Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba to Violet and Tuck Cochrane, a bush pilot. The family relocated to Etobicoke, Ontario in the West Deane Park area when Tom was four years old. He purchased his first guitar at age 11 by selling a toy train set. He attended Martingrove Collegiate Institute in the 1960's. In the early 1970s, he was performing in coffee houses across Canada. He eventually made his way to Los Angeles where he found a job writing theme music for My Pleasure is My Business, a Xaviera Hollander movie. Unable to find steady income from music, Cochrane returned to Toronto where he drove a taxi cab and later took a job on a Caribbean cruise liner to help pay the bills. Cochrane went back to Los Angeles in 1976, trying to sell his songs to publishers but without success, and returned to Toronto in 1977. Cochrane walked into the El Mocambo club one night in Toronto and came across a band of locals calling themselves Red Rider. After an audition, they agreed to Cochrane joining the band as lead singer and songwriter, a decision that would change their musical careers.
After the Red Rider era, Cochrane set off on his soloist path again. In 1990, Cochrane took his family to West Africa where he helped to raise awareness and money for the World Vision famine relief organization. That experience shaped his next album Mad Mad World which contained the internationally acclaimed hit single "Life is a Highway".
The three-CD box set Ashes to Diamonds, including material by both Red Rider and Cochrane as a solo artist, was released in 1993.
In 1995, he released Ragged Ass Road and followed that with a Canadian tour in 1996. The tour resulted in Songs of a Circling Spirit, a live CD and multi-media package of previously released material.
In June 1999, Cochrane was involved in a light plane crash in Montreal, after his plane's engine stalled just after take-off. Fortunately, no one was injured.
At the 2003 Juno Awards, Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The special award ceremony took place April 5, 2003 at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. According to the Life Is a Highway Songfacts, his other honors include seven Juno Awards, being an Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Air Force, and having been inducted onto the Canadian Walk of Fame. They take their rock stars seriously in Canada.
In December 2003 he was one of the musical guests on a CBC special called, Rick Mercer's Christmas in Kabul.
He currently lives with his family in Oakville, Ontario.
On July 2, 2005, Cochrane took part in the Live 8 concert series.
Cochrane's new album "No Stranger" recorded in rural Ontario was released in October 2006.
"Life Is A Highway" was re-made in 2006 by the country band Rascal Flatts for the motion picture "Cars" and became a successful country single.
Out Of My Head
Tom Cochrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can almost see your face
I can almost touch your skin
We'd all fall down from grace
If I'd of let you in
I can't hide
I can't hide
Out of my head, out of my heart
Out of my sight and out of my mind
As I take that one big leap
Honey this is where it gets
Oh I'm out of my head
You're gone
On what planet you on
These days'll turn to years
And the chances disappear
If you wait for something
Always better yet
Wave our hands on high
As the ship sails by
Out of my head, out of my heart
Out of my sight and out of my might
As I take that one big leap
Honey this is where it gets
Oh I'm out of my head
Oh Irish take me in
Fools gold is never what it seems
Kathleene take me home
This place is where I've always been
Out of my head, out of my heart
Out of my sight and out of my might
As I take that one big leap
Honey this is where it gets
Oh I'm out of my head
You're gone
The lyrics of the song "Out Of My Head" by Tom Cochrane convey the idea of trying to move on from a past relationship, although the memories of the person still linger. The opening lines depict the memory of the person being so vivid that the singer almost feels their presence. However, he states that he can't give in and let the person in, as it will only lead to a downfall. The chorus describes the process of moving on, by trying to completely erase the memory of the person out of sight and out of mind. The phrase "As I take that one big leap" suggests that moving on requires effort and is not easy.
The bridge in the song mentions two names, "Irish" and "Kathleene", which seem to be the names of individuals that the singer knows. The name "Fools gold is never what it seems" implies that the singer has been betrayed or deceived by someone, possibly the person he is trying to forget. Finally, in the last line, "You're gone", the singer acknowledges that the person he is trying to forget is no longer present, but the memories are still lingering.
Overall, the underlying emotions of this song are sadness, regret, and the difficulty of moving on from a past relationship. The lyrics suggest that while it is difficult to move on, it is necessary for personal growth and emotional healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I can almost see your face
I have a vivid image of you in my mind and I can almost visualize your face
I can almost touch your skin
Along with your image, I can almost feel the texture of your skin
We'd all fall down from grace
If I let myself become vulnerable to you, it would be a mistake and we would lose respect
If I'd of let you in
If I had let myself be influenced by your actions, I would have made a foolish choice
I can't hide
I am exposed and I cannot conceal my emotions
Out of my head, out of my heart
Out of my sight and out of my mind
As I take that one big leap
Honey this is where it gets
Oh I'm out of my head
You're gone
On what planet you on
I am moving on and doing away with thoughts and feelings of you, despite how difficult it may be to adjust. It's as though you're in another world that's unattainable for me now.
These days'll turn to years
And the chances disappear
If you wait for something
Always better yet
Wave our hands on high
As the ship sails by
Time is fleeting and if we hesitate for too long, we'll miss out on opportunities. Even if we're left with nothing, it's always better to take chances and stretch for fulfillment.
Oh Irish take me in
Fools gold is never what it seems
Kathleene take me home
This place is where I've always been
The grass may not be greener on the other side, so even in the face of betrayal, I'm turning to what's familiar even if flawed. Kathleen, my home, take me back and remind me of my roots.
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sergeylazarev4569
Summer of 1992. I am 18 years old, exchange student from Russia in Oregon, living in a farm-style house in a beautiful countryside. This song was everywhere at the time-on MTV, radio. Such a blast from the past.
@erickdaza5020
How are you doing now brother?
@sergeylazarev4569
@@erickdaza5020 quite well, my daughter is 22 now, time flies. Take care.
@PatrickRob82
Hope my home state treated you well. ✌️
@sergeylazarev4569
@@PatrickRob82 Yes, though I visited the US on many occasions afterwards, that my first travel is the fondest memory of all. The Robisons ( no n in the middle) were an excellent host family, Wendy, their mom is an exceptional lady, I've not seen her since 1993, and I hope she is doing great as well as both her son's, Bill, the young one, and Michael. I don't think Darrell is still alive, due to his age, but if he is, I wish him best of luck.
02/03/24 an update- Darrell is alive, he is 91. Found the family. Google does wonders.
@Axqu7227
Summer of 1992. I either had just been born or was about to be. 😅
@J_Patterns
I doubt anyone will read this, but when this song came out I had just turned 15 and had hair just like Tom in this video. Every time this song would come on MTV, this girl that I had a crush on would call my house phone to tell me she was thinking of me. Over 30 years later and nostalgia kicks in hard with this song. Every time I hear it I am taken back to 1992, simpler times, great time to be a teenager. No distractions from cell phones, bullying on social media, growing up too fast ect. My friend had a car and we would just cruise around other small towns with no idea what was happening, by luck we would find a town carnival, or dance at a fire hall. I had this song on cassette single and I am sure it was played hundreds of times that summer. Thanks for reading my late night flashback.
@robertshirley3422
Did you hook up or marry that gal??
@J_Patterns
@@robertshirley3422 No, unfortunately I don't remember much about her, that was 31 years ago!
@b_ird
Rock ooooon!!! 🤘