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.
Half Loved
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
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We had a good time, yet there's tears in my eyes
Oh, what can it be, what's the matter with me
You left me half loved
We stood in the dark and you held my hand
Why were you afraid, I can't understand
I wanted your kiss, but it's always like this
You left me half loved
Am I a fool, to think that I had a chance
To hope, you see, I'm your big romance
Baby that's why I'm in the dark
Oh-oh-oh-oh, my friends have all said
To love you is wrong
They say you're too young, but I'll string along
Someday you'll wake up and then I'll make up
For bein' half loved
The song "Half Loved" by Eddie Cochran is a sad love song that tells the story of a man who is left feeling incomplete and unloved by his partner. The song begins with the end of a party and the man saying goodbye to his partner. Although they had a good time, he is left feeling tears in his eyes and wondering what's wrong with him. He feels half loved and incomplete, which makes him feel sad and alone.
As the song continues, the man recalls a moment when he and his partner stood in the dark holding hands. He wanted a kiss, but his partner seemed afraid. He wonders if he is a fool for thinking he had a chance with her, but he can't help hoping that he is her big romance. The man's friends all tell him that loving someone who is too young is wrong and that he is only setting himself up for heartbreak. However, he wants to believe that someday his partner will realize her true feelings for him and he will be able to make up for being half loved.
The lyrics of "Half Loved" by Eddie Cochran are poignant and relatable for anyone who has experienced the pain of unrequited love. The song captures the bittersweet feeling of holding onto hope, even when all signs point to disappointment. The melody is simple and mournful, with a simple guitar accompaniment that underscores the emotion of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the party is through, we said our good-byes
The party has ended, and we have said our farewells.
We had a good time, yet there's tears in my eyes
Although we had a good time, I feel sad and cry.
Oh, what can it be, what's the matter with me
I don't understand why I feel this way or what's wrong with me.
You left me half loved
You didn't love me fully and left me feeling incomplete.
We stood in the dark and you held my hand
We were in the dark and you held my hand.
Why were you afraid, I can't understand
I don't understand why you were afraid.
I wanted your kiss, but it's always like this
I wanted a kiss from you, but it never seems to happen.
Well you hold me close, everytime we danced
You held me close every time we danced.
Am I a fool, to think that I had a chance
I wonder if I was foolish to think I had a chance with you.
To hope, you see, I'm your big romance
I hoped to be your big romance.
Baby that's why I'm in the dark
I'm feeling sad and alone because of this.
Oh-oh-oh-oh, my friends have all said
My friends have all said.
To love you is wrong
It's wrong to love you, according to my friends.
They say you're too young, but I'll string along
They say you're too young for me, but I'll still try to make it work.
Someday you'll wake up and then I'll make up
Someday you'll realize your true feelings for me and I'll make up for being half loved.
For bein' half loved
For not being loved fully.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAYE D. FITZSIMMONS, RAY STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind