Ray Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Ray Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. With a charismatic voice that could switch effortlessly between smooth ballads and raucous rockabilly, Cochran epitomized the rebellious '50s rocker. Although killed in a tragic accident at the age of 21, the influence of his brief career, and life, was immeasurable, having inspired many of the greatest artists of the '60s. Cochran's distinctively rough, bass-driven singles (such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues") have granted him the title of "grandfather of punk" by luminaries of the genre.

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.

New Shoes
Eddie Cochran Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

New shoes, on my feet
New shoes, on my feet
Dancin' with you baby, made me feelin' good
But these shoes I'm wearin' don't fit me like they should
The man who put 'em on me, said they'd fit me right
Think he done me dirty, they're feelin' kinda tight
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)

New shoes (new shoes), they're on my feet (on my feet)
When we're dancin' baby, I can dig the groove
I can cut it baby, till the music starts to move
My toes are gettin' stepped on, out here in the crowd
Can't you hear 'em screamin', daddy-o let us out
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
New shoes (new shoes), they're on my feet (on my feet)

Hate to see our romance goin ' down the drain
I'll pull off my shoes, if you would do the same
If you really love me, like I think you do
Let your feet go crazy, I'll go crazy too
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)

New shoes (new shoes), new blues (new blues)
[Fade]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eddie Cochran's song "New Shoes" reveal an interesting and relatable story of a man who is struggling to enjoy a night out on the town with his lover due to the discomfort caused by his new shoes. The tone of the song is playful with a hint of frustration, as the singer attempts to dance with his lover but finds himself struggling to cope with the pain in his feet. He wonders if the man who sold him the shoes did him "dirty," indicating feelings of betrayal and distrust.

Despite the challenges presented by his footwear, the singer remains determined to have a good time and continue dancing with his lover. He encourages her to let loose on the dance floor, even proposing that they both remove their shoes so they can fully enjoy the experience together. This moment of vulnerability and openness reveals the depth of affection the singer has for his partner and his willingness to make sacrifices in order to maintain their romance.

New ShoesEddie Cochran Lyrics

New Shoes
Eddie Cochran Lyrics