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).
Who Do You Love
Tim Buckley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was thinking about my baby I left her so far behind
Oh now I wonder Lord I wonder deep in my heart
If this is ever gonna stop this feeling mama don't you undestand
Oh no no no no
Oh the driver on that engine oh Lordy ain't no friend of mine
Ah he done took away my baby oh and left her so far behind
Your boy's gone to his room yeah
Ah I remember all about the good times hiney
And I forget all about the rain now
Well you never did it for me mama
How do you want your rolling done, oh yes
You know I do believe you wanna be rolled be rolled be rolled
from sun to sun hey now darling
Don't you know I cross that burning desert on my knees
Bring my pay cheque home every Friday night
Mama don't I treat you right
Yeah that green rocky road ah you gotta promenade now
You gotta promenade, mama who who do you love
Ah who do you love, who do you love
Who do you love, who do you love
Brother did you ever run up the mountain
Lord I went up to the top
Say your lover from above
Run down to the valley listen to it ring
Lord Lord listen to it ring from above
You gotta run to the river run to the river
Run to the river cleanse your soul
Cleanse your soul, cleanse your soul
I think that sooner or later we'll make it or break it
I mean your brother I mean it ain't matter what the color
Lord we both gotta get out of here
We gotta rise up Lord away from the skin Lord up there a while
You gotta look at your brother don't matter what the color
Lord if you want to get along
Everything will be.. oh green rocky road
You be promenade promenade in green
Talking 'bout love now, talking 'bout love
Talking 'bout love, talking 'bout love
Hey you gotta walk to the river brother
Swim in the river and cleanse your soul
You gotta sing hallelujah
Lord if you want to get along
You gotta sing hallelujah brother don't matter what the color
You gotta see the light all by yourself
You gotta run, shake and lie
Ah run shake it on your own
Oh run, shake and lie, oh shake it on your own
Thaere ain't no Moses, Jesus don't know the words
You gotta run, shake and lie
Run, shake and lie now, Run, shake and lie
Shake and lie, shake and lie, shake and lie, shake and lie,
shake and lie, shake and lie
Ah Lord I woke up this morning woh Lord rubbling on my mind
I was thinking' thinking 'bout my baby
I left her so far behind
Oh sometimes in the morning Lord a voice comes ringing through
And I think o mama Lord I must be crazy mama
Not to be home with you
I'm going home I'm going home
I'm going home I'm going home
Every... O.K.
In the song “Who Do You Love” by Tim Buckley, the singer wakes up with his mind full of thoughts about his distant lover. He wonders if the feeling will ever stop. He accuses the driver on a train engine of taking away his baby, leaving her far behind. But he remembers the good times with his lover and forgets all about the rain. He asks his mother how she wants her rolling done, stating that he believes she wants to be rolled from sun to sun. He reminisces about the green rocky road and how he used to promenade along it.
As the song progresses, the singer implores his brother to rise up and get out of the situation they are in. He emphasizes the importance of looking at his brother, no matter the color. He encourages the need to cleanse one’s soul by running to the river and singing hallelujah, emphasizing that one must see the light all by oneself. The song ends with the singer declaring that he is going home.
The song addresses various themes such as love, yearning, home, and brotherhood. It speaks to the need for connection, individual responsibility, and a desire to belong. The repetition in the lyrics emphasizes the message contained in the song. Buckley’s voice captures the essence of the emotional depth of this song perfectly, making it one of his most iconic songs. Overall, “Who Do You Love” is a timeless classic that speaks to the human experience and struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I woke up this morning yes there was rubbling in my mind
I woke up with intense turmoil in my thoughts
I was thinking about my baby I left her so far behind
My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of my significant other, who is far away from me
Oh now I wonder Lord I wonder deep in my heart
I am deeply pondering the uncertainty in my heart
If this is ever gonna stop this feeling mama don't you undestand
I am expressing my doubts about finding a resolution to these emotions, hoping that my partner can relate
Oh the driver on that engine oh Lordy ain't no friend of mine
I have ill feelings towards the person who has taken my lover away from me
Ah he done took away my baby oh and left her so far behind
I feel anger and sadness that my partner was taken away from me and left alone
Ah but sometimes in the morning oh sweet lover don't you know
I am reassuring my lover that I still think about them and have not forgotten them
Your boy's gone to his room yeah
I am feeling dejected and retreating to my personal space
Ah I remember all about the good times hiney
I fondly recall the happy moments we had in the past
And I forget all about the rain now
The memories make me forget the sadness that was previously lingering
Well you never did it for me mama
I am expressing disappointment to my mother
How do you want your rolling done, oh yes
I am condescendingly asking how she prefers things to be done
You know I do believe you wanna be rolled be rolled be rolled from sun to sun hey now darling
I am ridiculing her desire to have someone pamper her constantly
Don't you know I cross that burning desert on my knees
I am highlighting my hardships and struggles in life
Bring my pay cheque home every Friday night
I boast about being the provider for the family
Mama don't I treat you right
I am asking my mother to acknowledge that I treat her well
Yeah that green rocky road ah you gotta promenade now
I am encouraging someone to take the challenging path and enjoy the journey
You gotta promenade, mama who who do you love
I am using the phrase 'promenade' figuratively to refer to living life to the fullest and asking my mother who she loves
Brother did you ever run up the mountain
I am asking if one has ever faced a challenge head-on
Lord I went up to the top
I am stating that I have done so
Say your lover from above
I make reference to divine intervention in one's relationship
Run down to the valley listen to it ring
I urge to experience life to the fullest
You gotta run to the river run to the river
I am promoting cleansing oneself to rejuvenate their soul
Cleanse your soul, cleanse your soul
I am iterating on the need for spiritual purification
I think that sooner or later we'll make it or break it
I am reflecting on the outcome of exerting great effort, which could lead to success or failure
I mean your brother I mean it ain't matter what the color
I am acknowledging that we are all one, regardless of race
Lord we both gotta get out of here
I suggest that we need to leave our current location
We gotta rise up Lord away from the skin Lord up there a while
I exhort to break free from physical and material constraints in order to elevate the soul
You gotta look at your brother don't matter what the color
I emphasize non-discriminatory behavior
Lord if you want to get along
I am underlining the importance of mutual respect among humans
Everything will be.. oh green rocky road
I believe that taking the challenging path can lead to fulfillment in life
You be promenade promenade in green
I am alluding to the previously mentioned virtuous lifestyle and suggest to enjoy life with no prejudice
Talking 'bout love now, talking 'bout love
I segue to discussing love and its importance
Hey you gotta walk to the river brother
I suggest that one should take action towards spiritual growth
Swim in the river and cleanse your soul
I urge to purify one's soul
You gotta sing hallelujah
I emphasize the need to glorify and praise the divine
Lord if you want to get along
I am reiterating on the importance of mutual respect and peace
You gotta sing hallelujah brother don't matter what the color
I am emphasizing that race should not determine one's level of spirituality
You gotta see the light all by yourself
I urge to search for divine intervention themselves, rather than relying on others
You gotta run, shake and lie
I am using the phrase figuratively to refer to going through life with enthusiasm and perseverance
There ain't no Moses, Jesus don't know the words
I suggest that it is up to the individual to seek their own path, and even figures like Moses and Jesus cannot do it for them
Run, shake and lie now, Run, shake and lie
I am urging to be enthusiastic and perseverant
Shake and lie, shake and lie, shake and lie, shake and lie, shake and lie, shake and lie
I am repeating the phrase to emphasis on its figurative meaning
Ah Lord I woke up this morning woh Lord rubbling on my mind
I am experiencing inner turmoil
I was thinking' thinking 'bout my baby
I am preoccupied with thoughts of my partner
I left her so far behind
My partner is currently far away from me
Oh sometimes in the morning Lord a voice comes ringing through
I sometimes hear divine intervention calling to me
And I think o mama Lord I must be crazy mama
I admitting that I feel irrational about leaving my partner behind and not being with my family
Not to be home with you
I regret that I am not with my family
I'm going home I'm going home
I am looking forward to going home
I'm going home I'm going home
I am repeating that going home is my goal
Every... O.K.
End of song, nothing substantial
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TIM BUCKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan Strickland
I love his musics!!! From a child/teenager in the 1960s, 1970s and when my first boy was born in Greece in 1980, and on till now - he is one of the best ever!!!
משה לוי
2019, still amazing.💙
Giordana Greotti
Simply the best ever, unforgettable voice... missing him...
Zerg121
Love this.
Rosanna Porto
Greit album ! Thank you Tim ! Love
Man O'Neal
I assume you're talking about how the audience started applauding before he seemed to be done. That shit was wack.
james m
@marquettefootball haha, fuck!! they totally did!! that sucks. :/ you can tell it was an accident, though, it sounded like they were done!! haha.