In 1957, Buchanan made his recording debut, playing the solo on Dale Hawkins' "My Babe" for Chicago's Chess Records. Three years later, Buchanan headed north to Canada, where he took charge of the guitar role in Ronnie Hawkins' band (a group later to gain fame as The Band). The group's guitar player, Robbie Robertson, studied guitar under Buchanan, and took over the lead guitar spot when Buchanan left the group.
The early 60's found Buchanan performing numerous gigs as a sideman with multiple rock bands, and cutting a number of sessions as guitarist with musicians such as Freddy Cannon and Merle Kilgore.
Buchanan's 1962 recording with drummer Bobby Gregg, "Potato Peeler", first introduced the trademark Buchanan pinch harmonics. An effort to cash in on the British Invasion caught Buchanan with The British Walkers. In the mid-'60's, Buchanan settled down in the Washington, DC area, playing as a sideman before starting his own groups. One of these groups was called The Snakestretchers, an allusion to Buchanan's disdain for the vagaries of the band experience. The Snakestretchers became a semi-permanent combo for Buchanan starting in this period, with whom he made his first acclaimed recording as a front man, Roy Buchanan & the Snakestretchers. Danny Gatton was another respected Telecaster master who lived in Washington, D.C. at that time. Both musicians gained reputations as under-appreciated guitarists.
In 1971, riding on word-of-mouth reputation that included praise from John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Merle Haggard, and an alleged invitation to join the Rolling Stones, Buchanan gained national notoriety as the result of an hour-long Public broadcasting television documentary. Entitled "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World", the show rejuvenated a contract with Polydor and began a decade of national and international touring. He recorded five albums for Polydor (one went gold) and three for Atlantic Records (one gold), while playing most major rock concert halls and festivals. Finally, Buchanan quit recording in 1981, vowing never to enter a studio again unless he could record his own music his own way.
Four years later, Buchanan was coaxed back into the studio by Alligator Records. His first album for Alligator, When a Guitar Plays The Blues, was released in the spring of 1985. It was the first time he was given total artistic freedom in the studio. It was also his first true blues album. Fans quickly responded, and the album entered Billboard's pop charts and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. Music critics, as well as fans, applauded Roy's efforts with favorable reviews.
His second Alligator LP, Dancing on the Edge, was released in the fall of 1986. The album, featuring three songs with special guest, rock'n'soul vocalist Delbert McClinton, won the College Media Journal Award for Best Blues Album of 1986.
He released the twelfth LP of his career and his third for Alligator, Hot Wires, in 1987. In addition to Donald Kinsey (formerly with Albert King and Bob Marley), keyboardist Stan Szelest, and Larry Exum (bass) and Morris Jennings (drums), this album includes guest vocals by veteran soul singer Johnny Sayles and blues singer Kanika Kress.
Buchanan died August 14, 1988 in the Fairfax County, Virginia jail while being held after an arrest for public drunkeness. His death was ruled a suicide, although that finding has been disputed by friends and family.
Please Don
Roy Buchanan Lyrics
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I'm askin' you for just a little bit of your time
I'm askin' you to, to leave the past behind
You don't have to tell me that it was never right, I know that, baby
But all I really know right now is that I need you tonight
I need your love in ought, to stop the rain, to ease my pain
I need the sound of your sweet voice, baby
I need your love in ought, to stop the rain, to ease my pain, yeah
I need the sound of your sweet voice, oh, to comfort me, baby
Through my dark, my dark and trilly, trilly night, yeah
Please don't turn me away, please baby just let me stay
Don't make me pay for each and every one of my crimes
All I wanna do baby, all I wanna do is hold you one more time, yeah
And if I cannot ever be you lover again
Oh, for one more night, for one more night let me be your friend
Oh, oh baby don't turn me away
The song "Please Don't Turn Me Away" by Roy Buchanan is a passionate plea to a past lover. The lyrics are a desperate attempt by the singer to reconcile with his former flame. He begs and pleads for a chance to make things right and admit his mistakes. The first verse sets the tone of the song as Buchanan asks his lover not to reject him, to leave the past behind, and give him one more chance to be with her. He acknowledges that he knows he wasn't a perfect partner, but he's ready to do whatever it takes to win her back.
The chorus is a powerful statement of his vulnerability and need for her. He declares that he needs her love to "stop the rain, ease his pain," and he needs to hear her sweet voice to "comfort him through his dark, trilly night." It's poignant and emotional, the yearning for affection and protection from his lover. The second verse continues the appeal, asking her to forgive him for his wrongdoings, and all he wants is to hold her one more time. He acknowledges that he may never be her lover again, but he longs to be her friend for one last night.
Overall, "Please Don't Turn Me Away" is a song of heartbreak and regret, of the mistakes that leave indelible impressions on relationships. It's a plea for forgiveness and a second chance, a testament to the power of love and the pain of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't turn me away, please let me stay
I'm begging you not to reject me, please allow me to be with you
I'm askin' you for just a little bit of your time
Kindly spare a little time for me
I'm askin' you to, to leave the past behind
I'm requesting you to forget about our past mistakes
You don't have to tell me that it was never right, I know that, baby
I realize that things weren't perfect, no need to explain
But all I really know right now is that I need you tonight
What I know for sure is that I need you tonight
I need your love in ought, to stop the rain, to ease my pain
I require your affection to make my troubles disappear
I need the sound of your sweet voice, baby
Listening to your gentle voice soothes me
To comfort me through my dark and trilly, trilly night baby
I require your comfort during my dark and lonely moments
Don't make me pay for each and every one of my crimes
Please don't punish me for my past mistakes
All I wanna do baby, all I wanna do is hold you one more time, yeah
I simply want to embrace you once more
And if I cannot ever be your lover again
In case you'll never want me back romantically
Oh, for one more night, for one more night let me be your friend
Let me be your friend for at least one more night
Oh baby don't turn me away
Oh please don't reject me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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