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.
Open The Door
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
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I'm just a step, step away from your heart
Open the door and baby let me in
Yes open the door, then close it back again
Open the door, well baby let me in
I'm just a step, step away from your heart
Open the door, you set my heart a-flame
Yes open the door, I'll never be the same
I'm just a step, step away from your heart
Oh baby you knew, you knew I'd follow you
No matter how far
Well-well-well, if you don't say you love me baby
Gal, my lovin's not up to part
Open the door, and baby let me in
Yes open the door, then close it back again
Open the door, well baby let me in
I'm just a step, step away from your heart
(Oh won't you open up that everlovin' door)
"Open the Door" by Eddie Cochran is a love song where the singer is pleading to a girl to open the door for him, as he is just a step away from her heart. He professes his love for her and how much he wants to be with her. He promises that if she lets him in, she will see just how much she means to him and how his life will never be the same again. In fact, he goes as far as to say that winning her is his aim, and he will never be complete until he has her love. The lyrics echo the struggles of the singer as he tries to be close to his beloved and make her understand his feelings.
One interesting interpretation of the song could be that it represents how we all need to be vulnerable and ask for what we want in a relationship. The door metaphor might symbolize the fear of rejection or the fear of making ourselves open to another person. We may all be a step away from love, but it's up to us to take that one brave step forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Open the door, open the door
Please unlock and open the door.
I'm just a step, step away from your heart
I am very close to winning your love.
Open the door and baby let me in
Please allow me to enter your domain and be with you.
Yes open the door, then close it back again
Let me enter and then close the door to shut out the rest of the world.
Open the door, well baby let me in
I really want to be with you and gain access to your heart.
You set my heart a-flame
You make my heart burn with passion.
Yes open the door, I'll never be the same
If you let me in, my life will be forever changed for the better.
Open the door, to win you is my aim
My goal is to win your love and affection through whatever means necessary.
Oh baby you knew, you knew I'd follow you
You were aware that I would pursue you relentlessly.
No matter how far
Even if you try to distance yourself from me, I will still chase after you.
Well-well-well, if you don't say you love me baby
If you don't confess your love to me,
Gal, my lovin's not up to part
My affection and devotion to you will not be at their utmost potential.
Open the door, and baby let me in
Please open the door and allow me to enter your world.
Oh won't you open up that everlovin' door
Why don't you unlock and swing open that sweet door of love and let me come in?
I'm just a step, step away from your heart
I am extremely close to winning your heart and making you mine.
Lyrics © EUROSTATES MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind