smile at me once more before I go
Soon I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si, si"
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The lyrics to Buddy Merrill's song "Spanish Eyes" express a heartfelt farewell to a loved one with blue, teary, and pretty Spanish eyes. The singer pleads with the person not to cry and reminds them that his departure is temporary and not a final goodbye. He promises to return with all the love that her heart can hold, and he hopes that she will wait for him.
The use of Spanish and Mexican references, including the title and the description of the eyes, adds an exotic and romantic element to the song. The repeated plea for the person to say "Si, si" (yes, yes) in answer to his request for her to wait for him further emphasizes the theme of love and commitment.
Overall, "Spanish Eyes" is a song about longing and the promise of future love between two people. The lyrics effectively paint a picture of a passionate and bittersweet farewell, leaving the listener with a sense of hope and anticipation for the singer's return.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue Spanish eyes
The bright blue eyes belonging to a person of Spanish descent are glistening in reflection of sadness.
Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
The person with Spanish eyes is crying, causing tears to flow down their face.
Please, please don't cry
The singer is pleading with the person to not cry.
This is just adios and not goodbye
The artist is indicating that the present situation with the Spanish eyes person is not a permanent farewell, but merely a temporary goodbye.
Soon I'll return
The artist will come back after leaving the Spanish eyes person for a while.
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
The singer is promising to bring back all the love to the Spanish Eyes person, in a measure that will fill their heart completely.
Please say "Si, si"
The singer is urging the person to say "yes, yes" or agree to wait for them.
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The artist wants the Spanish eyes person to reassure them that they will wait while the artist is away, hoping to hear that they will return.
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
The artist is lauding the beauty of the Spanish eyes person's eyes, saying they are the most beautiful in Mexico.
True Spanish eyes
The person with Spanish eyes is identified as genuine or authentic.
Please smile at me once more before I go
The singer wants the person with Spanish eyes to smile one last time before they leave.
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The artist repeats their request for the Spanish eyes person to say they will wait for them.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Carlos Villalobos, Garry Applebaum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind