Buddy Holly & The Crickets “Peggy Sue”

About the song

“Peggy Sue” is a quintessential rock and roll track, originally recorded by Buddy Holly and released as a single on September 20, 1957. Co-written by Jerry Allison and Norman Petty, with Buddy Holly also contributing significantly, the song was a major hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Top 100 chart in 1957. Although the Crickets, including Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison, played on the track, they are not credited on the original single label.

Initially titled “Cindy Lou,” after Holly’s niece, the song was later renamed “Peggy Sue” in honor of Peggy Sue Gerron, the girlfriend (and future wife) of the Crickets’ drummer, Jerry Allison. The change was made after Allison and Gerron experienced a temporary breakup, making the new title a poignant and personal choice.

In the recording, Holly’s distinctive vocals are accompanied by Allison’s prominent drumming and Mauldin’s string bass, creating a rhythmically dynamic sound. Norman Petty, the producer, used innovative real-time engineering techniques to enhance the track’s rhythm, adding to its distinctive sound.

“Peggy Sue” has been celebrated for its significant impact on rock and roll. It is ranked number 194 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and was included in NPR’s 1999 list of the “100 Most Important American Musical Works of the 20th Century.” The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and is featured on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.”

Following Holly’s death, the Crickets released a version of “Peggy Sue” in 1960, featuring David Box as the lead vocalist. Holly himself recorded a sequel, “Peggy Sue Got Married,” in December 1958. This version, discovered posthumously, was later enhanced for commercial release and featured in the 1986 film *Peggy Sue Got Married*.

The song has been covered by numerous artists, including John Lennon, The Beach Boys, and Waylon Jennings, each bringing their own interpretation to this rock and roll classic. Its enduring legacy is a testament to its influence and the timeless appeal of Buddy Holly’s music.

Video

Lyrics

If you knew Peggy Sue
Then you’d know why I feel blue without Peggy
My Peggy Sue
Oh well, I love you gal, yes, I love you Peggy Sue

Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue
Oh how my heart yearns for you
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well, I love you gal, yes, I love you Peggy Sue

Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty Peggy Sue
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well, I love you gal and I need you Peggy Sue

I love you Peggy Sue
With a love so rare and true
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Well I love you gal, I want you Peggy Sue

Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty Peggy Sue
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well, I love you gal yes I need you Peggy Sue

I love you Peggy Sue
With a love so rare and true
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well I love you gal, and I want you Peggy Sue
Oh well, I love you gal and I want you Peggy Sue