Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela; on 13 May 1941 in Pacoima, … Read Full Bio ↴Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela; on 13 May 1941 in Pacoima, California, USA – February 3, 1959) was a Mexican American singer, songwriter and guitarist.

A Rock and Roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted only eight months. During this time, however, he scored several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which was originally a Mexican folk song that Valens transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement.

Valens died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa while on the Winter Dance Party tour. Also killed in the crash were the pilot of the plane and rock and roll stars Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The song American Pie, by Don McLean is a tribute to the three musicians who died, and a reflection of the changes in music since their deaths. In the song he calls the day of their death "the day the music died," a phrase that came from newspaper headlines that announced the tragedy on February 3, 1959

Brought up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as flamenco guitar, R&B and jump blues, by the age of 5 he expressed an interest in making music of his own. He was encouraged by his father to take up guitar and trumpet, and it is also known that he later taught himself the drums. One day, a neighbour came across Ritchie trying to play a guitar that had only two strings. He re-strung the instrument, and taught Ritchie the fingerings of some chords. While Ritchie was left-handed, he was so eager to learn the guitar that he mastered the traditionally right-handed version of the instrument. By the time he was attending Pacoima Jr. High School, his proficiency on the guitar was such that he brought the instrument to school and would sing and play songs to his friends on the bleachers.

When he was sixteen years old, he was invited to join a local band named The Silhouettes as guitarist. Later on, the main vocalist left the group and Ritchie assumed this position as well. In addition to the performances with The Silhouettes, he would play solo at parties and other social gatherings.

A completely self-taught musician, Valenzuela was an accomplished singer and guitarist. At his appearances he often improvised new lyrics and added new riffs to popular songs while he was playing. This is an aspect of his music that is, sadly, not heard in his commercial studio recordings. Due to his high-energy performances, Valenzuela earned the nickname "The Little Richard of the Valley".

In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. "La Bamba" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. In 2004, "La Bamba" was named #345 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time.

Dooby Dooby Wah
Ritchie Valens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, dooby-dooby-wah
Oh-oh, dum
Dooby-dooby-dooby-wah
Oh-oh, dum
Dooby-dooby-dooby-wah
Oh-oh, dum-dooby-do
Oh-oh

We-e-ell, darling
I love you, so-oh-oh-ooh
And I will ne-e-ever
Never let you go
Whoa-oh, never let you go
Whoa-oh, never let you go

Well, dooby-dooby-wah
Means I love you so-oh
And I would never
Never let you go

Hold me, little darlin'
I-I love you, so
Come on, baby
Never let me go, so

Dooby-dooby-wah
Oh-oh, dum
Dooby-dooby-dooby-wah
-ooh, dum
Dooby-dooby-dooby-doo
Whoa-oh
Dum-dooby-do, whoa-oh

(guitar solo & instrumental)

Well, dooby-dooby-wah
Means I love you so-oh
And I would never
Never let you go

Tell me little darlin'
That you love me, so
Come on, baby
Come over close, so

Dooby-dooby-wah
Oh-oh, dum
Dooby-dooby-dooby-wah
Oh-oh, dum
Dooby-dooby-dooby-wah
Whoa-oh
Dum-dum-da-dooby-dooby-wah
Ooh-oh
Dum-dum-da-dooby-dooby-wah
Whoa-oh

FADES-

Dum-dum-da-dooby-dooby-wah

Whoa-oh
Dum.

Overall Meaning

In Ritchie Valens's song "Dooby Dooby Wah," the singer expresses his love for a girl and promises to never let her go. The song begins with the repeated phrase "dooby-dooby-wah," which serves as a sort of playful onomatopoeia that emphasizes the love that the singer is feeling. The first verse establishes the singer's love for the girl, with the repeated refrain of "never let you go" emphasizing his devotion. In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "dooby-dooby-wah" as a way to express his love and affection for the girl. The second verse asks the girl to confirm her love for the singer, and the song ends with a guitar solo and a final chorus.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, dooby-dooby-wah
This phrase is a playful expression of affection and love

Oh-oh, dum
Represents the sound of a beat which complements the melody

Dooby-dooby-dooby-wah
Reinforcement of the playful expression of affection and love

We-e-ell, darling
Suggests that the song is directed towards a special person

I love you, so-oh-oh-ooh
Expresses the singer's love and affection for the person

And I will ne-e-ever
Emphasizes the commitment of the singer to the person

Never let you go
Assurance that the singer will always be there for the person

Whoa-oh, never let you go
Reinforcement of the singer's assurance

Hold me, little darlin'
Invitation for the person to embrace the singer

I-I love you, so
Reiteration of the singer's love and affection

Come on, baby
Encouragement for the person to approach the singer