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.
Ooh! My Head
Ritchie Valens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's just go all night long
Well, on,on,on,on,darlin
I just want you-to-go-on more
There won't be no tuttie fruiti
No not at all,cmon baby just
Rock, rock, rock
We gonna rock all night
Well babe,babe,babe,babe,baby
WeÂ're just gonna go fine
Well on, on, on, on, darlinÂ'
Ooh, my head!
Well, Bonie Moronie,Peggy Suzy
They ainÂ't gonna be around no more
Well,on now dit-a-little darlin
We just gonna party some more
Daylight,I love you darlin
Ooh my head! (now letÂ's go)
Well now,now,now,now,baby
Keep me rockin on an on
Well I just reelinÂ' till itÂ's over
Oh,just all night long
Well,now
Ooh my head!
Alright,WAIL.....
Rock it out.....
Come on.....
My head is tired
The lyrics of Ritchie Valens's "Ooh! My Head" depict the excitement and vigor of young love juxtaposed with the exhaustion that comes with a night of dancing and revelry. The singer of the song is pleading with their partner to keep the energy going, to keep the rock and roll music playing and to avoid any slower songs like "tuttie fruiti." The chorus repeats the refrain "ooh my head," which may be an indication of exhaustion or the overwhelming sensation of being swept up in the moment.
The verses of the song reference specific individuals, Bonie Moronie and Peggy Suzy, who "ain't gonna be around no more." This could suggest that the singer is dismissing the concerns of others or acknowledging that their relationships are less important in the grand scheme of things. The line "daylight, I love you darlin" hints that the night has been filled with passion and excitement, but also that the singer is aware of the inevitability of the coming day, which may dampen the sense of freedom and joy that comes with the night.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, well, now, now baby
Let's get started, sweetheart
Let's just go all night long
Let's party and have fun all night long
Well, on, on, on, on, darlin
Come on, keep going, don't stop
I just want you-to-go-on more
I want us to keep going and enjoy each other's company more
There won't be no tuttie fruiti
We don't need any fancy frills or extras for this party
No not at all, cmon baby just
Just focus on having a good time and dancing
Rock, rock, rock
Let's rock out and dance
Well, now, now, now, now, honey
Hey, my sweetie
We gonna rock all night
We're gonna dance and party all night long
Well babe, babe, babe, babe, baby
Hey, my darling
We're just gonna go fine
We'll have a great time together
Well on, on, on, on, darlin'
Let's keep dancing and having fun
Ooh, my head!
Wow, this is so much fun, but it's wearing me out
Well, Bonie Moronie, Peggy Suzy
Let's forget about other people and just focus on us
They ain't gonna be around no more
We don't need anyone else to have a good time
Well, on now dit-a-little darlin
Let's keep going and dance together
We just gonna party some more
We'll keep having fun and enjoying each other's company
Daylight, I love you darlin
Even though it's getting late, I still want to dance with you
Ooh my head! (now let's go)
I'm getting tired, but I don't want to stop yet
Well now, now, now, now, baby
Hey, baby
Keep me rockin' on and on
Keep the party going, don't let it stop
Well I just reelin' till it's over
I'll keep dancing until the end of the night
Oh, just all night long
We'll keep dancing and having fun until morning
Ooh my head!
I'm having a great time, but my head is tired
Alright, WAIL..... Rock it out..... Come on.....
Let's keep dancing and having fun
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD VALENZUELA, RITCHIE VALENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Guna Seeilan
Well, well, now, now baby
Let´s just go all night long
Well, on, on, on, on, darlin
I just want you-to-go-on more
There won´t be no tuttie fruiti
No not at all, cmon baby just
Rock, rock, rock
Well, now, now, now, now, honey
We gonna rock all night
Well babe, babe, babe, babe, baby
We´re just gonna go fine
Well on, on, on, on, darlin´
Ooh, my head!
Well, Bonie Moronie, Peggy Suzy
They ain´t gonna be around no more
Well, on now dit-a-little darlin
We just gonna party some more
Daylight, I love you darlin
Ooh my head! (now let´s go)
Well now, now, now, now, baby
Keep me rockin on an on
Well I just reelin´ till it´s over
Oh, just all night long
Well, now
Ooh my head!
Alright, WAIL
Rock it out
Come on
My head is tired
Shawn Durham
The fact that he died at 17 is insane. Could you imagine how much more legendary he could’ve been?
Cyndi Rodriguez
Wow what a legend at such a young age!!! He was born to Rock, he was going places. Rest In Peace Ritchie🙏🏼
Jaime Luis
Legends never die
ken karwoski
RIP Ritchie Valens, gone too soon and too young! 😢
ME TUBE
Ooh My Head! Baby,Thank you for this great song, to start my day up.
Czarno Biały
King Ritchie - Stereo - 4K.. I LOVE IT!
J G
If only he could see the affect he has on people in 4k
maximo 0101
Rock Legend 🎸
David Fryatt
Amazing
OutlawMisfit
Such a cool kid.... Rip rockstar