Ray Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Ray Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. With a charismatic voice that could switch effortlessly between smooth ballads and raucous rockabilly, Cochran epitomized the rebellious '50s rocker. Although killed in a tragic accident at the age of 21, the influence of his brief career, and life, was immeasurable, having inspired many of the greatest artists of the '60s. Cochran's distinctively rough, bass-driven singles (such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues") have granted him the title of "grandfather of punk" by luminaries of the genre.

Ray Edward Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota; however, as his parents were from Oklahoma, he considered himself an Oklahoman, and introduced himself as such in interviews. He took music lessons in school, but eventually quit the band to play drums. Rather than take piano lessons, Cochran began learning guitar, playing the country music he heard on the radio. As time went on, Cochran moved to Los Angeles, California in 1953. Together with Hank Cochran, Eddie formed The Cochran Brothers, though the two shared no relation.

Around the same time, Cochran worked as a session musician, but aspired to be a songwriter and artist in his own right, and recorded a demo with songwriting partner and future manager, Jerry Capeheart. Cochran's first notable foray into the public eye was as one of the many performing artists featured in the musical comedy film The Girl Can't Help It starring Jayne Mansfield, eventually resulting in a recording contract with Liberty. He would follow up on this appearance by appearing in several films of the same genre. He also performed as a support act for such stars as Gene Vincent and Little Richard, who were among Cochran's co-stars in the aforementioned film.

For his recordings, Cochran often used experimental techniques that would later become part and parcel for other recording artists, notably recording numerous overdubs in order to create the rich, distinctive guitar sound for "Summertime Blues" and "C'mon Everybody". "Twenty Flight Rock", the song Cochran performed in The Girl Can't Help It, was the very first song a young Paul McCartney played for John Lennon as his audition for Lennon's group, The Quarrymen, which would later metamorphose into The Beatles.

Cochran was killed in an automobile accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England during a tour of Britain with Gene Vincent. Vincent and Cochran's fiancee, who were both in the car, survived the crash. Scholars have noted that, somewhat eerily, Cochran's last single release in his lifetime was "Three Steps to Heaven", although the song's lyrical context has nothing to do with death. Cochran's death occurred little over a year after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, to whom he paid tribute in his recording of the song "Three Stars", which remained unreleased until 1966.

A majority of Cochran's recorded legacy would be released posthumously; in his lifetime, only one album, Singin' to My Baby (1957), was ever released. Perhaps owing to the brevity of his career, Cochran never attained the same star status as other rockers of the era; however, his lyrical themes of teenage desires and rebellion, being somewhat more morose and raucous than his contemporaries, had a profound influence on many of the greatest artists of the '60s and '70s, such as The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones.

Am i Blue
Eddie Cochran Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in my eyes tellin' you
Well am I blue, you'd be too
If your pal says your gal's done with you
There was a time, I was the only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one, oh dear
Well was I gay, I should say
Now she's gone and we're through, am I blue

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song "Am I Blue" depict the heart-wrenching feeling of being abandoned and lonely after a breakup. The first line of the song, "Well am I blue, am I blue," shows the singer questioning their own emotions and wondering if the sadness they feel is evident to others, as seen in the tears in their eyes. The lyrics further state that the singer's partner has left them for another person, and the pain and loneliness that come with it are evident in the mournful tone of the lyrics.

The later part of the song highlights the fact that the singer was once happy and content with their partner, as depicted using the line "There was a time, I was the only one," but now they are left to question their state of mind and if they were ever really happy. The lyrics convey the sense of desolation and emptiness experienced after a breakup, making it a relatable and emotional song.

Overall, "Am I Blue" is a poignant reflection on the heartbreak following a failed relationship, and its melancholic lyrics are a testament to Cochran's exceptional songwriting talent.

Line by Line Meaning

Well am I blue, am I blue
Am I feeling sad and disappointed?

Ain't these tears in my eyes tellin' you
Isn't it obvious that I'm crying and upset?

Well am I blue, you'd be too
If you were in my situation, you'd probably feel just as sad

If your pal says your gal's done with you
If someone you know tells you that your girlfriend left you

There was a time, I was the only one
There used to be a time when I was the only person in her life that mattered

But now I'm the sad and lonely one, oh dear
But now I'm left feeling sad and alone, which is unfortunate

Well was I gay, I should say
I used to be happy and carefree, if I do say so myself

Now she's gone and we're through, am I blue
Now that she's gone and our relationship is over, am I feeling sad and blue?

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY AKST, GRANT CLARKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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