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.
That's My Desire
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And reminisce with you that's my desire.
To meet where gypsies play, down in that dim cafe,
And dance 'till break of day that's my desire.
We'll sip a little glass of wine, I'll gaze into your eyes divine.
I'll feel the touch of your lips pressing on mine.
To hear you whisper low just when it's time to go,
The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song 'That's My Desire' is a love song with a strong emphasis on nostalgia. The singer is expressing his desire to spend a night with his lover at their old rendezvous to reminisce about their past memories. The use of the word 'rendezvous' suggests that this is a place of sentimental value to both the singer and his lover. The tone of the song is wistful, longing, and romantic.
The second verse of the song introduces the idea of meeting at a dim cafe where gypsies play and dancing till the break of dawn. Again, the singer is expressing his desire to relive the moments with his lover. The song then goes on to describe sipping a little glass of wine with his lover, gazing into her divine eyes, and feeling the touch of her lips on his. The last line, "Cherie, I love you so, that's my desire," is a direct confession of love and desire for his lover.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of a timeless love. The use of nostalgic imagery and longing lyrics make it a classic love song that is still appreciated today.
Line by Line Meaning
To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous,
I desire to spend a night with you at a place that holds special meaning for us.
And reminisce with you that's my desire.
I want to remember and talk about our shared memories and experiences together.
To meet where gypsies play, down in that dim cafe,
I yearn to rendezvous at a place where we can be enchanted by gypsy-inspired music.
And dance 'till break of day that's my desire.
I long to dance with you until the sun rises, lost in the moment of our love.
We'll sip a little glass of wine, I'll gaze into your eyes divine.
We'll share a romantic glass of wine and I'll get lost in your beautiful eyes.
I'll feel the touch of your lips pressing on mine.
I yearn for the moment when our lips meet in a passionate kiss, one that transcends all other feelings.
To hear you whisper low just when it's time to go,
I desire for those cherished moments before we part to listen to you whispering sweet nothings into my ear.
Cherie, I love you so, that's my desire.
My sole desire is to declare my love to you, 'Cherie,' and to hold on to you forever.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HELMY KRESA, CARROLL LOVEDAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan Silverstein
This was brilliant. Very influenced by Elvis, but nothing wrong w/that! Eddie was a handsome rocker. I will never forget that terrible day he died! I was just 13 & getting a crush on that new singer. He played some intense rock a billy. This shows he could have gone in wonderful directions. FIVE STARS PLUS & i would give him a 10 if I could! I love the way he does this!
Donna Doering
Eddie forever will never be Forgotten ❤️❤️❤️❤️🎶🎶🎼🎼🇨🇦🇨🇦😨😨
walbuzz
Pure magic!
Alan Herbert
What a testament to Eddie Cochran's vocal abilities...with that wonderful echo chamber, which was used on Summertime Blues and Sitting in the Balcony....a true classic.
babsie0910
This is so-o-o- cool because Eddie Cochran absolutely gets the message of just what this song is all about and gets it across so beautifully!
David Lunn
Great guitar
Mark Gallagher
As a Frankie Fan I'll just say it's not bad but it will never beat the orginal
dean lloyd
all rocknrollers of the time sang ballads as well as rock/rockabilly..(most probably for a rest!) some slow songs worked some didnt, check out "one-minute to one " which is a slow number but its great..guitar solo is pretty cool. 5*****
David Lunn
Easily beats everything before it and it's been covered loads, I don't like the fast version and eddies ballad suits the lyrics.
chuckdee121
I think this sort of stuff was done tongue in cheek. It sounds alright, only because Eddie could make anything sound pretty good, but this stuff was certainly a joke to him.