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.
Walkin' Stick Boogie
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should have seen him when he got off the train
He had all the people standin' in the rain
Doin' the walkin' stick boogie
Watchin' the walkin' stick boogie
He's the fastest man that ever danced into town
He's got the fastest kick, with his walkin' stick
You should see the way that he throws it around
Doin' the walkin' stick boogie
He's got the people jumpin' just like the fleas on a hound
You should see the way that the chicks get their kicks
When ol' Dick gets to throw his walkin' stick
Doin' the walkin' stick boogie
Doin' the walkin' stick boogie
The joint was so hot
That the boards were flyin' off the floor
The girls all cried, when he said goodbye
They knew that the town would be on the bum
And they couldn't have anymore fun
Doin' the walkin' stick boogie, the walkin' stick boogie
It was a very sad day when ol' Dick danced out of town
The lyrics of Eddie Cochran's song Walkin' Stick Boogie describe the arrival of a man named Dick, who is an adept dancer and who commands the attention of everyone around him. He is so skilled that he can dance even while holding his walking stick, which he throws around with incredible speed and precision. The people who witness his performance are amazed by his abilities and cannot help but join in the dance. The lyrics suggest that Dick's arrival brings joy and excitement to a town that might otherwise be dull and uneventful.
The second half of the song paints a picture of a wild and raucous party fueled by Dick's dancing. The joint is so hot that the boards are "flying off the floor," and the girls are all "crying" when he leaves town because they know that the fun will be over. The lyrics convey a sense of sadness and loss when Dick dances out of town, as though he represented something magical and irreplaceable.
Overall, the lyrics of Walkin' Stick Boogie celebrate the power of dance to bring people together and create a sense of community. They suggest that a skilled and charismatic dancer can transform a mundane or oppressive environment into a joyful and uplifting one, even if only for a short time.
Line by Line Meaning
Old dancin' Dick with his walkin' stick
Introducing the main subject of the song, Old dancin' Dick, who uses a walking stick as a prop in his dancing
Should have seen him when he got off the train
Implying that Old dancin' Dick's arrival was a remarkable sight
He had all the people standin' in the rain
Describing the crowds gathered around Old dancin' Dick, even in adverse weather conditions
Doin' the walkin' stick boogie
Referring to a dance style that involves the use of a walking stick
Watchin' the walkin' stick boogie
Observing the performance of the walkin' stick boogie dance
He's the fastest man that ever danced into town
Highlighting the exceptional speed of Old dancin' Dick's dancing
He's got the fastest kick, with his walkin' stick
Emphasizing the agility of Old dancin’ Dick's footwork in combination with his walking stick
You should see the way that he throws it around
Inviting the listener to imagine Old dancin' Dick's impressive moves with the walking stick
When he dances upside down, doin' the walkin' stick boogie
Describing an acrobatic move performed by Old dancin' Dick during the walkin' stick boogie dance
He's got the people jumpin' just like the fleas on a hound
Comparing the excitement generated by Old dancin' Dick's performance to the frenetic jumping of fleas on a dog
You should see the way that the chicks get their kicks
Referring to the pleasure that female audience members derive from watching Old dancin' Dick's performance
When ol' Dick gets to throw his walkin' stick
Highlighting a specific moment in the walkin' stick boogie dance where Old dancin' Dick throws his walking stick
The joint was so hot
Referring to an atmosphere of intense heat and excitement
That the boards were flyin' off the floor
Indicating that the floorboards were loosened due to the intensity of the dancing
The girls all cried, when he said goodbye
Suggesting that Old dancin' Dick's departure resulted in emotional reactions from female admirers
They knew that the town would be on the bum
Implying that the departure of Old dancin' Dick would result in a decline in the town's mood and atmosphere
And they couldn't have anymore fun
Expressing regret over the lack of entertainment available after Old dancin' Dick's departure
It was a very sad day when ol' Dick danced out of town
Concluding the song with a somber note that reflects on the regrettable departure of Old dancin' Dick and the void left behind in the town's entertainment scene
Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.