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.
Dance In the Street
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
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Well now dance in the street tonight
We're gonna dance to the beat to the heart of the sweet
We're gonna dance in the street tonight
Well, we're gonna find a street that's-a hard to use
Cars in a circle and I'll kick off my shoes
Turn on the radio and leave on the light
I'll grab a little chick and we'll dance all night
A-dance in the street tonight
Well now dance to the beat to the heart of the sweet
We're gonna dance in the street tonight (Well yeah)
Well, we're gonna do the chicken, a-gonna do the bop
A-gonna do the stroll and we're gonna do the hop
A-then while we're dancin', tell ya what I'm gonna do
Every now and then I'm gonna steal a kiss from you
And we'll dance in the street tonight
Well now dance in the street tonight
Well now dance in the street to the heart of the sweet
We're gonna dance in the street tonight (Well, Yeah)
Well, we're gonna dance in the street, hoo-woo-woo
We're gonna dance in the street, hoo-woo-woo
We're gonna dance in the street, oh honey
Gonna dance in the street, ah ha
Gonna dance in the street to the heart of the sweet
We're gonna dance in the street tonight
Well now, dance in the street tonight
Gonna dance in the street tonight
Wooo, dance in the street, ah ha
A-dance in the street, ooh ho
A-dance in the street to the heart of the sweet
We're gonna dance in the street tonight
The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song "Dance In the Street" convey a simple and joyful message of wanting to dance and let go of inhibitions. The singer expresses a desire to find a street that is not heavily trafficked, where they can kick off their shoes and dance freely. They plan to turn on the radio, leave the lights on, and grab a dance partner to enjoy a night of dancing. The song mentions various dance styles like the chicken, the bop, the stroll, and the hop, indicating a playful and energetic atmosphere. The singer also hints at stealing a kiss from their dance partner while enjoying the music and movement. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a carefree and exuberant time spent dancing in the street.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, we're gonna dance in the street tonight
We are excited and eager to dance in the street tonight
Well now dance in the street tonight
We will definitely dance in the street tonight
We're gonna dance to the beat to the heart of the sweet
We will dance to the rhythm and the joyous feeling of the music
We're gonna find a street that's-a hard to use
We will search for a less crowded street to dance in
Cars in a circle and I'll kick off my shoes
Cars are surrounding us in a circle, so I'll take off my shoes to feel freer while dancing
Turn on the radio and leave on the light
We will turn on the radio for music and keep the lights on to enhance the atmosphere
I'll grab a little chick and we'll dance all night
I'll find a partner and we will dance throughout the entire night
We're gonna do the chicken, a-gonna do the bop
We will dance lively and energetically, performing the chicken dance and the bop
A-gonna do the stroll and we're gonna do the hop
We will also do the stroll and include some hopping in our dance moves
A-then while we're dancin', tell ya what I'm gonna do
While we are dancing, I will let you know what I plan to do
Every now and then I'm gonna steal a kiss from you
Occasionally, I will lovingly surprise you with a stolen kiss while we dance
We're gonna dance in the street to the heart of the sweet
We will dance in the street, feeling the pure joy and happiness in our hearts
We're gonna dance in the street, hoo-woo-woo
We will dance in the street, expressing our excitement with a joyful vocalization
Gonna dance in the street, oh honey
Oh honey, we are going to dance with delight in the street
Gonna dance in the street, ah ha
We will dance in the street, exclaiming with a sense of understanding and agreement
Gonna dance in the street to the heart of the sweet
We are going to dance in the street, fully embracing the joyous and pleasant vibes
Well now, dance in the street tonight
Now, let's dance in the street tonight
Gonna dance in the street tonight
We are absolutely going to dance in the street tonight
Wooo, dance in the street, ah ha
Wooo, let's dance in the street with a lively and enthusiastic expression
A-dance in the street, ooh ho
We will dance in the street, expressing our enjoyment with an excited exclamation
A-dance in the street to the heart of the sweet
Let's dance in the street, connecting with the deep and wonderful emotions
We're gonna dance in the street tonight
Tonight, we will dance joyously in the street
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVIS, WELCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind