[Twenty Flight Rock
Gildo Santiago
"Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the 1956 film comedy The Girl Can't Help It, and released as a single the following year. The song was published in 1957 as written by Ned Fairchild and Eddie Cochran, by American Music Incorporated and Campbell, Connelly and Company.[1][2][3] Cochran's contribution was primarily on the music. His version is rockabilly-flavored, but artists of a variety of genres have covered the song.
The song follows the twelve-bar blues format, using the device of counting upwards ("One flight, two flight, three flight, four/five, six, seven flight, eight flight, more") in the refrain in a manner similar to "Rock Around the Clock". The final verse ends on a surprisingly morbid note compared to other pop songs of the time: "All this climbin' is a-gettin' me down. They'll find my corpse draped over a rail."
Cochran appeared in the film The Girl Can't Help It performing "Twenty Flight Rock" as a tongue-in-cheek example of the supposed lack of talent required to perform rock and roll. The guitar solo was edited out in the movie. The song also featured in the film The Delinquents (1989).
The song follows the twelve-bar blues format, using the device of counting upwards (One flight, two flight, three flight, four/five, six, seven flight, eight flight, more) in the refrain in a manner similar to Rock Around the Clock. The lyrics end on a surprisingly morbid note relative to other pop music songs of the time.
Well I got a girl with a record machine,
When it comes to rocking she's a queen.
I took her to a dance on a Saturday night,
All alone where I can hold her tight.
She lives on the twenieth floor uptown,
The elevator's broken down.
And I walk one flight, two, three flight four,
Five six seven flight, eight flight more.
Up on the twelfth I'm starting to sag,?
Fifteenth floor I'm ready to drag.?
I get to the top and I'm too tired to rock.??
Well she called me up on the telephone,?
Said come over baby 'cause I'm all alone.?
I said baby you're mighty sweet,?
But I'm in bed with aching feet.?
This went on for a couple of days,?
But I couldn't stay away.??
And I walk one, two flight, three flight four,?
Five six seven flight, eight flight more.?
Up on the twelfth I'm starting to sag,?
Fifteenth floor I'm ready to drag.?
I get to the top and I'm too tired to rock.??
Well I sent to Chicago for repairs,?
Till it's fixed I'm using the stairs.?
I hope they hurry, before it's too late,?
I love my baby too much to wait.?
All this climbing is getting me down,?
They'll find me hanging over the rail.??
And I walk one, two flight, three flight four,?
Five six seven flight, eight flight more.?
Up on the twelfth I'm starting to sag,?
Fifteenth floor I'm ready to drag.?
I get to the top and I'm too tired to rock.??
You know I'm too tired to rock.
Well I got a girl with a record machine,
When it comes to rocking she's a queen.
I took her to a dance on a Saturday night,
All alone where I can hold her tight.
She lives on the twenieth floor uptown,
The elevator's broken down.
And I walk one, two flight, three flight four,?
Five six seven flight, eight flight more.?
Up on the twelfth I'm starting to sag,?
Fifteenth floor I'm ready to drag,?
I get to the top and I'm too tired to rock.