Walk Right Back

Album: The Very Best Of The Everly Brothers (1961)
Charted: 1 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Sonny Curtis, of Buddy Holly's Crickets, wrote this song while in the army and showed it to The Everly Brothers when he was home on leave. They liked it and said they'd record it. Sonny said, "It's not finished. I'll write the second verse and send it to you." The Everlys didn't receive it in time so they just sang the first verse twice on the recording. Very few people know the second verse. Roger Miller must have liked the song because he wrote his "Engine, Engine Number Nine" right on top of it. You can sing the two at the same time.
  • The second verse lyrics are: "These eyes of mine that gave you loving glances once before... changed to shades of cloudy gray. I want so very much to see you... just like before. I've got to know you're coming back to stay. Please believe me when I say it's great to hear from you, but there's a lot of things a letter just can't say, oh me. Walk right back..." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Terry - Willmar, MN, for above 2
  • Sonny Curtis wrote the song one Sunday afternoon during basic army training on a "beat-up Sears Roebuck kind of guitar." He recalled the penning of the tune during an interview with Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International:

    "I had the lick before I went into the army. And then that Sunday afternoon, I put a song to it ... People ask me all the time, 'What in the world are you thinking when you write a song?' I think sometimes, when I'm done, that I probably dreamed them. I can't really say."

Comments: 8

  • Coy from Palestine, TexasBuddy was not dead (Terry from Willmar, MN) when Sonny Curtis wrote "I Fought the Law". Curtis had written it in 1958 with Buddy in mind, but Buddy died in the plane crash. Sonny and the Crickets then sang it on the album 'In Style with the Crickets'. Earl Sinks sings lead on the song on this album which came out in 1960. Holly would have done a classic version of the song--The Bobby Fuller Four copied Holly and the Crickets. It is listed by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest songs in Rock and Roll (#175).
  • Mj from Colbert, WaMore than I can say, a minor hit Terry?! Love that song and to me a MAJOR Hit! What were the listeners thinking? The Everlys are in a class by themselves! FABULOUS!!!! Met themn--love them!
    Bobby Vee too! He is great!!. Thanks for sharing this info.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis was the brothers second record on which both sides reached the Top 10. In 1958 their song "Bird Dog" peaked at No. 1 and the flip-side "Devoted To You" reached No. 10...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis was a Top Ten two-sided hit for the brothers;
    'Walk Right Back" peaked at #7 and the flip-side 'Ebony Eyes' peaked at #8!!!
  • Terry from Willmar, MnBuddy Holly was long dead by the time that Sonny wrote "I Fought The Law". He also wrote "More Than I Can Say", a minor hit for my friend Bobby Vee.
  • Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaSonny Curtis wrote the great rock song "I Fought The Law". Would have been a perfect tune for Holly to cover. Curtis also wrote the theme to the "Mary Tyler Moore Show'. Diverse talent.
  • Mike from Emmaus, PaNeil Young stole the intro from this tune for "Harvest Moon."
  • Teresa from Mechelen, Belgium"A thing of beauty is a joy forever", said Keats. That's very right, because to listen to the songs of the Everly Brothers is a real joy for me.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.