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.
Cotton Picker
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Bom-bom-bom)
No, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
(Bom-bom-bom)
You can make a-me laugh, make a-me cry
Shake the stars right out of the sky
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
You can make a-me sweat, make a-me steam
You can make a-me rock-rock-rock till I scream
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
You can make a-me laugh, make a-me cry
Make a-me roll-roll-roll till I die
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
You can make a-me poor, make a-me rich
Make a-me want the seven-year-itch
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
You can make a-me sing, make a-me dance
Make a-me rock right out of my pants
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
(Hey, hey you cottonpickers, right everybody, back to work
The lyrics of Eddie Cochran's song "Cotton Picker" express a defiant rejection of the singer's identity as a cotton picker. The repeated phrase "you ain't gonna make a cottonpicker out of me" indicates a refusal to be defined by the work that is expected of the singer, and a refusal to be exploited for labor. The verses highlight the ways in which the singer can be manipulated or affected by others - they can make him laugh, cry, sweat, rock, or even want the "seven-year-itch" - but ultimately, these experiences will not make him conform to the role of a cotton picker. The message of the song seems to be one of self-determination and resistance against societal expectations.
Cochran's vocal performance is energetic and playful, with a driving rockabilly beat that suggests a sense of rebellion and celebration. The repetitive nature of the lyrics and the use of a call-and-response vocal style create a sense of camaraderie and solidarity with other cotton pickers. However, the song's emphasis on individual agency and refusal to be defined solely by one's work also set it apart from other depictions of agricultural labor in popular music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
(Bom-bom-bom)
I refuse to become a cottonpicker for anyone, no matter what they do or say.
You can make a-me laugh, make a-me cry
Shake the stars right out of the sky
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
Even if you can affect my emotions deeply and create great changes in the world around me, I will not be swayed to become a cottonpicker.
You can make a-me sweat, make a-me steam
You can make a-me rock-rock-rock till I scream
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
Even if you can make me work hard and enjoy myself until I am exhausted, I still won't become a cottonpicker.
Make a-me roll-roll-roll till I die
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
Even if you can keep me going until I die, I won't become a cottonpicker.
You can make a-me poor, make a-me rich
Make a-me want the seven-year-itch
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
Even if you can offer me wealth or make me desire something strongly, I still won't become a cottonpicker.
You can make a-me sing, make a-me dance
Make a-me rock right out of my pants
But, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me
Even if you can make me feel happy and free, I won't let that convince me to become a cottonpicker.
(Hey, hey you cottonpickers, right everybody, back to work
This line is not analyzed as it is a spoken interjection not a song lyric.
Writer(s): WATTS, RICHARDSON
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
It’s the 5150 Show™
Absolutely brilliant thank you
madison
god he’s so handsome
woodstock
Thank you
Moe McGovern
I was only 5....;)
Max Jeannot23
Connaissait pas cette chanson
Gabriel Casuco
1:51
Moe McGovern
I was only 5....;)