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.

Skinny Jim
Eddie Cochran Lyrics

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Well, I know a guy who's made 'o bone and skin
Women, but they ravin' 'bout skinny Jim
Skinny Jim, hoo, man, skinny Jim
Oh, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

Hoo, well, I went to a party with skinny Jim
My baby came with me, but she left with him
Skinny Jim, hoo, man, skinny Jim

Hmm, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

Well, Jim got charm, he got class
All the women love him oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Skinny Jim, hoo, man, skinny Jim
Oh, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

B-boom, skinny Jim
Hoo, b-boom, skinny Jim
Hoo, b-boom, skinny Jim
Hoo, b-boom, skinny Jim

Oh, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

Well, I went to a party with skinny Jim
My baby came with me, but she left with him
Skinny Jim, hoo, man, skinny Jim
Hmm, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

Well, Jim got charm, he got class
All the women love him oh yeah yeah yeah
Skinny Jim, hoo, man, skinny Jim
Hmm, well, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

One more time, b-boom, skinny Jim
Hoo, b-boom, skinny Jim
Hoo, b-boom, skinny Jim

Hmm, b-boom, skinny Jim
Oh, yes, yes, yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eddie Cochran’s song “Skinny Jim” celebrate the titular character's irresistible charm, despite his lack of physical stature. The singer knows a man who is "all bone and skin," but his charm precedes him, causing women to rave about him. Despite his appearance, "all the gals love him." The love sick narrator went to a party with Skinny Jim, bringing his own date. However, his date was so smitten with Jim that she left with him.

The song portrays Skinny Jim as a charismatic and attractive figure, with his charm and class being a source of envy for the other men at the party. Jim appears to be the life of the party, with women flocking to be close to him. The lyrics are observational in nature as the singer seems to be in awe of Jim's magnetic personality. The message proclaims the power of charm and social skills over physical appearance, suggesting that attracting the opposite sex is more than just how someone looks.

Skinny JimEddie Cochran Lyrics

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Skinny Jim
Eddie Cochran Lyrics