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.
Unchained Melody
Buzz Clifford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
Wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, wait for me
Oh, oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
Such a long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
The lyrics of Buzz Clifford's Unchained Melody convey a longing for love and a desire for reunion with a lover who has been absent for a long time. The opening lines, "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, A long, lonely time," express a deep yearning for physical and emotional connection. The repetition of the phrase "I need your love" further emphasizes the intensity of the emotional desire.
The song also explores the theme of time and its impact on love. The lines "And time goes by so slowly, And time can do so much" suggest that time can both intensify and weaken love. The final line, "Are you still mine," reveals the fear of rejection and the uncertainty of whether or not the love is still reciprocated.
Overall, Buzz Clifford's Unchained Melody is a powerful expression of longing, desire, and uncertainty, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my love, my darling
The singer expresses their deep affection towards their loved one.
I've hungered for your touch
The singer has yearned for physical interaction with their loved one.
A long, lonely time
The singer has been without their loved one for a considerable amount of time, causing feelings of loneliness.
And time goes by so slowly
The passage of time feels sluggish and uneventful without the presence of the artist's loved one.
And time can do so much
Time has the power to have an impact on the artist's feelings and situation, particularly in terms of being separated from their loved one.
Are you still mine
The singer asks if their loved one still belongs to them and if their relationship is still intact.
I need your love
The singer emphasizes their need for affection and care from their loved one.
God speed your love to me
The artist invokes a higher power to bring their loved one's love to them, perhaps indicating a sense of desperation.
Lonely rivers flow
The artist observes that rivers move along by themselves, analogous to their own separation from their loved one.
To the sea, to the sea
The rivers flow towards the ocean, a vast, open space that represents the vastness of the world that separates the artist from their loved one.
To the open arms of the sea
The ocean is personified as having arms which embrace and take in the lonely rivers, much like the singer hopes to be embraced by their loved one.
Lonely rivers sigh
The rivers' movement seems to express a sense of longing or melancholy, similar to the artist's own emotions.
Wait for me, wait for me
The singer pleads with their loved one to wait for them and not move on without them.
I'll be coming home, wait for me
The singer reassures their loved one that they will return and they should wait for them to come back, hopefully bringing their love with them.
Oh, oh, my love, my darling
The singer repeats their declaration of love for their partner and addresses them affectionately.
Such a long, lonely time
The artist further emphasizes the duration and isolation of their time apart from their loved one.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UNCHAINED MELODY PUB LLC
Written by: Alex North, Hyman Zaret
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Acadmb brunswick
Nicest version I've ever heard. His vocal range is smooth as silk!
FinalFantasy1980
This Version is so underrated ! Just beautyful !
Arcadi Mier pages
Creo que esta es la mejor versión de esa canción, a pesar de la antigüedad, aún es actual, lastima que no es demasiado conocida, me refiero a la.version no a la canción
Zev Feldman
SWEET VERSION 10 STARS
ildibildi53
Zev Feldman What a sweet voice... loved it... thanks Zev
gdouglas999
This guy could really sing. Who knew?
Floyd Flowers
Great voice, sends goose bumps up my spine. I wish oh how I wish I could sing like him. Great post, thanks. pinkfloyd59 "an oldie, oldie lover till I die"
gérard Bombardier
très jolie chanson, d'une autre version ,d'unchained Mélody,
Darren Allen
R.I.P. Buzz Clifford
GusMcC
One of fave rockers who sadly only gets remembered for a novelty piece of pop. A top rock 'n' roller who could sing, and another now gone but at least there is a sizeable musical legacy.