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.
Pink-Peg Slacks
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
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Walked past the display window of a big department store
When I looked inside this window, hangin' off of the racks
Down there near the bottom was a great pair of pink peg slacks
I gotta have 'em; yeah, what I need for 'em is cash
Well well, have a lot of cash & wear crazy pink peg slacks
Well, I walked up to a salesman & said, "Mister, I'm flat broke
Well, I asked him how much money; he said, "Add 4 & 8"
I said, "Man, them pants is crazy; them's pink pair of acetate!"
I gotta have 'em; yeah, what I need for 'em is cash
Well well, have a lot of cash & wear crazy pink peg slacks
I went to see my baby, asked her for some dough
She said, "Well, you know, I love you, honey, but what you need this money for?"
Well, I talked about them baggers I saw across downtown
She got a sawbuck from her daddy & I turned my Ford around
I gotta have 'em; yeah, what I need for 'em is cash
Well well, have a lot of cash & wear crazy pink peg slacks
Brought the Ford to a stop, rushed into the store
Said, "Man, I got a sawbuck." He said, "No, you need 2 bucks more"
I said, "What's the matter, can't I charge you?"
He said, "You don't get these things for free"
I said, "But Mister, you just don't know what those pink peggers mean to me!"
I gotta have 'em; yeah, what I need for 'em is cash
Well well, have a lot of cash & wear crazy pink peg slacks
The lyrics of Eddie Cochran's song "Pink Peg Slacks" are about a man who sets out to buy a specific pair of pants he saw in a window display at a department store. The singer is enamored with the pants, describing them as "great" and "crazy," and sets out to get them for himself. The problem is, he doesn't have enough money. He first tries to convince a salesman to let him have the pants for less money, but the salesman refuses. Then, he turns to his girlfriend for help, and she gives him some money from her father. Finally, he returns to the store with the money in hand and is able to purchase the pants.
The lyrics could be interpreted as a reflection on the importance of fashion and appearance in society, and how it can be difficult for some people to afford the latest styles. The singer is willing to go to great lengths to get these pants, describing them as a symbol of his personal style and uniqueness. The message is one of perseverance and determination, and the idea that we should never give up on what we want in life, even if it means working hard and making sacrifices.
Line by Line Meaning
I went downtown last night, gonna dig a show
I went out to the city last night with the intention of enjoying myself.
Walked past the display window of a big department store
While walking by a large department store, I noticed a display window.
When I looked inside this window, hangin' off of the racks
Upon peering into the display, I saw something hanging from the racks.
Down there near the bottom was a great pair of pink peg slacks
Toward the bottom of the display, I saw an amazing pair of slim-fitting pink pants.
I gotta have 'em; yeah, what I need for 'em is cash
I desire those pants so greatly that I am willing to trade cash in order to obtain them.
Well well, have a lot of cash & wear crazy pink peg slacks
I am so enthusiastic about these pants that I am willing to pay whatever it takes to wear them.
Well, I walked up to a salesman & said, "Mister, I'm flat broke
Feeling desperate to acquire the pants, I approached a salesman and admitted that I was short on funds.
But I gotta have them pink slacks." He said, "What is this, man, a joke?"
Upon hearing my request for the pants, the salesman was skeptical and thought I was joking.
Well, I asked him how much money; he said, "Add 4 & 8"
Curious how much the pants would cost, I asked the salesman, who replied with a cryptic answer of "12".
I said, "Man, them pants is crazy; them's pink pair of acetate!"
I expressed my excitement for the unique and amazing pink pants made of a particular material called acetate.
I went to see my baby, asked her for some dough
Out of options for obtaining the pants, I turned to my significant other and asked for money.
She said, "Well, you know, I love you, honey, but what you need this money for?"
She expressed her affection for me but was curious as to why I needed the money.
Well, I talked about them baggers I saw across downtown
I talked about the people I saw elsewhere in the city with stylish clothing such as the pants I desired.
She got a sawbuck from her daddy & I turned my Ford around
My significant other was able to obtain ten dollars from her father, and with that money in hand, I hurried back to the store.
Brought the Ford to a stop, rushed into the store
As soon as I returned to the store, I parked my car and rushed inside.
Said, "Man, I got a sawbuck." He said, "No, you need 2 bucks more"
I offered the cashier ten dollars for the pants, but he informed me that it was not enough and I needed two more dollars.
I said, "What's the matter, can't I charge you?"
I suggested charging the pants to my account in order to obtain them.
He said, "You don't get these things for free"
The salesman was unwilling to give me the pants without payment.
I said, "But Mister, you just don't know what those pink peggers mean to me!"
I pleaded with the salesman, explaining how significant these pants were to me and how badly I wanted them.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Delilah Hart
I love that bluesy guitar sound.
slapmyfacefull
Very good. Everything Eddie did was awesome!
rukusband
One of His Best Rockabilly Songs in My opinion
Donna Doering
Real good song just like the other's Eddie you are the Best.โค๏ธโค๏ธ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ
Shane Norman
Like Chuck Berry, Cochran's songs captured the late-'50s teen ethic exactly. Any true-to-his-cool youngster would have behaved "just like Eddie" over a really great pair of slacks.
60s Man 60s Guitars
Shane, these days it'd be the right trainers or hoody, but it shows the theme still exists. I prefer the other version, it sounds far more urgent, Eddie virtually oozing desperation in the final verse.
Like Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly, Eddie wrote great songs and was a hotshot guitarist, and good singer. Like Elvis Presley, he was handsome and LOOKED like a rock star. Eddie had it all.
Hell Bent
THE UNCROWNED KING
60s Man 60s Guitars
More than just a singer. People like Eddie, Buddy Holly, and Carl Perkins had the greatest influence on the guitar groups that would make up the "British Invasion".
That Eddie toured the UK was super important and his appearance in "The Girl Can't Help It" playing "Twenty Flight Rock" was most influential to a meeting of two future greats in Woolton Village, where a decent knock off of that song impressed a young John Lennon.
Eddie was an "obvious" subject for a "bio-pic", and I can remember excitement among members of the UK based appreciation society that the 80s Levi ad campaign putting Eddie back in the charts meant the film was sure to happen. (I'm sure most members like me felt that Brian Setzer was the obvious choice of lead, his musicianship making up for the fact that he wasn't a professional actor.)
The great chance was missed, and perhaps it was for the best, as per "obvious" appointees to the now laughable and wholly discredited RRHoF left waiting, are at least spared being connected to that P.O.S!! The film industry has a knack of turning true stories into unwitting comedy, ignoring the influence of people who "were there". The Levi ad campaign told Sharon Sheeley's story of their love affair, Hollywood would probably have wanted to tell THEIR version of it.
Jacques Hughes
Who else is here because of Robert Plant saying that he was influenced by this song?
60s Man 60s Guitars
Who else is here because they're fans of Eddie Cochran or rock 'n' roll in general?