Hey Little Cobra

Album: Hey Little Cobra (1964)
Charted: 4
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  • Hey little Cobra, don't you know you're gonna shut 'em down

    I took my Cobra down to the track
    Hitched to the back of my Cadillac
    Everyone was there just a waiting for me
    There were plenty of Stingrays and XKEs

    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra getting ready to strike
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra now with all of your might
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra getting ready to strike
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra now with all of your might
    Hey little Cobra don't you know you're gonna shut 'em down

    When the flag went down you could hear rubber burn
    The Stingray had me going into the turn
    I hung a big shift and I got into high
    And when I flew by the Stingray I waved bye-bye

    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra getting ready to strike
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra now with all of your might
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra getting ready to strike
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra now with all of your might
    Hey little Cobra don't you know you're gonna shut 'em down

    Around the far turn in the straight-away
    I was blowing off everything that got in my way
    The Stingrays and Jags were so far behind
    I took my Cobra out of gear and let it coast to the line

    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra getting ready to strike
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra now with all of your might
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra getting ready to strike
    (Shut 'em down) Spring little Cobra now with all of your might
    Hey little Cobra don't you know you're gonna shut 'em down

    Shut 'em down
    Shut 'em down
    Shut 'em down
    Shut 'em down
    Shut 'em down
    Shut 'em down Writer/s: Carol Connors, Marshall Kleinbard
    Publisher: MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

  • Lis from TorontoAccording to Ernie Bringas, one of the original duo, touring memberes Rich Rotkin & Arnie Marcus did not sing on any actual recordings: https://ripchords.info/
  • SharonI just found this album in a box of my house. When my parents moved they gave it to me twenty years ago. Anyone know how much I can sell it for? I just found these comments. I remember some songs.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 2nd 1964, "Hey Little Cobra" by the Rip Cords peaked at #4 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on December 8th, 1963 and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 6 of those 14 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    The group's last charted record was "One Piece Topless Bathing Suit"*; it stayed on the Top 100 for one week at position #96...
    *(Warning: if you go on You Tube to hear the song, you will get a memorial video to porn stars who have passed away).
  • John from Lukeville, AzI would very much like to have a copy of "Hey Little Cobra" for a friend of who has a cobra. If anyone out there has one and would be kind enough to cut a CD for me I will gladly cover the coast that you incure. Thank you.
  • Dennis from Kinston, NcI'm fortunate enough to have both the "LP" and "45" of this song. It's definitly one of the "Hot Rod" classics!!
  • Myra from Spring, TxI have the album with the cobra on the cover. All the songs are great.
  • Tersia from Pretoria, South AfricaBrutus Wynyard, please contact me urgently. I have been looking for a copy of the Rip Cords Album with the song Hey, Little Cobra. My boyfriend races a cobra and i want to surprise him. I will pay all costs. My email add is tersiap@tshwane.gov.za
  • Lupe from Los Angeles, Careferencing Dr Roberts comment:

    Phil Spector wrote and produced (and sang in?) the Teddy Bear's "To Know Him Is To Love Him" - apparently a song written to honor Spector's departed father.
  • Brutus from Wynyard, Australiai still have the albumn, even an actual model made by brimm models in italy of the cobra on the cover. love the albumn i now have put it on cd so i can play it in my car, my personal favourite is 40 ford time. i've had the albumn for some 35 years now nicked it from elder brother
  • Elvis from Philadelphia, PaI was former musical director the The Rip Chords. Doris Day came up with the group's name. Written by Carol Connors (nee Anette Kleinbard) and her brother, both formerly of The Teddy Bears ("To Know Him is to Love Him") - Dr. Robert, Phillytown
  • John from St. James, Li, NyTerry Melcher also performed Custom Machine, a very early car song.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThis was one of the earliest car songs to have a Beach Boys like sound. A great song from the early 60s.
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