The Detroit Cobras are an American garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan,… Read Full Bio ↴The Detroit Cobras are an American garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1994.

The Detroit Cobras signed with Sympathy for the Record Industry and released their first full-length album, Mink Rat or Rabbit, in 1998. After a three-year gap, they released a second album, Life, Love and Leaving Their retro-garage rock formula proved popular in the UK and prompted the London-based Rough Trade Records to sign the band. They released an EP, Seven Easy Pieces, in 2003 and their third full-length album, Baby, in 2004. Baby broke with the Cobras' tradition in that it included one original song, "Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)". Baby was picked up for release in the US by Bloodshot (who added the songs from the Seven Easy Pieces EP to the end of Baby . In April 2007, Bloodshot released the band's fourth full-length, Tied & True.

The band is known for multiple lineup changes. They generally have a touring lineup different from their recording lineup. Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound (aka Greg Oblivian of The Oblivians) has been a constant creative force along with Nagy and Ramirez, who have been around since the group's genesis.

In the summer of 2008, The Detroit Cobras went on tour in support of X on their 13x31 tour. For the summer of 2009, The Detroit Cobras headlined a tour w/ the Dex Romweber Duo in support.

Discography

Albums and EPs

Mink Rat or Rabbit LP, CD (1998, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Life, Love and Leaving LP, CD (2001, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Seven Easy Pieces EP CD (2003, Rough Trade)
Baby LP, CD (2004, Rough Trade; 2005, Bloodshot including Seven Easy Pieces and Enhanced Video of Cha Cha Twist)
Tied & True LP, CD (2007, Bloodshot)
The Original Recordings CD, 7" Box Set (Singles and Unreleased 1995-1997) (2008, Munster Records)

Compilations

""Bankstock II CD (44 Caliber Records, 1995, RFD 2301)
recorded live at The Miami, Detroit, July 4th weekend, 1995 Maria Christina-Shout Bama Lama (Otis Redding)

""'Half-Assed, Will Travel' LP (PerineumRecordings/AnywayRecords,1997)
You Don't Knock

""Shreds - Volume 4, American Underground '96 CD (Shredder Records, 1997)
Village Of Love (Mayer, Brown)

""Scooch Pooch Plays: Their Original Sins CD (Scooch Pooch, 1997, P0 28)
Slum Lord (Farren, Bishop)

""Shine On, Sweet Starlet LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1998, SFTRI 537) soundtrack of a film by John Michael McCarthy Coming Home
""Alright, This Time, Just The Girls 2xLP/2xCD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1999, SFTRI 576) Ain't Hittin' On Nothing (N. Neville)
""Where The Action Is CD (1+2 Records, 2001, 1+2 CD 124) You Knows
""Sympathetic Sounds Of Detroit LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2001
produced and recorded by Jack White, mixed by Jack White and Jim Diamond

""Shout Bama Lama (Otis Redding)
""Hometaping - Volume 1 CD (Kerrang!, 2002, kerrang 900)Hey Sailor (M.L.Lane)
""Rough Trade Shops Rock And Roll 1 7" (Mute Records, 2002, mute 289) Hey Sailor Rough Trade Shops Rock And Roll 2 xCD (Mute,CDStumm 212) Hey Sailor
""Jackass: The Music, Vol. 1 CD (Interscope Records, 2002) Cha Cha Twist
""New Blood - The New Rock N Roll Vol 3 CD (Artrocker, 2003, RRR 33010)Bad Girl
""Stop Me If You've Think You've Heard This One Before ... CD (Rough Trade Records, 2003, rtradecd 100) Last Nite (The Strokes)
""Rave On Buddy Holly - Cd/Vinyl - (2011, Hear Music, Fantasy/Concord Music Group)- Heartbeat

Singles

"Down In Louisiana" 7" (1996, Black Mamba)
"Village of Love" 7" (1996, Human Fly)
"Ain't It a Shame" 7" (1996, Scooch Pooch)
"Cha Cha Twist CD, 7" (2004, Rough Trade)
"Ya Ya Ya 7" (2008, Stag-O-Lee)
"Feel Good" Digital Single (2015, iTunes)

Laughing at You
The Detroit Cobras Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uhh Ohh Baby
Uhh Ohh Baby
You starting laughing
When I told you I love you

Uhh Ohh Baby
Uhh Ohh Baby
You said your love was true

But I'm laughing at you
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh (yeah)
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh

Uhh Ohh Baby
Uhh Ohh Baby
You had your winning spree
And now you say you want me

Uhh Ohh Baby
Uhh Ohh Baby
You said your love was true

But I'm laughing at you
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh (yeah)
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh

I know that when you go
You'll come and let me know
That you were tired of being a fool

Uhh Ohh Baby
Uhh Ohh Baby
You said your love was true
But I'm laughing at you
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh (yeah)
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh

Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh (yeah)
Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh

Overall Meaning

The Detroit Cobras' song Laughing At You is a classic example of a rock and roll love song. The lyrics portray a relationship that has taken a wrong turn, with one partner laughing at the other for expressing their love. The repetitive Uhh Ohh Baby introduces the song and sets the tone for a playful and sassy tone throughout.

The singer begins by expressing their love to their partner, and the partner's reaction is to laugh. This reaction may indicate a lack of seriousness about the relationship or a feeling of superiority over the singer. The next verse suggests that the partner had previously been successful in some way, giving them a sense of power, which they used to pursue the singer. The chorus repeats the message that the partner may come back after realizing their mistake, but the singer will still be laughing at them.

The song's upbeat rhythm, repetitive lyrics, and playful tone create a catchy tune that sticks with you long after listening to it. The strong vocals of lead singer Rachel Nagy add to the overall impact of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Uhh Ohh Baby
Addressing the person being spoken to or sung about

Uhh Ohh Baby
Repeating the addressing of the person

You starting laughing
You reacted to my love confession with laughter

When I told you I love you
When I expressed my feelings to you

You said your love was true
You claimed that your love for me was authentic

But I'm laughing at you
But I'm the one who finds the situation amusing or ironic

Uhh Ohh Ohh Ohh (yeah)
Vocals indicating the singer's confidence or pleasure

You had your winning spree
You were doing well or winning before

And now you say you want me
And now you want to pursue a relationship with me

I know that when you go
I am aware that when you leave

You'll come and let me know
You will eventually inform me