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.
Rock' N ' Roll Blues
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But how can I work when I sleep all day
I got those rock 'n' roll blues, those rock 'n' roll blues
I dig way down deep in my ol' blue jeans
To put my last dime in that record machine
I got those rock 'n' roll blues, those rock 'n' roll blues
I have the blues to fight
And to make things worse I fell in love last night
Said to stop my hoppin' and settle down
Oh why can't there be two of poor ol' me
One on the dancefloor and one hangin' 'round the door
I got those rock 'n' roll blues, those rock 'n' roll blues
The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's "Rock & Roll Blues" capture the life of a musician who lives to perform and dance all night but struggles to balance it with the necessary work in the day. The singer seems to be conflicted between his love for music and the responsibility to make a living. He complains of having the "rock 'n' roll blues," feelings of melancholy that arise from the very thing that also gives him joy. His blues seem to be compounded by two other factors: his love for a girl he recently met and her admonishment to him to settle down, and the fact that he wishes he could exist in two places simultaneously - one on the dance floor and the other hanging around the door, observing and perhaps contemplating life.
The song seems to be a commentary on the hectic and tumultuous lifestyle of a musician, with its highs and lows. The singer is presented as a restless soul who seeks to escape the sadness and mundanity of life through music and dancing. However, he also acknowledges that this can be a source of frustration and confusion, constantly battling against the pressures of love and responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, dancin' all night, so I have my play
I am spending all night dancing and having fun.
But how can I work when I sleep all day
I cannot work because I sleep all day after dancing all night.
I got those rock 'n' roll blues, those rock 'n' roll blues
I have the blues because I love rock and roll music so much.
I dig way down deep in my ol' blue jeans
I search through my pockets to find money for the record machine.
To put my last dime in that record machine
I spend my last bit of money on the record machine to listen to my favorite music.
I have the blues to fight
I am struggling with my love for rock and roll music and the challenges it brings.
And to make things worse I fell in love last night
To add to my struggles, I fell in love last night.
The little girl I found
The woman I met and fell in love with.
Said to stop my hoppin' and settle down
She wants me to stop dancing and focus on being in a serious, settled relationship.
Oh why can't there be two of poor ol' me
I wish I could be in two places at once, dancing and also being with my love.
One on the dancefloor and one hangin' 'round the door
I want to be able to dance while also being present in my relationship.
I got those rock 'n' roll blues, those rock 'n' roll blues
Despite my struggles, I still love rock and roll music and feel its pull on me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GORDON LANGHORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Regina Maria
Eddie Cochran, incrível!
Brasil 🇧🇷
Vintage brew
Eddie's husky vocal is so right for this song. Loves it! Thanks
David Francois
Eddie la légende, on ne t'oubliera jamais. From France.
Stylianos Orphanoudakes
Jesus... another brilliant song that didn't receive the recognition that it deserves. I hope we can do something for that 50 years later :)
sparkescadman
Eddie did so many types of songs, and all very well. The interviews of him show he was a down to earth guy. In the words of Shelby Singleton , that this excellence could be on a major label could "never happen in today's world". Thank God it did in the 50's!
Rockin'D Rockabilly
HE'S THE BEST. PERIOD.
Blackmist187
My roommate is always playing this song!
I found myself always humming it.
I grew fond of this song.
He can never know
Buddy Holly
Blackmist187 why can he never know?
HarryWebb46
Total legend!
Barry Hunt
7 thumbs down, who are these clowns. EC one of the greatest RRs of all time 🕺👍