Buddy Holly Love Like Yours
On The Acoustic

Blue Days Black Nights is a song written and originally recorded by Buddy Holly in 1956. The song was released as a single on Decca Records, backed with "Love Me".

The recording features Buddy Holly on lead vocals and guitar, with backing vocals by his bandmates, the Crickets. It has a distinctive rockabilly sound, with a driving rhythm and Holly's signature vocal style.

The lyrics of the song describe the singer's feelings of loneliness and heartbreak, with the "blue days" representing his sadness and the "black nights" symbolizing his despair.

"Blue Days Black Nights" was not a major commercial success at the time of its release, but it has since become a well-known and beloved classic of early rock and roll. It has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Elvis Presley, Gram Parsons, and Robert Plant.

Blue Days Black Nights is an important song in the history of rock and roll, showcasing Buddy Holly's talent as a songwriter and performer and helping to establish the rockabilly sound that would become a hallmark of the genre.

Below in each section are the strumming patterns for Buddy Holly songs.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry in 1956, and later covered by Buddy Holly. Holly's version of the song was recorded in 1957 and released on the album "Reminiscing" in 1963.

Holly's recording of "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" features his signature rock and roll sound, with his energetic vocals and driving guitar. The song is an upbeat celebration of a man's good looks and charm, with a catchy melody and lyrics that tell a story of the character's popularity and success.

While the song was released as a single in the UK peaking at #3. It remains a well-known and beloved track in Holly's discography. Holly's version of the song is notable for his unique interpretation of the lyrics and his skillful guitar playing, which helped to establish him as one of the leading figures in the early rock and roll movement.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man is an important song in the history of rock and roll, showcasing both Chuck Berry's influential songwriting . Below are the Buddy Holly guitar chords for this number.

"Everyday" is more than just a song; it's a musical time capsule from the late 1950s. Written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, this gem first saw the light on his 1957 debut album, "The 'Chirping' Crickets." It's worth noting that this album was also the last one released during Holly's lifetime.

The song itself was recorded in 1957 at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Interestingly, the studio's unorthodox design led to a unique sound, giving "Everyday" its distinctive and soothing quality. The song was released on the B-side of Peggy Sue. 

Fool's Paradise is a song that was written in 1955 by Norman Perry, Joan Whitney, and Alex Kramer. The song was popularized by Buddy Holly, who recorded his version of it in 1958.

Holly's rendition of "Fool's Paradise" features his trademark rock and roll sound, characterized by a lively beat, upbeat guitar riffs, and his distinctive vocal style. The song's lyrics describe a relationship that is heading towards heartbreak, but the protagonist remains blissfully unaware of the impending doom.

Holly's recording of "Fool's Paradise" was released as a single in 1958, and it charted at #90 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song's popularity was somewhat eclipsed by Holly's other hits, such as "Peggy Sue" and "Everyday." Nonetheless, the track remains a beloved addition to Holly's discography and a testament to his talent as a songwriter and performer.

Interestingly, Holly recorded "Fool's Paradise" during a recording session that took place in Clovis, New Mexico, in 1958. This session was the last time that Holly recorded in that area before his untimely death in a plane crash the following year. The recording features some of Holly's most accomplished work, showcasing his vocal range and guitar skills in equal measure.

This song is one of those easy Buddy Holly guitar lessons.

I Fought The Law was not one of those songs of Buddy Holly,  but instead was written by Sonny Curtis, a member of Holly's band The Crickets. The song was eventually made famous by The Bobby Fuller Four, who recorded it in 1965.

"I Fought the Law" is a catchy, upbeat rock and roll song that tells the story of a person who has broken the law and is now facing the consequences of their actions. The song's lyrics are both playful and rebellious, with lines like "I fought the law and the law won" becoming iconic in their own right.

While Holly never recorded "I Fought the Law" himself, he did play a role in shaping the song's sound and style. According to Curtis, Holly was instrumental in helping him finish the song and provided guidance on its arrangement and structure.

The Bobby Fuller Four's recording of "I Fought the Law" became a hit in 1965, reaching #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's popularity has endured over the years, with countless covers and references in popular culture. Despite not being recorded by Buddy Holly himself, the song remains an important part of his legacy as a pioneer of rock and roll music.

The Clash covered the song also in 1979. 

I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore was written by Canadian artist Paul Anka for Buddy Holly, and it was recorded by Holly in 1958. The song features a pop-infused sound with a prominent string arrangement, which was unusual for a rock and roll song at the time.

The lyrics of "I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore" are about a failed relationship and the protagonist's realization that it's time to move on. The song's melancholic tone is offset by Holly's energetic and dynamic vocal performance, which adds a sense of urgency to the song.

Holly's recording of "I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was released as a single in January 1959, just weeks before his tragic death in a plane crash. Despite the unfortunate timing of the release, the song became a hit, reaching #13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The recording session for the song took place in October 1958 at the Pythian Temple Studio in New York City, and it featured a group of session musicians known as "The Crickets," which was Holly's backing band at the time. The song's string arrangement was created by Don Costa, who worked on several other hit records at the time.

"I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore" remains one of Holly's most popular and enduring songs, with its timeless lyrics and memorable melody. The song has been covered by many other artists over the years, including Paul Anka himself, and it continues to be a testament to Holly's legacy as a trailblazer in rock and roll music.

Paul Anka donated his royalties from the song to Buddy Holly's wife saying it was the least he could. Paul Anka lives in Ottawa Canada and is still alive at age 80 as of Jan 2022.

See the Buddy holly chord progressions below.

I'm Gonna Love You Too is a song that can be found on Buddy Holly's second studio album "Buddy Holly" which was released in 1958.

The song was written by Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, and Joe B. Mauldin and reached number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958.

The tune is about the joy of falling in love and wanting to express that love to someone special.

There was no official music video created for this song, as music videos were not yet a common practice during the time it was released.

This is a great song for helping you mastering Buddy Holly's music on guitar because of the steady up and down rhythm found in many of his tunes.

Listen to Me is a song written and recorded by Buddy Holly, which was released as a single in 1958. The song features Holly's trademark vocal style and was one of the last songs he recorded before his death in 1959.

The song was recorded at the Pythian Temple studio in New York City on October 21, 1958, during the same session that produced "It's So Easy!" and "Heartbeat." Holly was backed by his regular studio band, The Crickets, and the recording features a simple arrangement with acoustic guitar, drums, and bass.

"Listen to Me" was released as a single in November 1958, backed with "I'm Gonna Love You Too." The song reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song's lyrics are a plea to a lover to pay attention to Holly's words and to understand the depth of his feelings. The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo helped make it a hit, and it has since become a staple of oldies radio and a classic example of Buddy Holly's style and sound. This song is one of those Buddy Holly classics for guitar players.

Maybe Baby is a song co-written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, and recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets for their debut album, "The Chirping Crickets" in 1957. The song features Holly's distinctive vocal style and the Crickets' signature rock and roll sound.

The song was recorded at the Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, in May 1957, and features Holly on lead vocals and guitar, with Joe B. Mauldin on bass, Jerry Allison on drums, and Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar. The recording is notable for its prominent use of handclaps, which became a hallmark of many of the Crickets' recordings.

"Maybe Baby" was released as a single in 1958, with "Tell Me How" on the B-side. The single reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #4 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song's lyrics are a plea for a lover to give Holly another chance, with lines like "Maybe baby, I'll have you / Maybe baby, you'll be true." The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody helped make it a hit, and it has since become a rock and roll classic.

Overall, "Maybe Baby" is a quintessential example of Buddy Holly and the Crickets' early rock and roll sound. It remains a popular song among fans of the genre and one of those acoustic covers of Buddy Holly hits you should consider learning on guitar.

Oh Boy was recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets in 1957. It was written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman, and Norman Petty, and features Holly's distinctive vocal style and the Crickets' signature rock and roll sound.

The song was recorded at the Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, in October 1957, during the same session that produced "Not Fade Away" and "I'm Gonna Love You Too." The recording features Holly on lead vocals and guitar, Joe B. Mauldin on bass, Jerry Allison on drums, and Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar.

"Oh Boy!" was released as a single in 1958, backed with "Not Fade Away." The single reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song's lyrics express the singer's excitement and joy at the prospect of being with his lover, with lines like "All my love, all my kissin' / You don't know what you've been a-missin'." The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo helped make it a hit, and it has since become a classic rock and roll song.

Overall, "Oh Boy!" is a quintessential example of Buddy Holly and the Crickets' early rock and roll sound, and remains a popular song among fans of the genre.

Buddy changed the lyrics in the line from "you're gonna see what you've been missing" to "you don't know what you've been missing" according songwriter Sonny West. He never did find out why but still one of those Buddy Holly acoustic guitar tutorials worth learning.

Peggy Sue is a classic rock and roll song that was recorded by Buddy Holly and his band, the Crickets, in 1957. The song was written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty and was named after Allison's girlfriend at the time.

According to Allison, the song was inspired by a similar song called "Cindy Lou" by Buddy Holly's friend, Eddie Cochran. Cochran had written the song about a girl he knew, and Holly and Allison decided to write their own song about Allison's girlfriend, Peggy Sue.

The song was recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico, on July 29, 1957. The recording session took only two takes, with the first take being used as the master. The song features Holly on lead vocals and guitar, Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass, and Jerry Allison on drums.

It was reported that when Allison's girlfriend first heard the song at the Sacramento Auditorium for the first time she was totally embarrassed and could have died on the spot.

The Buddy Holly Peggy Sue release date was on September 20, 1957, and quickly became a hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Top 100 chart. The song is known for its catchy melody, distinctive guitar riff, and simple lyrics about a girl named Peggy Sue.

The success of "Peggy Sue" helped to establish Buddy Holly as a major force in the early rock and roll scene. He went on to record many more hit songs, including "That'll Be the Day," "Oh Boy!," and "Not Fade Away," before his tragic death in a plane crash in 1959.

Buddy Holly wrote a sequel to the song and called it Peggy Sue Got Married, which was included in the 1986 film of the same name starring Kathleen Turner.

Download the free Buddy Holly Peggy Sue lyrics below.

Rave On also hails from the "Buddy Holly" album of 1958 and the song was released as a single, peaking at #12 in Canada,  #37 in the US and #5 in the UK. The title for the song came from a Carl Perkins song Dixie Fried which used the lyrics Rave On.

Sonny West, the writer of the song, also recorded a version a few months before Buddy recorded it. On the 2004 best 500 songs of all time from Rolling Stone, the song ranked #154.

Artists who have covered this song through the years include, Joe Meek, John Mellencamp, The Real Kids, Half Japanese, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,  Steeleye Span, M. Ward, Denny Laine, Julian Casablancas and Cliff Richard.

Download the free Rave on Buddy Holly lyrics below.

Reminiscing is a song written by King Curtis and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958, but it was not released until 1963, five years after Holly's death. The song was included on the posthumous album "Reminiscing," which was a compilation of previously unreleased recordings and demos.

The original recording was made at the Decca Records studios in New York City on June 29, 1958, during the same session that produced "It's So Easy!" and "Heartbeat." The recording features Holly on vocals and guitar, with The Picks providing backing vocals and studio musicians providing additional instrumentation.

The song's lyrics are nostalgic and romantic, with lines like "Reminiscing, thinking of the times we had / Wondering how near or far you are / Wishing you hadn't stayed away so long." The song has a gentle, ballad-like feel, with a melody that showcases Holly's tender and emotional vocal style.

Despite not being released during Holly's lifetime, "Reminiscing" has become a beloved song among his fans and a testament to his enduring legacy in the rock and roll genre. The song has been covered by several artists over the years, including The Everly Brothers and Linda Ronstadt..

Three singles were released and Reminiscing reached #17 in the UK. A great number to ease you in on how to learn to  strum Buddy Holly's music.

Rockin' Around With Ollie Vee was written and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1956, and released as a single in 1957 from his That'll Be The Day album. The song was produced by Norman Petty and featured Holly on vocals and guitar, with the Crickets providing backing instrumentation.

The song has a classic rockabilly feel, with a driving beat and a catchy guitar riff. The lyrics describe the narrator's enjoyment of spending time with his friend Ollie Vee, and the various activities they do together. The song features Holly's distinctive vocal style, as well as his skillful guitar playing, which was a hallmark of his early recordings.

Despite receiving some airplay and positive reviews, "Rock Around with Ollie Vee" did not achieve significant commercial success. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it has since become a fan favorite and a staple of Holly's early rock and roll repertoire.

Holly went on to record and release many more influential and successful songs, but "Rock Around with Ollie Vee" remains an important part of his legacy as a pioneer of rockabilly and rock and roll music. This song has some vintage Buddy Holly guitar techniques worth exploring.

Tell Me How can be found on Buddy Holly's first studio album "The "Chirping" Crickets" which was released in 1957. The song was written by Buddy Holly and did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song is a love ballad in which the singer asks his love interest to tell him how he can make her love him, and promises to do whatever it takes to make her happy.

There was no official music video created for this song.

The chords for Buddy Holly classics like this song are below.

Think It Over is a song on Buddy Holly's second studio album "Buddy Holly" which was released in 1958.

The track was written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958.

The song is about a man pleading with his lover to give their relationship a second chance after an argument, and assuring her that he still loves her.

There was no official music video created for this song but it's one of those rare Buddy Holly singles on guitar that has a walking bass component.

True Love Ways was penned by Buddy Holly and his wife, Maria Elena Holly, in 1958. It was a declaration of their deep love and commitment to each other.

It was recorded with the Dick Jacobs Orchestra in 1958, which was four months before Buddy was killed in the Iowa plane crash. The Buddy Holly True Love Ways release date  as a single wasn't until May of 1960, first in the UK. The single did reach #25 in the UK but did not chart in the US when it was released a month later in June 1960.  In 1988 the song was released once more in the UK and peaked at #65.

Buddy Holly recorded the song in his apartment in New York City just months before his tragic passing in 1959. The recording captures the raw essence of his musical talent and the intimacy of the moment.

The song can be found on the Buddy Holly True Love Ways album called "The Buddy Holly Story Vol 2".

Peter & Gordon had a big hit with their version in 1965 where it peaked at #2 in the UK and #14 in the US as well as a top 10 in several other countries. Cliff Richard also had a top 10 with his version in 1983. But only country star Mickey Gilley had a #1 hit with this song on the country charts in the US in 1980.

Mrs Holly said that Buddy wrote the song for her as a wedding gift. The melody follows a gospel song called I'll Be All Right which you can find on youtube if you search for "ill be all right gospel song". You can hear a bit of the framework from this song used somewhat in True Love Ways. That gospel song was played at Buddy Holly's funeral.  

Words Of Love was written by Buddy Holly and released it in 1957, but the song did not chart. It's found on the album "Buddy Holly". Buddy also sang harmony with himself on this song. In 1993 a compilation album called Words Of Love was released and it reached #1.

The Diamonds did a doo-wop version of this song also and scored a #13 hit in the summer of 1957. Essentially this was Buddy Holly's first hit song as a writer, not as a performer. The Diamonds also performed the song on a live TV show called Circus Time. It also later appeared on a 1962 Mercury album called Pop Hits.

The Beatles also covered this song as McCartney and Lennon were both big Buddy Holly fans. Between 1958 and 1962 George Harrison and John Lennon sang the song, but when they did their official recording, it was Lennon and McCartney who sang the song. They did their version in just two takes. There is a live BBC radio album of 40 songs with The Beatles performing this one called On Air Live At The BBC Vol 2.

Paul McCartney coved the song acoustically in 1985 and other covers are out there from Jessica Lee Mayfield, Pat DiNizio, Shoes, Jimmy Gilmer, Mike Berry, The Pete Best Band, Patti Smith and Jeff Lynn from ELO.