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.
Hurry Up!
Ritchie Valens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hurry up, well, it's getting awful late
Well, I told you, when I walked you home
And I told you, on the telephone
That I'd be here at a quarter to nine
Oh little girl, meet you here on time
Nothing bugs me baby, like a having to wait
Ev'rytime we have a date
Hurry up, well, come on let's go
Hurry up, we'll be late for the show
Hurry up, oh yeah, hurry up
Hurry up, or I'll get another date
Hurry up, well, it's getting awful late
Well, I told you, when I walked you home
And I told you, on the telephone
We got to the movie, baby, wouldn't you know?
The only seats I saw were in the very last row
I just sit down 'n try to watch the show
When you looked at your watch
And said, 'Come on let's go', oh
Hurry up, be home all alone
Hurry up, don't you be so slow
Hurry up, we gotta get home
A hurry up
Hurry up, hurry up
Hurry up, hurry up
In Ritchie Valens's song Hurry Up, the lyrics are about the frustration of waiting for someone who is always late. Valens sings about a girl he has a date with and how every time they have a date, she's always late. The frustration is evident in his voice as he threatens to get another date if she doesn't hurry up. The urgency is heightened as he reminds her that they will be late for the show if they don't leave soon.
Despite the frustration, he is still drawn to her and is willing to overlook her tardiness. He mentions that nothing bugs him more than having to wait, but it always seems to happen when they have a date. He even reminisces about their last date when they had to take seats in the last row of the theater, and as soon as he settles down to watch the movie, she reminds him that they have to leave.
The song's lyrics reflect the time it was written in, a period where dating culture was centered around movies and shows. It's a fun and playful tune with catchy lyrics that show the excitement and anticipation of young love. The song was released in 1958, and sadly Valens died in a plane crash the following year.
Line by Line Meaning
Hurry up, or I'll get another date
I don't like waiting for people, and if you don't hurry up, I'll leave and go on a date with someone else.
A hurry up, well, it's getting awful late
We need to hurry; it's getting late, and I don't want to miss anything.
Well, I told you, when I walked you home
I reminded you when we were walking back to your house that I'd be meeting you at a specific time.
And I told you, on the telephone
I previously mentioned on the phone that I would be picking you up at a certain time.
That I'd be here at a quarter to nine
I had already promised to meet you at 8:45 pm.
Oh little girl, meet you here on time
It is important that you meet me at the agreed-upon time.
Nothing bugs me baby, like a having to wait
Waiting annoys me more than anything else.
But it always seems to happen
Unfortunately, this always seems to be an issue.
Ev'rytime we have a date
This happens every time we go out together.
Hurry up, well, come on let's go
We don't have time to waste, come on, get ready to go.
Hurry up, we'll be late for the show
We don't want to miss the beginning of the performance.
Hurry up, oh yeah, hurry up
I am reminding you to hurry up.
We got to the movie, baby, wouldn't you know?
When we arrived at the movie theatre, we encountered a problem.
The only seats I saw were in the very last row
The only seats available for us to sit together were at the back of the theatre.
I just sit down 'n try to watch the show
I began to settle down in my chair to watch the performance.
When you looked at your watch
When you glanced at your watch.
And said, 'Come on let's go', oh
And implored me to hurry up and go.
Hurry up, be home all alone
You need to hurry up so that I'm not left alone at home.
Hurry up, don't you be so slow
You need to move faster and not be so slow.
Hurry up, we gotta get home
We need to hurry up and get home.
A hurry up
I am reminding you to hurry up.
Hurry up, hurry up
I am repeating myself to emphasize the urgency of the situation.
Hurry up, hurry up
Once again, I am urging you to hurry up.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHARON SHEELEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@felixresendez3484
Hurry up, or I'll get another date
A-hurry up, well it's getting awful late
Well, I told you, when I walked you home
And I told you, on the telephone
That I'd be here at a quarter to nine
Oh little girl, meet you here on time
Nothing bugs me baby, like a-having to wait
But it always seems to happen
Ev'rytime we have a date
Hurry up, well come on let's go
Hurry up, we'll be late for the show
Hurry up, oh yeah, hurry up!
Hurry up, or I'll get another date
Hurry up, well it's getting awful late
Well, I told you, when I walked you home
And I told you, on the telephone
We got to the movie, baby, wouldn't you know?
The only seats I saw were in the very last row
I just sit down 'n try to watch the show
When you looked at your watch
And said, 'Come on let's go', oh
Hurry up, be home all alone
Hurry up, don't you be so slow
Hurry up, we gotta get home
A-hurry up!
Hurry up!
Hurry up!
Hurry up!
@brentdavidson717
He had a spectacular voice. Such a tragic loss to the world of music, but Thank God we have his music!!!! What a glorious legacy!!!!
@StratBurst92
That and Lets Go
@paulforder591
Brilliant song! A stellar example of Valens' sheer energy and vitality. One wonders whether he had little patience with girlfriends who showed up late for a date.
Pity he never lived to see it released.
Rock on, Ritchie, your music is first--class!
😸👍😊🎸🎸🎸
@robotnik77
"Hurry Up" was written originally by Eddie Cochran's fiance, Shari Sheeley for Eddie, who had a bad habit of showing up late for dates. Eddie, who knew Ritchie Valens, thought the song fit the style of Ritchie better, so they presented it to Ritchie, who liked it and recorded it. It was released posthumously. Shari changed the lyrics up a bit before they gave it as a present to Ritchie, and the song has elements in it that are familiar to Eddie and Ritchie both. The lyric "C'mon Let's Go" is a reference to one of Ritchie's hits, and the lyric "the very last row" is taken from Eddie's first hit, "Sittin' in the Balcony (in the very last row)"
@Michael35675477
Thank you. It's fun and cool reading things like this.
@hqztonners
WOW!!!!!!!!! We learn something everyday, hey!@! Thanks so much for your info! I will never forget this!!!
@survivingsicklecell1732
@@Michael35675477 so true
@kevin-mz1vn
Probably one or her last songs he recorded before he past away
@GabrielNicho
It was Sharon that was late, not Eddie. It was self-depreciating.
@CptMickey1
Another of Ritchie Valens great songs.