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).
Strange Feelin'
Tim Buckley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep down in my heart
I can't tell what it is
But it won't let go
It happens every time
I give you more than what I have
But now all I need is a little time to sing this song
And I think we're gonna find a way to lose this strange feelin'
All around I feel ya, darlin', feel ya darlin'
When you're home all alone
Oh, don't you need somebody to talk your troubles to
Ah, lord I know I want to catch the morning train, lord the first thing
Oh, I want to hear you say we're gonna take that strange feelin'
Oh, take it all away
Well it's just like a mockingbird a-singing on a hillside
Churping at his morning song
But don't you weep don't you fret don't you wail don't you moan
Can't you hear that whiporwill a-callin?
Now don't you worry
Your daddy's comin' home
He's gonna chase those blues away
And believe me when I say
We're gonna lose that strange feelin' all around all around
In "Strange Feelin'," Tim Buckley explores a sense of uncertainty and disorientation, as the singer cannot pinpoint the source of a deep-seated feeling. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "I got this strange strange feelin'," emphasizing the singer's intense emotional state. The feeling is described as being "deep down" in the singer's heart, suggesting that it is firmly rooted and difficult to shake. Despite this, the singer cannot identify what the feeling actually is, providing a sense of ambiguity and confusion.
The second verse shifts the focus to the subject of the singer's affection. The lyrics suggest that when the singer is away from their loved one, they feel a deep sense of loneliness and yearning. The line "Oh, don't you need somebody to talk your troubles to" highlights the singer's desire to be a comforting presence for their partner. The following lines, "Oh, I want to hear you say we're gonna take that strange feelin' / Oh, take it all away," demonstrate that the singer believes that their partner has the ability to alleviate the distressing feeling they are experiencing.
In the final verse, the singer uses bird imagery to evoke a sense of nature and freedom. The mockingbird and whiporwill represent a sense of joy and release, contrasting with the negative emotions that have been present throughout the song. The line "Your daddy's comin' home / He's gonna chase those blues away" suggests that the singer is confident that their loved one will be able to bring happiness and comfort to their life once again.
Overall, "Strange Feelin'" is a song that captures the complexities of human emotions, and the difficulty of understanding and expressing them. The sense of disorientation and uncertainty that the singer experiences is one that many can relate to, making this song a powerful and enduring exploration of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I got this strange strange feelin'
I am currently experiencing an uncomfortable sensation that is difficult to describe or understand.
Deep down in my heart
This sensation is coming from my emotional core and impacting me deeply.
I can't tell what it is
I am unable to identify or define the cause of this feeling.
But it won't let go
Despite my attempts to ignore or shake off this feeling, it persists and lingers.
It happens every time
This feeling occurs repeatedly in a consistent pattern.
I give you more than what I have
I am investing a significant amount of myself and my resources into a relationship or connection.
But now all I need is a little time to sing this song
I require some personal space and creative expression to process my emotions and work through this feeling.
And I think we're gonna find a way to lose this strange feelin'
I have hope that I can overcome this uncomfortable sensation with the help of someone else.
All around I feel ya, darlin', feel ya darlin'
I sense your presence and influence in my life, my dear.
When you're home all alone
I am particularly aware of your absence when I am by myself.
Oh, don't you need somebody to talk your troubles to
Do you not crave someone to confide in and share your burdens with?
Ah, lord I know I want to catch the morning train, lord the first thing
I long to make a fresh start and embark on a journey of some kind.
Oh, I want to hear you say we're gonna take that strange feelin'
I desire reassurance and comfort from you, and to know that we will work together to overcome this unsettling feeling.
Oh, take it all away
I want this uncomfortable sensation to be completely eradicated and replaced with peace and happiness.
Well it's just like a mockingbird a-singing on a hillside
My situation is comparable to the melodious but sometimes dissonant chirping of a bird on a hilltop.
Churping at his morning song
The bird is singing its signature tune as part of its daily routine.
But don't you weep don't you fret don't you wail don't you moan
I urge you not to cry or despair despite any struggles we face together.
Can't you hear that whiporwill a-callin?
Do you not hear the soothing and hopeful cries of the whip-poor-will bird?
Now don't you worry
I do not want you to be anxious or troubled by our current situation.
Your daddy's comin' home
Take comfort in the fact that I will soon return and bring stability and security.
He's gonna chase those blues away
I will actively work to alleviate our problems and find solutions to our troubles.
And believe me when I say
Trust me when I express my sincere intentions and feelings.
We're gonna lose that strange feelin' all around all around
Together, we will overcome this uncomfortable sensation and bring peace and joy to our lives and relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUCKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind