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.
Somethin’ Else
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There comes that girl again
Wanted to date her since I don't know when
But she don't notice me when I pass
She goes with all the guys from outa my class
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man, she's something else
There's a car made just for me
To own that car would be a luxery
But right now I can't afford the gas
A brand new convertible is outa my class
But that can't stop me from athinkin' to myself
That car's fine lookin' man, it's something else
Hey, look ahere, just wait and see
Worked hard and saved my dough
I'll buy that car that I been wanting so
Get me that girl and we'll go ridin' around
We'll look real sharp with the flight top down
I keep right on a-dreamin' and a-thinkin' to myself
When it all comes true man, wow, that's something else
Look a-there, what's all this
Never thought I'd do this before
But here I am a-knockin' on her door
My car's out front and it's all mine
Just a forty-one ford, not a fifty-nine
I got that girl an' I'm a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man, wow, she's something else
The lyrics of Eddie Cochran's song "Somethin' Else" are an ode to unrequited love, aspiration, and the power of dreams. The song tells the story of a boy who has been smitten with a girl for a long time but, unfortunately, she never notices him. He dreams of owning a car that he can't afford and dating a girl who seems out of his league. However, he keeps on dreaming and working hard to make his dreams a reality. Finally, he gets the car he wants, and his dream girl falls in love with him, making him realize that achieving his dreams is a truly gratifying experience.
The song's opening line, "A look a-there, here she comes, there comes that girl again," establishes the theme of unrequited love. The boy has been longing for the girl for a long time, but she doesn't notice him. The line, "But she don't notice me when I pass, she goes with all the guys from outa my class," emphasizes the boy's sense of inferiority and self-doubt as he compares himself to the girl's other suitors from a higher social class. However, he maintains a strong sense of self-belief and continues to dream, as reflected in the lines, "But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself, she's sure fine lookin' man, she's something else."
The song's chorus, "That car's fine lookin' man, it's something else That girl's fine lookin' man, wow, she's something else," emphasizes the boy's aspirations and desires, as well as his determination to make them come true. The last verse of the song, "My car's out front, and it's all mine, just a forty one ford, not a fifty-nine I got that girl, and I'm a-thinkin' to myself, she's sure fine lookin' man, wow, she's something else," shows the boy's triumph over his fears and doubts, as he finally achieves his dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
A look a-there, here she comes
Here comes the girl who the singer has wanted to date for a very long time.
There comes that girl again
The girl passes by the singer frequently.
Wanted to date her since I don't know when
The singer has had a crush on the girl for a long time.
But she don't notice me when I pass
The girl does not seem to see the singer when he walks past her.
She goes with all the guys from outa my class
The girl is known to date guys from a higher social and economic class than the singer.
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
Despite the girl not noticing him and dating guys from a higher class, the singer still thinks highly of her.
She's sure fine lookin' man, she's something else
The singer thinks the girl is very attractive and special.
Hey, look a-there, across the street
The singer sees a car that catches his attention.
There's a car made just for me
The singer believes that the car he sees is perfect for him.
To own that car would be a luxery
Owning that car would be a luxury for the singer, something he cannot easily afford.
But right now I can't afford the gas
The singer cannot afford to fuel the car even if he owns it.
A brand new convertible is outa my class
The singer cannot afford to purchase a new convertible car.
But that can't stop me from athinkin' to myself
Despite not being able to afford the car, the singer still admires it.
That car's fine lookin' man, it's something else
The car the singer sees is attractive and special to him.
Hey, look ahere, just wait and see
The singer feels confident that he will get the car and the girl he wants.
Worked hard and saved my dough
The singer has worked hard and saved enough money to buy the car he wants.
I'll buy that car that I been wanting so
The singer intends to purchase the car he has been dreaming of owning.
Get me that girl and we'll go ridin' around
The singer looks forward to riding around with the girl he desires when he gets the car.
We'll look real sharp with the flight top down
The singer imagines himself and the girl looking very cool and fashionable with the car's convertible top down.
I keep right on a-dreamin' and a-thinkin' to myself
The singer continues to dream and think highly of his future plans.
When it all comes true man, wow, that's something else
The singer is excited for the day when his dreams will become a reality, and he will finally have the car and the girl he's always wanted.
Look a-there, what's all this
The singer sees something unexpected.
Never thought I'd do this before
The singer is doing something he never thought he would do.
But here I am a-knockin' on her door
The singer is at the girl's doorstep, having finally mustered up the courage to ask her out.
My car's out front and it's all mine
The singer now owns the car he has been dreaming about, and it's parked outside the girl's house.
Just a forty-one ford, not a fifty-nine
The car the singer has is not the newest or fanciest car, but it's still special to him.
I got that girl an' I'm a-thinkin' to myself
The singer has finally won the girl he's been admiring for so long, and he is very proud of himself.
She's sure fine lookin' man, wow, she's something else
The singer still thinks the girl is very attractive and special, even more so now that she is finally his.
Writer(s): BOB COCHRAN, SHARON SHEELEY
Contributed by Eliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LaoMa9
A look a-there, here she comes
There comes that girl again
Wanted to date her since I don't know when
But she don't notice me when I pass
She goes with all the guys from outa my class
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man, she's something else
Hey, look a-there, across the street
There's a car made just for me
To own that car would be a luxery
But right now I can't afford the gas
A brand new convertible is outa my class
But that can't stop me from athinkin' to myself
That car's fine lookin' man, it's something else
Hey, look ahere, just wait and see
Worked hard and saved my dough
I'll buy that car that I been wanting so
Get me that girl and we'll go ridin' around
We'll look real sharp with the flight top down
I keep right on a-dreamin' and a-thinkin' to myself
When it all comes true man, wow, that's something else
Look a-there, what's all this
Never thought I'd do this before
But here I am a-knockin' on her door
My car's out front and it's all mine
Just a forty-one ford, not a fifty-nine
I got that girl an' I'm a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man, wow, she's something else
@exessex3522
I'm 71-year-old Londoner. My uncle Mick is 79. Every time I went to granny's house, I'd spend most of the time listening to Mick's collection of American records. He had Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, you name it. I really loved Tallahassee Lassie by Freddie Cannon, but my absolute favourite was this song. I still know it by heart and am so happy that the internet allows me to hear it whenever I want. That thumping drum beat is brilliant. There's also something about the message it sends which is quite appealing. You might not fulfil all your material wishes but if you end up with the love of your life, well, "That's Somethin' Else"...
@TheHappyHonu
An Uncle Mick who was 79 last year and happened to have a huge collection of American records. Your uncle wouldn't happen to have a band of his own, would he? ;)
@gnrsgl
Uncle Mick Jagger and Keith sings this freaking cool
@Grundig305
Yeah we Yanks are “something else.”
@antdavis6715
Those drums are heavy as hell😂reminds me of the punk songs from the late 70s. Way ahead of his time💯rest in peace.
@DanHunterSportsWriter
They do sound heavy! In fact the whole song is ferocious! As you know it did become a late 70s punk song. The Sex Pistols did an excellent cover in 1979. That version is savage , with Steve Jones's chainsaw guitar and Paul Cook's powerhouse drumming, so I was curious how the original stacked up. Holy Fuck! The original sounds every bit as powerful. Incidentally didn't Eddie have an old sounding voice for a kid of barely 20?
@meots
I’ve listened to this at least 50 times and it never gets old. Eddie was a badass. Forever loved and missed.
@tonygallagher5945
Its clear!!!!
@robertathow1970
What a song. Way ahead of his time
Crazy.
Jimi hendrix said Eddie was an inspiration and a great.
God bless you Eddie 👍👍👍👍
@SAMMY12329
That definitely is Somethin Else ! Been listing to that song for 61 years from a young man to old guy of 77 years ,that is also Somethin Else !! Lovely guitar a Gretsch.