17 Quotes & Sayings By Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley was an American singer-songwriter who helped define the 1990s. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas on February 1, 1966, and passed away in 1997 at the age of 30. His band, the Flying Burrito Brothers (named after his father's trucking company), was known for its finger style rhythm section and eclectic mix of folk, country, jazz, blues, rockabilly and psychedelic rock. The Burrito Brothers broke up in 1975 after releasing two albums for Columbia Records Read more

He then formed the band the Graceounds with his sister Mimi. The band broke up in late 1975 when Jeff went to Los Angeles to record his debut solo album, "Grace". After the Graceounds broke up, he signed with Epic Records and released his self-titled eponymous debut album in March of 1976.

Very few copies were sold due to Epic's lack of promotion and distribution. Buckley returned to Texas briefly before returning to Los Angeles later that year to record "Greetings from L.A.", his sophomore album with the G3 tour following shortly thereafter. After this tour ended, he returned again to Texas.

In 1986 he recorded "Tied to a Star", which featured a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". It became his first successful single release but only reached number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart due to radio airplay being limited by Buckley's label's limited promotional efforts. Despite this lack of commercial success, "Tied to a Star" remains one of Buckley's most popular songs.

Throughout the early 1980s, Buckley toured extensively with Emmylou Harris as opening act on her Unplugged Tour as well as with other artists including Brad Paisley and John Mellencamp. This allowed him to develop a following among college students who often smuggled bootlegged copies of his records into venues where he was not performing so that they could listen to them. In 1987 he signed with Columbia Records who released "Grace" in Europe but otherwise ignored it during it initial release period.

At this time Buckley also wrote several songs for Janis Joplin's posthumous album Pearl (alongside Richard Perry), which she had finished recording after his own death prior to her own tragic passing at age 27 in October of that same year. The song "Mystery Girl" became one of his most successful singles; it peaked at number 15 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1990. That

When all of this music sounds like you know what...
1
When all of this music sounds like you know what you want to say, then it will have been of all worth, ever. You will be something complete unto yourself, present and unique. Jeff Buckley
2
Turn your head away from the screen, my friend. It will tell you nothing more. Jeff Buckley
3
There's no time for hatred, only questions. Where is love? Where is happiness? What is life? Where is peace? Jeff Buckley
4
I was captured by music at a really early age. I was really captured by it. Everything about it. It was my mother… It was my father… It was my play thing. It was my toy. It was the best thing in my life. Jeff Buckley
5
There is no good singing, there is only present and absent. Jeff Buckley
6
I don't really need to be remembered. I hope the music's remembered. Jeff Buckley
7
The words come from here. From memories, from dreams, from people I've known. I'm always writing and reflecting on life. I want to suck it all in. Jeff Buckley
8
Grace is what matters in anything - especially life, especially growth, tragedy, pain, love, death. That's a quality that I admire very greatly. It keeps you from reaching out for the gun too quickly. It keeps you from destroying things too foolishly. It sort of keeps you alive. Jeff Buckley
9
I want to be ripped apart by music. I want it to be something that feeds and replenishes, or that totally sucks the life out of you. I want to be dashed against the rocks. Jeff Buckley
10
The most audacious thing I could possibly state in this day and age is that life is worth living. It's worth being bashed against. It's worth getting scarred by. It's worth pouring yourself over every one of its coals. Jeff Buckley
11
I'm sick of all these labels and these manufactured subdivisions of music that don't even exist. And even though I'm pierced myself, I'm sick of everyone equating body piercing with musical courage. If you ask me, it takes a lot more than that. Jeff Buckley
12
'Grace' is basically a death prayer. Not something of sorrow, but of just casting away any fear of death. No relief will come - you really just have to stew in your life until it's time to go. But sometimes, somebody else's faith in you can do wonders. Jeff Buckley
13
Certain emotions just take you to the notes - being furious, heroic, sad, erotic, when rain comes. Jeff Buckley
14
I'm convinced I got signed because of who I am. And it makes me sad. Jeff Buckley
15
I'm convinced part of the reason I got signed is because of who I am, and it makes me sad. Jeff Buckley
16
Music was like my first real toy. I was an only child for a while, and I was alone a lot of the time - and I liked it. I still like being alone. Jeff Buckley