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.

Wildcat
Eddie Cochran Lyrics

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Don't ever try, to tame a wild cat
You'd just be wastin' your time
Just leave like you found me
Don't put no cage around me, oh-no, not me

You want a lamb, but I'm a wild cat
If you just keep that in mind
I'll let you hug and pet me

And then you gotta let me go free
Let me be

You're a crazy, little kitten
But you just don't understand
Oh don't you chain me
Or try to train me
And you'll have me eatin' outta your hand

So don't forget that I'm a wild cat
And we'll just get along fine
The wild cat's what they name me
No kitten's gonna tame me, oh-no, not me
(move over tiger)

You're a crazy, a-little kitten
But you just don't understand
Oh don't you chain me
Or try to train me
And you'll have me eatin' outta your hand

So don't forget that I'm a wild cat
And we'll just get along fine
The wild cat's what they name me

No kitten's gonna tame me, oh-no, not me.
Oh-no, not me, oh-no, not me, oh-no

Overall Meaning

The song "Wildcat" by Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent speaks about the futility of trying to change someone and how it is important to accept someone for who they are, especially when the person in question is wild and untamed like a wild cat. The chorus warns against trying to put a cage around or tame the wild cat, for it would be a waste of time since it always yearns to be free. The lyrics, 'You want a lamb, but I'm a wild cat, If you just keep that in mind/I'll let you hug, and pet me' suggests that the person is willing to be in a relationship but only on their own terms. They are expressing their need for independence and are looking for someone who would unconditionally accept them completely.

The song's metaphors and imagery are quite clever. The lyrics of the song can be seen as Cochran and Vincent's attempt at breaking free from the expectations placed on them by the music industry, in which they are encouraged to conform to certain standards. The song could be viewed as a statement from the artists, who are unwilling to be chained or tamed, but prefer being their true selves.

WildcatEddie Cochran Lyrics

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Wildcat
Eddie Cochran Lyrics