It is said not to be the case that The Crickets chose their name while listening to a playback of "I'm Gonna Love You Too" ; rather, the name was chosen while going through an encyclopedia of names. Other names had been considered including The Scoundrels and The Spiders. Holly's manager (Norman Petty) and owner of the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis ,NM, decided to keep the chirping in the record, but this is in no way tied to the origin of the band's name. In real life, they chose the name due to huge number of crickets in Texas that particular time of year. It should be worth noting that they almost chose the name The Beetles (it is said that John Lennon later named his band in homage to Holly and The Crickets).
Rhythm guitarist Sullivan wasn't comfortable with the amount of traveling and to a lesser extent, he didn't fit in with Jerry and Joe B. For the same reason, Jerry and Joe were not ready to leave small town Lubbock for big city NY. The big move was the real reason why The Crickets initially broke up, but Holly was not daunted by the breakup; he chose a new back-up band for the Winter Dance Party Tour. The new band consisted of Tommy Allsup, Waylon Jennings and Carl Bunch on drums. Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were booked on the tour with Holly and his new band. Dion and newcomer Frankie Sardo also performed on this particular tour. But after about 4 months, Jerry and Joe B began to have second thoughts about the breakup of the band. They had planned to fly to Moorehead, MN, and surprise their friend. Destiny stepped in and the music world suffered its first tragic accident February 3, 1959.
The Crickets (Jerry and Joe) continued to record on their own with guitarist Sonny Curtis and vocalist Earl Sinks. The album Remnants was released in 1973 with band members Allison, Curtis, Albert Lee, Ric Grech, Steve Krikorian (later known as Tonio K.), Carol Montgomery, and Nick VanMaarth.
In the film The Buddy Holly Story, the story of the band was altered drastically and includes many inaccuracies. Due to The Crickets selling the rights to another studio, their film counterparts' names were changed for legal reasons. In addition, there are only two Crickets -- a bass player clearly being Mauldin and a drummer modeled on Allison, and the character of Sullivan and his quitting the band is omitted entirely. The real Crickets were outraged on being portrayed as racists, as well as the latter scene in which they appear at Holly's door wanting to reunite. In reality, they had discussed with Holly, shortly before his death, about going on a reunion tour.
The Crickets released The Crickets and Their Buddies in 2004, featuring classics from all parts of their career, with performances by several prominent artists, including Eric Clapton, Rodney Crowell, Waylon Jennings, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Graham Nash, and Bobby Vee.
On 28 October 2008, The Crickets were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN. On 14 April 2012, The Crickets were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On February 6, 2016, "The Crickets & Buddies" performed in Clear Lake, Iowa, at the Surf Ballroom, the site of Holly's last performance. Members of previous line-ups appeared, including Sonny Curtis, Glen D. Hardin, Albert Lee, Tommy Allsup, Gordon Payne and others. After the show, Allison announced that it was the group's final performance.
Rock Me My Baby
The Crickets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And try your best to squeeze me
Love me baby - you know how
Yes, a-rock me my baby
Well, rock a-like a hockory-dock, dickory-dock
Rock-a-bye my baby
Up and down - around the clock
Well, a-rock me my baby
And make me bubble brightly
Thrill me to my fingertips
Well, a-rock me my baby
Tell me that you love me too
And say you'll never me
No one loves you like I do
So rock me my baby
The lyrics to The Crickets’ song Rock Me My Baby are a call for affection and love from the singer who is asking their lover to embrace them and demonstrate their love. The lyrics are playful and flirty in nature, as the singer asks their lover to put their arms around them and squeeze them tightly. The repetition of the phrase “rock me my baby” is used throughout the song as a way to convey the need for physical affection and intimacy. The lyrics also use the image of a clock, symbolizing the passage of time, to emphasize the never-ending need for love and companionship.
The phrase “rock-a-like a hockory-dock, dickory-dock” is an allusion to the classic nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock,” which portrays the image of a clock running and a mouse running up it. The lyrics to “Rock Me My Baby” use this imagery to compare the need for intimacy and affection to the constant ticking of a clock. The lyrics go on to describe how the lover should plant kisses on the singer's lips and thrill them to their fingertips. This is an image of pure bliss that the singer wants their lover to provide, showing how they are looking for something that is more than just physical, but also emotional.
In summary, The Crickets' "Rock Me My Baby" is a love song that expresses the need for physical and emotional intimacy. The repetitive chorus serves as a powerful reminder of the constant need for love and affection, which is conveyed through playful and romantic imagery. The song's lyrics are a call for a deep and meaningful connection, one that is not limited to the physical realm.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your arms around me now
Embrace me tightly
And try your best to squeeze me
Hold me firmly and apply pressure
Love me baby - you know how
Show me love in the way you know best
Yes, a-rock me my baby
Please rock me, my dear
Well, rock a-like a hockory-dock, dickory-dock
Rock me like the sound of a clock ticking
Rock-a-bye my baby
Rock me to sleep
Up and down - around the clock
Rock me continuously and consistently
Well, a-rock me my baby
Please continue to rock me
Plant your kisses on my lips
Kiss me deeply
And make me bubble brightly
Excite me and make me giddy with happiness
Thrill me to my fingertips
Give me a sensation of pleasure throughout my whole body
Well, a-rock me my baby
I still want you to keep rocking me
Tell me that you love me too
Express your love for me as well
And say you'll never leave me
Promise that you'll never abandon me
No one loves you like I do
I love you more than anyone else ever could
So rock me my baby
Please continue to rock me lovingly
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: SHORTY LONG, SUSAN HEATHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidhaley4176
Rockabilly personified - Great vocal - guitar playing amazing - this is one of the most underrated Buddy songs
@OsitoTejano
Perfection right there.
@punchinker
Spectacular guitar, and all you modern drummers, listen to Jerry Allison: that's how it's done.Simply the best ever.
@RhandirQH
The guitar solo is one of his best, I have always been surprised that it is not heard more often. He and Jerry Allison just meshed together so well. Arf
@9641roger
I agree, I love this track, it shows of Buddy's lovely jangly guitar playing; great solo along with Ready Teddy
@surfinwax58
He also used his Fender vibrato bar during the solo.
@chezfun
Tis a goody! It has a little Ling Ting Tong sound to it....but then the guitar starts up....oh yes, rock me my baby! LOL!
@raymondcunningham9655
It's the only time you'll hear Buddy using the tremolo arm on any of his records
@TheHeater90
He also uses it on the solo for the song "Heartbeat"
@raymondcunningham9655
No he didn't that solo was byTommy Aiisup