Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men popularized "the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists", facilitating the emergence of "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 he was a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he began in country music, his musical style went on to consist primarily of rock and roll, rockabilly, and instrumental rock.
Wray was born on May 2, 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina, to Fred Lincoln Wray, Sr. and his wife, Lillian M. Wray (née Coats). They were Shawnee Native Americans. Three songs he performed were named for American Indian tribes: "Shawnee", "Apache", and "Comanche". "Apache" was an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan; it was originally a hit in the United Kingdom for The Shadows in 1960. Wray recorded a cover version 30 years later, when it was also associated with The Ventures and the Incredible Bongo Band.
Wray served in the US Army during the Korean War, and contracted tuberculosis, which laid him up in a hospital for a year. His stay concluded with the removal of a lung, which doctors predicted would mean he would never be able to sing again.
In 1958, Wray's first hit, "Rumble", was banned in New York and Boston for fear it would incite teenage gang violence. The record was first released on Cadence Records as Cat # 1347 (as Link Wray and the Ray-Men). Before, during, and after his stints with major labels Epic and Swan, Wray released 45's under many names. Tiring of the corporate music machine, he began recording albums using a three-track studio he converted from an outbuilding on his brother's property that his father used to raise chickens.
While living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1970s, Wray was introduced to Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina by bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson. He subsequently formed a band initially featuring special guest Cipollina along with the rhythm section from Cipollina's band Copperhead, bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and drummer David Weber. They opened for the band Lighthouse at The Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles from May 15–19, 1974. He later did numerous concerts and radio broadcasts in the Bay Area including KSAN (FM) and the Bill Graham venue Winterland Ballroom, with Les Lizama later replacing Hutchinson on bass. He toured and recorded two albums with retro-rockabilly artist Robert Gordon in the late 1970s. The 1980s to the present day saw a large number of reissues as well as new material. One member of his band in the 1980s, drummer Anton Fig, later became drummer in the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 1994, he played on four songs of the album Chatterton by French rocker Alain Bashung.
Wray's first three marriages—to Elizabeth Canady Wray, Katherine Tidwell Wray, and Sharon Wray—each ended in divorce. Although Wray had eight children with his first three wives, he had little contact with any of them after relocating to Denmark in the early 1980s.
Wray died of heart failure at his home in Copenhagen, at the age of 76. Survivors included his fourth wife, Olive Julie Povlsen Wray, and their son. He was buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church, Copenhagen.
Jack Rose cited Wray as an influence, as did Iggy Pop and Neil Young. Jimmy Page says that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in It Might Get Loud as a major influence in his early career. According to Rolling Stone, Pete Townshend of The Who once said, "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I never would have picked up a guitar." "The only people I ever really looked up to were Link Wray and Iggy Pop," said Mark E. Smith of The Fall. "Guys like…Link Wray… are very special to me.
Girl from the North Country
Link Wray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the winds beat heavy on the borderline
Remember me to the one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
If you go when the snowflakes storm
Where the rivers freeze as the summer ends
Please see that she has a coat so warm
Please see that her hair hangs long
It rolls, flows all down her dress
Please see for me that her hair's hanging long
For that's the way I remember her best
I'm wonderin' if she remembers me at all
Many times I've hoped and prayed
In the darkness of my night,
In the the brightness of my day
If you're travellin' in the north the north country far
Where the winds beat heavy on the borderline
Remember me to the one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Link Wray’s “Girl From the North Country” tells a story of longing and reminiscence. The song seems to follow a narrator who is separated from someone close to him. The lyrics describe a North Country, offering familiar details and landmarks such as the violent winds and freezing rivers. The singer requests that if the listener happens to travel to the North Country they should remember him to the girl who lives there. The repetition of this request provides a palpable sense of distance and isolation. The idea of sending well-wishes or greetings through someone else is a common motif in folk music, illustrating the romanticization of travel and the separation it brings.
The songwriting has an effortless quality to it with its poetic imagery, metaphors and emotive vocal delivery. Wray's voice carries an air of melancholy and regret, even as it gently soothes. Wray's vocal does not distract from the simplicity of the lyrics but instead highlights its power, capturing a yearning that feels unified in its simplicity. The wistful and romantic lyrics coupled with the quiet and restrained musical arrangement describe the emotional toll of being apart from someone we care about. The song undeniably stands as a timeless classic which successfully communicates its sense of lonely distance.
Line by Line Meaning
If you go in the north country far
If you venture far north
Where the winds beat heavy on the borderline
Where the strong winds strike the edge of the land
Remember me to the one who lives there
Send my regards to the person living there
She once was a true love of mine
I used to be deeply in love with her
If you go when the snowflakes storm
If you happen to visit when it's snowing heavily
Where the rivers freeze as the summer ends
Where the rivers turn into icy pathways as summer comes to an end
Please see that she has a coat so warm
Ensure she has a very warm coat
To keep her from the howling wind
So that she is protected from the strong winds
Please see that her hair hangs long
Make sure her hair is still long and flowing
It rolls, flows all down her dress
It cascades down covering her dress
Please see for me that her hair's hanging long
Make it a point to observe and confirm that her hair is still long
For that's the way I remember her best
It's how I have always remembered her
I'm wonderin' if she remembers me at all
I'm unsure if she still remembers me
Many times I've hoped and prayed
I have frequently wished and prayed
In the darkness of my night,
At night,
In the the brightness of my day
During the day,
If you're travellin' in the north the north country far
If you happen to be travelling far up North
Where the winds beat heavy on the borderline
Where the strong winds hit the border
Remember me to the one who lives there
Send my greetings to the person living there
She once was a true love of mine
I once had strong romantic feelings for her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
walter ramalho
My favorite version, by far, of this song
Steve Faure
This is uncanny really. You get the feeling Bob must have heard this and said "That''s it! Play it like that!" to the Band.
Lee
Love the BD original and JC version, but this is just sublime!
This is how you speed up a slow song and make it work!
Truly awesome
Michael Baker
So good!
Michael Baker
This is a needle drop, right? Sound better that some of CD masterings that I’ve heard. Any chance you could share the wav?
Paul Savage
Yes! Drop Out
Joanne Hack
I did not know Link sings
Sam Ratliff
he has an incredible self titled album from 1971 that’s singer songwriter/folk rock stuff. definitely check it out if you wanna hear him sing more.