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
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Here she comes
Here 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 older guys from out of my class
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man
Hey look-a there
Across the street
There's a car made just for me
To own that car would be a luxury
But right now I can't afford the gas
A brand new convertible is out of my class
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
That car's fine lookin' man
It's somethin' else
Hey look-a here
Just wait and see
Workin' hard and savin' my dough
I'll buy that car that I've be wanting so
Get me that girl and we'll go ridin' around
We'll look real sharp with the white top down
I'll keep right on and dreamin' and a-thinkin' to myself
When it all comes true, man
Wow, that's somethin' else!
Look-a here
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 '41 Ford, not a '59
I got that girl and I'm a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man
Wow, she's somethin' else!
The song "Somethin' Else" by Eddie Cochran is a classic rock and roll track about a young man's infatuation with a girl who he thinks is "somethin' else." The first verse sets the scene with the singer seeing the girl he's been smitten with for a while. He's wanted to date her since he can't remember when, but she does not seem to notice him when he passes her by. Instead, she goes for the older guys who are out of his class. Nevertheless, the singer can't stop himself from admiring her from afar as she's "sure fine lookin' man." He is genuinely drawn to her but knows that he has no chance with her.
In the second verse, the singer sees a car that he really likes and wishes he could own. He admits, though, that he can't afford the gas. He fantasizes how fun it would be to ride around with his dream girl, looking "real sharp" with the "white top down." He continues to dream and think to himself that "that car's fine lookin' man, it's something else."
In the third verse, the singer has saved up enough money to buy the car and is ready to go get the girl of his dreams. He is about to embark on his quest to win her affection. He's never done anything like this before, but he's ready to knock on her door and declare his love for her. And it seems to work because, in the end, he gets the car, gets the girl, and he knows that she is "something else."
Line by Line Meaning
A-look-a-there
I see something interesting
Here she comes
The girl I like is coming my way
Here comes that girl again
I've seen her before and she catches my eye
Wanted to date her since I don't know when
I've been interested in her for a long time
But she don't notice me when I pass
She hasn't shown any interest in me so far
She goes with older guys from out of my class
She's dating guys who are older and more successful than me
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
But I can't help thinking
She's sure fine lookin' man
She's really attractive
She's somethin' else
She's amazing
Hey look-a there
I see something else interesting
Across the street
Over there
There's a car made just for me
I see my dream car
To own that car would be a luxury
It would be amazing to own that car
But right now I can't afford the gas
But I don't have the money to buy gas for it
A brand new convertible is out of my class
I can't afford a new convertible
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
But I can't stop dreaming
That car's fine lookin' man
That car looks great
It's somethin' else
It's amazing
Hey look-a here
Wait, I have an idea
Just wait and see
I'll show you what I can do
Workin' hard and savin' my dough
I'm working hard and saving money
I'll buy that car that I've be wanting so
I'll buy that car I've always wanted
Get me that girl and we'll go ridin' around
I'll take her for a ride in my new car
We'll look real sharp with the white top down
We'll look really cool with the convertible top down
I'll keep right on and dreamin' and a-thinkin' to myself
I'll keep dreaming and thinking
When it all comes true, man
When my dreams come true
Wow, that's somethin' else!
It's amazing!
Look-a here
I did it!
What's all this?
What's happening?
Never thought I'd do this before
I never expected to do this
But here I am a-knockin' on her door
But I'm knocking on her door anyway
My car's out front and it's all mine
My car is parked outside and it's mine
Just a '41 Ford, not a '59
It's an older car, not a new one
I got that girl and I'm a-thinkin' to myself
I got the girl and I'm thinking
She's sure fine lookin' man
She's really attractive
Wow, she's somethin' else!
She's amazing!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Cochran, Shari K. Sheeley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind