American Songbook

#12 "Peggy Sue" Lyrics and Song: Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Norm Petty

"Peggy Sue" was originally titled "Cindy Lou" after Holly's niece and was changed to Peggy Sue" after Jerry Allison's girlfriend Peggy Sue Gerron. Buddy Holly (Holley) and the Crickets recorded the song on their first album recorded in Clovis, NM in 1957. "That'll Be The Day" , "Maybe Baby" and "Everyday" added to Holly's legacy.  In 1958 Holly wrote a sequel "Peggy Sue Got Married", but was killed in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and the 'Big Bopper' ( J. P. Richardson in 1959, before the song was recorded. The three were on tour in Iowa and their plane crashed in a blizzard on Fed. 3, 1959. The song "Peggy Sue Got Married" was posthumously released. This accident was the focus of Don McLean's "American Pie" as referred to as the "The Day The Music Died". There were many covers to the song and a 1986 film called "Peggy Sue Got Married". There have been numerous documentary films, re-releases and even a play about Buddy Holly.

(holly / petty / allison)
If you knew, peggy sue,
Then you know why I feel blue
Without peggy, my peggy sue.
Well, I love you girl.
Yes, I love you, peggy sue.

Peggy sue, peggy sue,
Oh, how my heart yearns for you.
Oh, peggy, my peggy sue.
Well, I love you girl.
Yes, I love you, peggy sue.

I love you, peggy sue,
With a love so rare and true.
Oh, peggy, my peggy sue.
Well, I love you girl.
I want you, peggy sue.

Peggy sue, peggy sue.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty peggy sue.
Oh, peggy, my peggy sue.
Well, I love you girl.
Yes, 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 girl,
And I want you, peggy sue.