Buckley often regarded his tenor voice as an instrument, a talent most noticeable on his albums Happy Sad, Lorca, and Starsailor. His first marriage was to Mary Guibert, with whom he had a child, musician Jeff Buckley. They divorced in 1968 and after this Buckley would meet with his son only once more. Buckley married second wife Judy Brejot Sutcliffe in 1970 and adopted her son, Taylor.
Born in Washington DC, Buckley,an Irish-American, lived for 10 years in Amsterdam, New York, before moving to southern California, initially to Bell Gardens and later settling in Anaheim in 1965. His experiences with music were through his family, artists such as Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland being particular favorites in the household. During his childhood, Buckley was a fan of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Nat King Cole and Miles Davis, although country music was his foremost passion. Reflecting this, at the age of 11 Buckley learned how to play the banjo, an instrument which his mother had bought to occupy him following a bout of mumps. He attended Loara High School in Anaheim, California, and, amongst others, made friends with Don Gordon, Larry Beckett, Jim Fielder (original member of Blood, Sweat & Tears) and future wife, Mary Guibert. He was an accomplished high school athlete, becoming a quarterback for the school team in addition to getting a place on the baseball team. During this period playing as quarterback, Buckley broke the first two fingers on his left hand but they never fully returned to normal and made guitar playing more difficult. At the age of 15, Buckley abandoned the banjo and moved on to the guitar, playing with Princess Ramona & The Cherokee Riders, a country and western band. However, the lead singer saw Buckley was uninterested and instead suggested he apply himself to the emerging 1960's folk scene.
Buckley's career began with his 1966 debut Tim Buckley, its mix of pop and folk rock drawing on popular influences of the time. His popularity peaked with second album Goodbye and Hello, a more mature record with avant-garde influences and political sentiments. In the three years that followed Buckley was at his most prolific and experimental, producing four albums of varying styles. Happy Sad and Blue Afternoon showed Buckley's folk roots while Lorca veered to more avant-garde styles. The final album of this period, Starsailor, is a mix of jazz, funk and avant-garde styles, representing his continual evolution in genre. This period, while garnering some critical success, proved disastrous for his record sales as the disparity of his styles caused his fan-base to all but disappear.
Following this Buckley changed genres again, with 1972 release Greetings from L.A., which incorporated the funk, rhythm and blues and soul sounds of the early 1970s in to his music. However, this release and the following album Sefronia did not match up to the success of his previous work. In 1974, having alienated much of his fan-base and squandered money made at his peak, Buckley released Look at the Fool, which was neither well received by the public nor the majority of critics. By this point Buckley had grown disillusioned with the music industry and his drug abuse of the past seven years had affected him.
In spite of this, in early 1975, desperate for musical recognition and an escape from poverty and obscurity, Buckley dropped his drug dependencies and engaged the musical press regarding a live album comeback. Buckley began performing material drawn from his whole career as a response to the desires of his audience, desires he had always spurned in the past. However, Buckley relapsed and on June 28, 1975, he overdosed on heroin. His wife Judy, having earlier put him in bed, was unable to rouse him and paramedics pronounced him dead on arrival. He was 28 years old and was survived by his wife and adopted son Taylor, and his biological son, Jeff (who also died at a young age).
Down by the Borderline
Tim Buckley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down where white folks tread easy
That sun beats so hot sun beats so hot
When a little girl pass by
You can smell the way she walks
You can smell, you can smell the way she walks
In late afternoon
Ah, in late
Smile so brightly
Come on boy come on boy
Oh, Take a walk with me
The lyrics of Tim Buckley's song Down by the Borderline depict a scene of racial tension in the American South. The borderland referred to in the opening line is likely a place where black and white communities meet, but where white people feel safe, and black people are subjected to prejudice and violence. The sweltering heat is a metaphor for the intensity of the situation, with the oppressive atmosphere making it hard for anyone to feel comfortable, let alone a little girl.
The line "you can smell the way she walks" is a poignant reminder of the dangers facing young girls in this kind of environment. It suggests that they are being objectified and sexualized by men, and their scent, a natural bodily function, becomes something to be pursued and fetishized. The lyrics continue with the girl's invitation to "take a walk with me" - a line that is at once innocent and charged with meaning, considering the cultural context of the song.
Despite the menacing undertones of the lyrics, the melody is playful and upbeat, with Buckley's voice soaring over a jazzy accompaniment. This juxtaposition creates a sense of unease and tension, mirroring the emotions of being caught in a fraught situation with potentially disastrous consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down on the borderline
At a place far removed from civilization, where the edge of society meets wilderness.
Down where white folks tread easy
In an area where white people are comfortable and safe due to their privilege and status.
That sun beats so hot sun beats so hot
Under blazing sunlight, which causes great discomfort and makes life difficult.
When a little girl pass by
When a young girl walks by, possibly drawing attention to herself with her presence.
You can smell the way she walks
Her movements, the way she carries herself and her aura all create a distinct impression in the air.
You can smell, you can smell the way she walks
The odor is so strong and complex that it is possible to discern qualities of her from the way she walks alone.
In late afternoon
As the sun begins to set and the day comes to a close.
Ah, in late
This phrase appears to indicate sentimentality and yearning.
Little girl little girl little girl
Repeated to intensify the focus on the young girl and to imply an infatuation of some kind.
Smile so brightly
Her smile has a presence and brightness to it so as to easily garner attention and affection.
Come on boy come on boy
Addressing a male listener, inviting him to accompany the singer on his pursuit of the young girl.
Oh, Take a walk with me
An enticement to the listener to join on this venture of discovery and desire.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TIM BUCKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind