Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men popularized "the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists", facilitating the emergence of "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 he was a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he began in country music, his musical style went on to consist primarily of rock and roll, rockabilly, and instrumental rock.
Wray was born on May 2, 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina, to Fred Lincoln Wray, Sr. and his wife, Lillian M. Wray (née Coats). They were Shawnee Native Americans. Three songs he performed were named for American Indian tribes: "Shawnee", "Apache", and "Comanche". "Apache" was an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan; it was originally a hit in the United Kingdom for The Shadows in 1960. Wray recorded a cover version 30 years later, when it was also associated with The Ventures and the Incredible Bongo Band.
Wray served in the US Army during the Korean War, and contracted tuberculosis, which laid him up in a hospital for a year. His stay concluded with the removal of a lung, which doctors predicted would mean he would never be able to sing again.
In 1958, Wray's first hit, "Rumble", was banned in New York and Boston for fear it would incite teenage gang violence. The record was first released on Cadence Records as Cat # 1347 (as Link Wray and the Ray-Men). Before, during, and after his stints with major labels Epic and Swan, Wray released 45's under many names. Tiring of the corporate music machine, he began recording albums using a three-track studio he converted from an outbuilding on his brother's property that his father used to raise chickens.
While living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1970s, Wray was introduced to Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina by bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson. He subsequently formed a band initially featuring special guest Cipollina along with the rhythm section from Cipollina's band Copperhead, bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and drummer David Weber. They opened for the band Lighthouse at The Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles from May 15–19, 1974. He later did numerous concerts and radio broadcasts in the Bay Area including KSAN (FM) and the Bill Graham venue Winterland Ballroom, with Les Lizama later replacing Hutchinson on bass. He toured and recorded two albums with retro-rockabilly artist Robert Gordon in the late 1970s. The 1980s to the present day saw a large number of reissues as well as new material. One member of his band in the 1980s, drummer Anton Fig, later became drummer in the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 1994, he played on four songs of the album Chatterton by French rocker Alain Bashung.
Wray's first three marriages—to Elizabeth Canady Wray, Katherine Tidwell Wray, and Sharon Wray—each ended in divorce. Although Wray had eight children with his first three wives, he had little contact with any of them after relocating to Denmark in the early 1980s.
Wray died of heart failure at his home in Copenhagen, at the age of 76. Survivors included his fourth wife, Olive Julie Povlsen Wray, and their son. He was buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church, Copenhagen.
Jack Rose cited Wray as an influence, as did Iggy Pop and Neil Young. Jimmy Page says that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in It Might Get Loud as a major influence in his early career. According to Rolling Stone, Pete Townshend of The Who once said, "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I never would have picked up a guitar." "The only people I ever really looked up to were Link Wray and Iggy Pop," said Mark E. Smith of The Fall. "Guys like…Link Wray… are very special to me.
Run Chicken Run
Link Wray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't run away
You know that I still love you
Blue eyes, don't run away
Blue eyes, I didn't mean to hurt you
When I was out last night
You know that I still love you
Come, come back to me
Cause I still love you
Come, come back to me
And I'll make it up to you
Blue eyes, you're my only love
Yes, I was so true to you
You know that I still love you
Blue eyes, don't run away
Come, come back to me
Cause I still love you
Come, come back to me
And I'll make it up to you
Blue eyes, you're my only love
Yes, I was so true to you
You know that I still love you
Blue eyes, don't run away
Blue eyes, don't run away
Blue eyes, don't run-a
Blue eyes, don't run-a
Blue eyes, don't run away
Link Wray's song "Blue Eyes" is a track about a man trying to reconcile with a woman that he loves so deeply. Throughout the song, he apologizes for actions that may have led her to leave him, begging her not to go. The opening line asks Blue Eyes where she is going and pleads with her not to run away. The man acknowledges that he may have hurt her, but his love for her has not diminished. He implores her to return to him so that he may make things right.
Throughout the song, the man reiterates that Blue Eyes is the only one he loves, and that he has always been true to her. He begs her to come back to him so that he may make it up to her, and the chorus is a repeat of this. The song's lyrics convey a sense of desperation and urgency, with the man's love and sorrow palpable in every word.
Overall, "Blue Eyes" is a haunting and emotional song that captures the depths of a man's devotion and love for a woman. It speaks to the varied complexities of love and relationships, while also highlighting Link Wray's ability to craft a beautiful and moving ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue eyes, where are you going?
Asking where the person with blue eyes is headed.
Don't run away
An appeal for the person not to leave.
You know that I still love you
Assurance of continued love despite any misunderstanding.
Blue eyes, don't run away
Repetition of the appeal not to leave.
Blue eyes, I didn't mean to hurt you
Admission of fault for hurting the person.
When I was out last night
Acknowledging being away from the person the previous night.
Come, come back to me
Request for the person to return.
Cause I still love you
Explanation for the desire to have the person back.
And I'll make it up to you
Promise to make up for hurting the person.
Blue eyes, you're my only love
Affirmation of the person being the artist's only love.
Yes, I was so true to you
Emphasis on loyalty to the person.
Blue eyes, don't run away
Repetition of the appeal not to leave.
Blue eyes, don't run away
Repetition of the appeal not to leave.
Blue eyes, don't run-a
Repetition of the appeal not to leave using colloquial language.
Blue eyes, don't run-a
Repetition of the appeal not to leave using colloquial language.
Blue eyes, don't run away
Final appeal not to leave with emphasis on the importance of the person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TattooedHoodlum
I got to meet Link in 1998. He generously signed one of my guitars. i still own it
@pascalfety6681
👍👍😎😎
@olavonogueira8944
This man is criminally underrated.
@9641roger
That's for sure !
@PsyVen
The most underappreciated guitarist in rock! Rest in peace and rock on forever, Link.
@jaromirbergmann9995
Nirvana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGc8jL4dzao#t=11&ab_channel=NirvanaVEVO
@darealwhistle
@@jaromirbergmann9995 Or this:
https://youtu.be/Axh-m1N-4zY?t=650
@GTX1123
Here's a GREAT STORY about this song that happened when Link and his Wraymen were the house band at a notorious biker bar in southeast DC in the mid 1960's. One of the regulars at the bar wasn't wrapped too tight and would get really rowdy whenever he drank too much, ESPECIALLY whenever Link played this song - sometimes ending in the bouncers "escorting" this patron out of the bar. One night when said patron showed up, the bar owner begged Link not to play 'Run Chicken Run' knowing it would trigger this particular patron. Link just smiled, didn't say anything and, yes you guessed it, at some point that night proceeded to play 'Run Chicken Run'. The liquored up patron went absolutely nuts, grabbed the cash register and threw it through the window. True story.
@robertorick6383
I also heard a story about a Chinese restaurant owner who also didn't want Link to play "Run Chicken Run" at his location , and pleaded with him not to play it. He played it anyway, and was asked to leave the premises.
@anthonymusto3537
It is true and I would just like to apologize to the bar owner!