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.
Don't Wake Up The Kids
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Givin' a party tryin' to impress your friends
We been tryin' to figure what you spent
This party must have cost a pretty cent
Howlin', rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Sssh, don't wake up the kids please
Look at them doin' that ol' time jitterbug
And when they find that hole burned in the chair
You'd swear with all your might we put it there
Howlin'. rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Sssh, don't wake up them kids you all
Thinkin' there was a recession goin' on
What you gonna do when all your loot is gone
You call all four of us a bunch of cranks
When we don't let you rob our piggy banks
Howlin', rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Don't wake up them kids you all please
Wah, all the kids are peekin' through the crack
The baby found a cushion in the back
From the way he looked we got a hunch
He must have got a hold of some of your punch
Howlin' , rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Sssh, don't wake up the kids, don't wake up the kids
Help your parents and all you grab a broom
While we do that dirty living room
And don't you make no noise while you sweep
You know your father's ill, he's tryin' to sleep
Howlin', rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Hey you all, don't wake up them kids in there
The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song "Don't Wake Up The Kids" depict a scene at a party thrown by the singer's parents. The singer is addressing their parents, expressing frustration and bemusement at their efforts to impress their friends and the expensive cost of the party. The singer observes the chaos caused by the party guests, who are dancing the "ol' time jitterbug" and tearing up the brand new living room rug. It is suggested that the guests may have even burned a hole in one of the chairs. The singer pleads with their parents to not wake up the kids, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment for them.
The lyrics also touch upon the parents' financial situation, with the singer mentioning a possible recession and questioning what they will do when their money runs out. The parents are depicted as attempting to take money from their children's piggy banks, which the children refuse to allow. The chaos of the party is further amplified as the kids peek through a crack and the baby seems to have gotten hold of some of the punch, adding to the mayhem. The song concludes with the singer urging everyone, including the children, to help clean up the mess, emphasizing the need to be quiet so as not to disturb their father who is ill and trying to sleep.
Overall, "Don't Wake Up The Kids" is a humorous and slightly exasperated commentary on the parents' behavior and the disruption caused by their party, while highlighting the singer's concern for the well-being of their siblings.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma and pa, now here you all go again
Parents, once again you're engaging in this behavior
Givin' a party tryin' to impress your friends
Throwing a party to gain approval from your friends
We been tryin' to figure what you spent
We've been trying to determine the amount you spent
This party must have cost a pretty cent
This party must have been quite expensive
Howlin', rack 'em back, let 'em stack, runnin' around again
Noisy chaos ensues with people moving and running around
Sssh, don't wake up the kids please
Please be quiet so the kids don't wake up
Look at them doin' that ol' time jitterbug
Observe them dancing the old-fashioned jitterbug
Tearin' up a brandnew livingroom rug
Destroying a newly bought rug in the living room
And when they find that hole burned in the chair
If they discover a burnt hole in the chair
You'd swear with all your might we put it there
You would insist that we were the ones responsible
Thinkin' there was a recession goin' on
Believing that there was an economic downturn happening
What you gonna do when all your loot is gone
What will you do when you run out of money
You call all four of us a bunch of cranks
You label all four of us as eccentric or crazy people
When we don't let you rob our piggy banks
Because we don't allow you to take money from our savings
Wah, all the kids are peekin' through the crack
Oh no, all the kids are looking through the crack
The baby found a cushion in the back
The baby discovered a cushion in the rear part of the room
From the way he looked we got a hunch
Based on his appearance, we suspect
He must have got a hold of some of your punch
He must have taken some of the alcoholic drink you prepared
Help your parents and all you grab a broom
Assist your parents by taking a broom
While we do that dirty living room
While we clean the messy living room
And don't you make no noise while you sweep
And don't make any noise while sweeping
You know your father's ill, he's tryin' to sleep
You're aware that your father is unwell and attempting to rest
Don't wake up them kids you all please
Please avoid waking up the children
Hey you all, don't wake up them kids in there
Attention everyone, please refrain from waking up the children inside
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@soulman4692
Have heard it on Rockabilly-Radio...!!!
@MrBugshop
got this out of the scrape barrel in king recording studio side lot..