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.

Teenage Heaven
Eddie Cochran Lyrics

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I want a house with a pool
Shorter hours in school
And a room with my own private phone
I wanna stay up all night
See the big city lights
No more troubles or worries at home

Hmm, just gimme

Some time on my hands
I wanna make my own private plans
Yeah, I want my own Coupe de Ville
Make my dad pay the bill
Yeah man, that's heaven to me

Yeah, just gimme
Some time on my hands
I wanna make my own private plans
Yeah, I want my own Coupe de Ville
Make my dad pay the bill
Yeah man, that's heaven to me

Hmm, yeah man, that's heaven to me

Overall Meaning

Eddie Cochran's song "Teenage Heaven" is about the desires and dreams of teenagers. The lyrics express a yearning for independence and luxury. The singer wants to escape from the daily routine of going to school, doing homework, and obeying parents. They want a life of leisure and pleasure. The first four lines of the song illustrate the materialistic aspirations of the singer, including a house with a pool, shorter hours in school, and a room with a private phone. The singer's ideal life is centered on relaxation and enjoyment. They want to stay up all night and experience the excitement of the big city.

The chorus of the song repeats the theme of independence as the singer wishes to have more time on their hands in order to make their own private plans. They also want the ultimate symbol of freedom: their own car. However, they want someone else to pay the bill, emphasizing their desire for luxury and privilege. In the last line of the song, the singer emphatically declares that this vision of a life of pleasure and indulgence is their idea of "heaven."

Overall, "Teenage Heaven" captures the essence of youthful dreams and desires, reflecting the spirit of an emerging youth culture in the 1950s when the song was released. It also emphasizes the materialism and consumerism that characterized the period, and still resonates with teenagers today.

Teenage HeavenEddie Cochran Lyrics

Teenage Heaven
Eddie Cochran Lyrics