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.
In a Turkish Town
Ritchie Valens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a Turkish town, waiting there for me
And I know that someday, we'll live and love
So the mystic Turks say from the stars up above
[Chorus]
So wait there, my loved one, I'm coming home
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Ritchie Valens's song In a Turkish Town tell the story of someone who is separated from their loved one, who is waiting for them in a town in Turkey. Despite the distance between them, the singer is certain that they will eventually be reunited, because the "mystic Turks" have predicted it. This suggests that the singer believes in fate and destiny, and that their love is powerful enough to overcome any obstacles that stand in the way of their happiness.
The song's lyrics evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia, as the singer thinks about their far-off loved one and imagines their eventual reunion. The repetition of the phrase "in a Turkish town" also adds to the dreamlike, otherworldly quality of the song, as if the singer is lost in a magical fantasy where anything is possible.
Overall, In a Turkish Town is a romantic and wistful song that captures the hope and optimism of young love, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
There across the sea waits my fair loved one
I have a loved one who is waiting for me in a place across the sea.
In a Turkish town, waiting there for me
My loved one is waiting for me in a town located in Turkey.
And I know that someday, we'll live and love
I am confident that my loved one and I will eventually live together and love each other.
So the mystic Turks say from the stars up above
According to the mystical beliefs of the Turkish culture, it is said that the stars above indicate a promising future for our love.
So wait there, my loved one, I'm coming home
My loved one should wait for me, as I am on my way to return home to them.
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
My beloved is a petite girl from Turkey residing in a Turkish town.
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
My beloved is a petite girl from Turkey residing in a Turkish town.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITCHIE VALENS, RICHARD VALENZUELA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ozansoylu7404
There across the sea waits my fair loved one
In a Turkish town, waiting there for me
And I know that someday, we'll live and love
So the mystic Turks say from the stars up above
[Chorus]
So wait there, my loved one, I'm coming home
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
@kedimamasisevenkiz
+wesley_349 There across the sea waits my fair loved one
In a Turkish town, waiting there for me
And I know that someday, we'll live and love
So the mystic Turks say from the stars up above
[Chorus]
So wait there, my loved one, I'm coming home
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
To my little Turkish girl, in a Turkish town
@VumarnOgluTimar
17 is not the age to die. Rest in peace.
@VumarnOgluTimar
evet. hem de VUMARIN OĞLU timar
@atakaldirak
Allah rahmet eylesin
@freddiereagan6705
Yeah
@furkanaydogmus96
Vumar'ın Oğlu Timar mı? Senin Amir Toça'nın kızıyla evli olman gerekmiyor mu?
@bambibianca5955
Ya adam 17 yaşında ölüyor ve bu şarkı sözleri o kadar ilginç ki.. sevdiği kızı neden bir Türk kasabasında düşlüyor, ayrıca yıldızlarda yaşayan gizemli Türkler lafı...adam dede Korkut mu okudu ki......ruhuna saygılar...
@sasa19055
turkish people never forget you,,,, you are the best
@aperezvoyages
I just got my Turkish Visa and flight to Istanbul. I know I'll have this song stuck in my head while I explore :D
@ArcadeGame5
I would probably be the same lol
@aperezvoyages
Haha :)