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.
Let's Get Together
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got some money in my jeans
And I'm really gonna spend it right
Well, I been doin' my homework all week long
Now the house is empty and my folks are gone
Ooh, c'mon everybody (Let's get together)
Well my baby's number one
And the house will be a-shakin'
From the bare feet a-slappin' on the floor
Hell when you hear the music you just can't sit still
If your brother won't rock, then your sister will
Ooh, c'mon everybody (Let's get together)
Hell we'll really have a party
But we gotta put a guard outside
If the folks come home, I'm afraid they gonna have my hide
There'll be no more movies for a week or two
No more running 'round with the usual crew
Who cares?
C'mon everybody... c'mon everybody
The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song Let's Get Together describe a teenager's desire to let loose and have fun. The first verse sets the scene for the night - the singer has money to spend and the house to themselves. The second verse is where the real action takes place, as he plans to dance with multiple partners and really let loose. The lyrics encourage everyone to join in, and promise a good time for all. However, there is a sense of rebellion and risk-taking, as they plan to put a guard outside to prevent their parents from finding out and punishing them.
The lyrics to Let's Get Together reflect the teenage experience of wanting to rebel against authority and social norms. The song captures the excitement and energy of youth, and the desire to break free from the constraints of daily life. The rebellious spirit of the song is still relevant today, and it continues to be popular among young people who want to let loose and have fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Well c'mon everybody and let's get together tonight
Let's have a gathering together tonight!
I got some money in my jeans
I have money to spend
And I'm really gonna spend it right
I am going to spend it wisely
Well, I been doin' my homework all week long
I have been doing my schoolwork all week long
Now the house is empty and my folks are gone
My parents are not home
Ooh, c'mon everybody (Let's get together)
Everyone join in, let's get together
Well my baby's number one
My significant other is a priority
But I'm gonna dance with three or four
I am going to dance with more people
And the house will be a-shakin'
The house will be shaking due to the music and dancing
From the bare feet a-slappin' on the floor
The sound of foot tapping
Hell when you hear the music you just can't sit still
The music is too good to sit down and relax
If your brother won't rock, then your sister will
If someone doesn't want to dance, someone else will
Ooh, c'mon everybody (Let's get together)
Everyone join in, let's get together
Hell we'll really have a party
We will be having a great party
But we gotta put a guard outside
We need to watch out for the parents coming home
If the folks come home, I'm afraid they gonna have my hide
If the parents come home, they will be upset with me
There'll be no more movies for a week or two
Punishment may be a lack of entertainment
No more running 'round with the usual crew
Being grounded may mean no seeing friends
Who cares?
It doesn't matter
C'mon everybody... c'mon everybody
Everyone join in, let's get together
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.