Clifford played guitar as a child and won several talent competitions as a teenager. He signed to Bow Records at age 15, releasing a few singles but finding no success. After signing with Columbia Records, he released the single "Hello Mr. Moonlight", which did not chart. The follow-up, "Baby Sittin' Boogie"/"Driftwood" (though "Driftwood" was technically the B-side the record tends to be regarded as a double-A-side), became a crossover hit in the U.S. in 1961, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, #27 R&B, and #28 Country. The record went on to sell over one million copies, and as a result of its success, Columbia tried to groom Clifford as a heartthrob pop singer. He appeared on TV with Perry Como and Merv Griffin and on American Bandstand, and toured the United Kingdom with Freddy Cannon and Dion. Clifford's fame was short-lived, however; further singles went nowhere (a remake of Kay Kyser's "Three Little Fishies" hit #102) and Clifford soon found himself without a recording contract.
After serving in the National Guard, Clifford moved to Los Angeles, California, and found work as a songwriter, writing tunes sung by Keith Barbour, Petula Clark, Clyde McPhatter, Lou Rawls, Leon Russell, Freddie King, and Kris Kristofferson. Later in the 1960s, he was involved with a band called Carp (including actor Gary Busey and songwriter Daniel Moore), who released one album on Epic Records in 1969. After a stint as one third of the group Hamilton Streetcar (with John Boylan of "Appletree Theatre" fame, and original group member Ralph Plummer—the group was originally named on behalf of former member John Burge, aka Ian Hamilton) which in 1969 recorded a self-titled album for Dot Records (Dot DLP25939), he also did recording sessions in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with former Beach Boy David Marks, but these were never issued.
Marks, Clifford, and Moore reunited in the 1990s and released an album called Work Tapes; Marks and Clifford continued to tour together along with Clifford's two sons until 1997. After recording in Denmark, another LP, Norse Horse, was issued.
In 1999, Beck sampled an early Clifford tune, "I See, I Am", in the single "Milk and Honey" for his Midnite Vultures album.
In 2003, the 28-track CD More Than Just Babysittin': Complete Recordings 1958-1967 was released. The songs are digitally remastered, and some striking differences are apparent, including a fade-out ending on "Driftwood".
In 2009, the rap duo Method Man & Redman released the track "Four Minutes to Lock Down" (feat. Raekwon & Ghostface Killah), which contained a sample of the song "Echo Park," written by Clifford, as recorded by Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge.
In 2011, Clifford reformed the band he had started with his two sons, Reese and John, along with Guido Bryant on guitar, Jon Greathouse on keyboards, and Zach Mathews on harmonica, and recorded and released a new CD, Bright Lights Shine, now available at CD Baby, iTunes and amazon.com.
The baby's voice on "Baby Sittin' Boogie" was that of the son of the songwriter, Johnny Parker, not Curtis Armstrong as formerly credited.
Driftwood
Buzz Clifford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Driftwood
A floating piece of heartbreak
Our love is driftwood
The residue of heartache
Surrounded by teardrops
Darling, since you've drifted from me
That I am destined
To be only
Driftwood
Upon a tear-filled ocean
I've lost direction
These waves of sad emotion
I'm no longer guided by your love
And drifting helplessly
Without your love to guide me
When you're not beside me
I'm just driftwood
How long can I go on my dear without you
This is all that's left of me
This is all I'll ever be
This is what you've made of me
Driftwood
I'm sinking fast
I cannot last much longer
Drifting on eternally
Searching for you endlessly
This is what you've made me
Driftwood
Driftwood
Driftwood
Driftwood'
The lyrics of Buzz Clifford's song "Driftwood" are a metaphor for a love that has ended and the subsequent brokenness that accompanies the experience. The song begins with the phrase "Oooh-eee-oooh," unmistakably evoking a sense of melancholy and sadness. The chorus of "Driftwood" likens love to a floating piece of heartbreak, as though love has the weight of something tangible yet intangible that is endlessly being carried by waves of sadness.
The singer is struggling to cope with the absence of his lover, whom he refers to as "darling." The residue of heartache he feels lingers like the teardrops that surround him. Even though his love for her is still strong, he is aware that he is destined to be just like a piece of driftwood in an endless, tear-filled ocean. He has lost all direction and is surrounded by sad and hopeless emotions that he cannot escape. Because he is no longer guided by her love, he has become helpless and alone.
The bridge of the song expresses the idea that the singer's state of being is unsustainable, and he is slowly sinking. He cannot go on without her because she has taken everything he has and made him into driftwood. The song paints a picture of someone who has been left alone in the vastness of the sea, unable to navigate the difficult waters of life without love.
Line by Line Meaning
Driftwood
The title of the song.
A floating piece of heartbreak
Comparing the singer's current state to that of a floating piece of driftwood that's of no use - just like the heartbreak he's been left with.
Our love is driftwood
The singer refers to the love that he and his partner once shared as 'driftwood' - a mere residue of their heartache and pain.
The residue of heartache
Further elaborating on the previous line, the artist describes the love that remains as a residue of their heartache.
Surrounded by teardrops
In his grief, the artist feels as if he's constantly surrounded by teardrops, which symbolizes his overwhelming sadness.
Darling, since you've drifted from me
The singer speaks directly to his partner, addressing her as 'darling', and expressing how he feels since she left him.
My love for you tells me
Despite everything, the singer's love for his partner is still strong and he believes that they belong together.
That I am destined
He feels like it's fate that they should be together, and no matter how far she drifts from him, they will eventually find their way back to each other.
To be only
The artist believes that his purpose is only to love his partner and be with her.
Upon a tear-filled ocean
Describing his current state as being lost and helpless, he uses the metaphor of a tear-filled ocean.
I've lost direction
He has lost his sense of direction and doesn't know what to do without his partner.
These waves of sad emotion
The artist compares his emotional state to waves of sadness that continually batter him.
I'm no longer guided by your love
Without his partner's love, he feels like he's lost an important guiding force in his life.
And drifting helplessly
Using the metaphor of a piece of driftwood, the singer expresses how he feels like he's just drifting along aimlessly without his partner.
Without your love to guide me
He cannot move forward or make any progress without his partner's love and support.
When you're not beside me
The artist expresses how he feels incomplete without his partner by his side.
I'm just driftwood
The artist concludes the chorus by reiterating that he's nothing without his partner's love and guidance.
How long can I go on my dear without you
A direct question to his partner, the singer asks how long he can go on without her love.
This is all that's left of me
The singer believes that without his partner, there's nothing left of him.
This is all I'll ever be
Without his partner's love, the artist believes that he'll be stuck in this state of sadness forever.
This is what you've made of me
The artist places the blame for his current emotional state on his partner, holding her responsible for what he's become.
I'm sinking fast
The artist feels like he's quickly losing his hold on his sanity and emotional stability.
I cannot last much longer
He feels like he's on the brink of losing all hope and that he can't handle this pain for much longer.
Drifting on eternally
Even though he's suffering and it feels like he's stuck in this state, the artist feels like he'll be drifting along aimlessly forever.
Searching for you endlessly
He's always searching for his partner, hoping that she'll come back to him and help him out of this state of sadness.
Driftwood
Repeating the title, the singer emphasizes that he's still lost and without direction, and that he needs his partner's love to guide him home.
Driftwood
Repeating the title one final time to emphasize his sense of loss and helplessness.
Driftwood
Repeating the title a third time for added emphasis.
Driftwood
Repeating the title one final time to conclude the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LINCOLN CHASE, WINFIELD SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
procious
always liked this song. Would never have heard it again without youtube and your posting. Thanks
Paolo Ghelardini
Wonderful from my lost 60 years! LUV, Buzz!
David Barnett
Often gems are found on the 'B' side. This is one of them. Bought "Baby Sittin' Boogie' back in 1960, and, yup, flipped it and found this so much better, even though the A side sold one million copies and peaked somewhere around either #4 or 6 on Billboard. Buzz passed away in 2018 due to complications of influenza. He was 76.
Chad Sponge
Agreed; no way in hell does it make sense for this to be the B side. Much like "Suffer Now I Must", this is A side material.
Oldrecords1
His flip sides are almost always better than the hit side.
Chad Sponge
I'm pleased to say that I have the 45 and listen to it frequently.