About the Song

Ritchie Valens’Donna” is a timeless rock and roll ballad that captures the raw emotion of young love and loss. Released in 1958, the song became an instant classic and solidified Valens’ place in music history.

With its simple yet powerful melody and heartfelt lyrics, “Donna” resonates deeply with listeners of all ages. Valens’ emotive vocals convey a sense of longing and heartbreak that is both raw and relatable. The song’s themes of love, loss, and longing have made it a enduring favorite for generations.

Interestingly, “Donna” was the A-side to Valens’ even more famous song, “La Bamba.” However, “Donna” stands on its own as a powerful and poignant piece of music.

Video

Lyrics: Donna

Oh, Donna
Oh, Donna
Oh, Donna
Oh, DonnaI had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she left me
I’ve never been the same’Cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be?
Where can you be?Now that you’re gone
I’m left all alone
All by myself
To wander and roam

‘Cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be?
Where can you be?

Oh, darlin’, now that you’re gone
I don’t know what I’ll do
All the time and all my love
For you

I had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she left me
I’ve never been the same

‘Cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be?
Where can you be?

Oh, Donna
Oh, Donna
Oh, Donna
Oh, Donna

 

You Missed

Dolly Parton turned a simple handmade coat into one of the most powerful songs of her life because to her, it was never really about the fabric. “Coat of Many Colors” sprang directly from Dolly’s growing-up years in East Tennessee. Her mother, Avie Lee, pieced the jacket together by sewing colorful rags the family already owned. Cash was mighty tight, so there was no running down to the store for brand-new clothes. Instead, Avie Lee took what was on hand and stitched together something warm for her little girl to wear. While the needle flew, she shared the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, turning an ordinary piece of clothing into something special in Dolly’s eyes. Proudly wearing that coat to school, Dolly felt rich, but the other kids saw it differently. They laughed at the patches and teased her for having so little. Years down the road, Dolly penned those childhood memories into “Coat of Many Colors.” Released in 1971, the tune became a shining example of why her songwriting touched so many souls. She never tried to hide hard times or dress up her youth to look prettier than it was. She simply laid the sting of teasing side-by-side with the deep love that stitched the coat together, letting that honest truth speak for itself. The song eventually grew far beyond that original vinyl record. Its spirit inspired the 2015 television movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, followed by Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love the very next year. Those films opened a window into Dolly’s mountain home, introducing folks to the hardworking parents and siblings who shaped her long before the bright lights found her. By then, Dolly had worn glittering stage gowns worth more than her family could ever have dreamed. Yet the garment folks remember best remains that humble little coat stitched by a mother’s loving hands when buying something new simply wasn’t in the cards. That is why the memory stayed alive. The scraps faded away, but the lesson underneath never did.