His first album featured a recording of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends", which brought him to near-instant stardom. The song reached number one in the UK in 1968, became a staple of his many live shows (Woodstock and the Isle of Wight in 1969, the Party at the Palace in 2002) and was also known as the theme song for the late 1980s American TV series The Wonder Years. He continued his success with his second album, which included a second Beatles song: "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window". A hastily thrown together 1970 US tour led to the live double-album Mad Dogs & Englishmen, which featured an all-star band organized by Leon Russell. His 1974 recording of "You Are So Beautiful" reached number five in the US, and became his signature song. Cocker's best selling song was the US number one "Up Where We Belong", a duet with Jennifer Warnes that earned a 1983 Grammy Award. He released a total of 22 studio albums over a 43-year recording career.
In 1993, Cocker was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male. He was awarded a bronze Sheffield Legends plaque in his hometown in 2007, and received an OBE the following year for services to music. Cocker was ranked number 97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Cocker
Studio albums
With a Little Help from My Friends (1969)
Joe Cocker! (1969)
Joe Cocker (1972/EU: 1973)
I Can Stand a Little Rain (1974)
Jamaica Say You Will (1975)
Stingray (1976)
Luxury You Can Afford (1978)
Sheffield Steel (1982)
Civilized Man (1984)
Cocker (1986)
Unchain My Heart (1987)
One Night of Sin (1989)
Night Calls (1991/US: 1992)
Have a Little Faith (1994)
Organic (1996)
Across from Midnight (1997)
No Ordinary World (1999/US: 2000)
Respect Yourself (2002)
Heart & Soul (2004/US: 2005)
Hymn for My Soul (2007/US: 2008)
Hard Knocks (2010/US: 2012)
Fire It Up (2012)
Unchain My Heart
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, let, let me be
'Cause you don't care
Well, please
Set me free
Unchain my heart
Baby, let me go
Unchain my heart
'Cause you don't love me no more
Every time I call you on the phone
Some fella tells me that you're not at home
Unchain my heart
Set me free
Unchain my heart (unchain my heart)
Baby, let me be
Unchain my heart (unchain my heart)
'Cause you don't care about me
You've got me sewed up like a pillow case
But you let my love go to waste
Unchain my heart
Set me free
I'm under your spell
Like a man in a trance baby
Oh, but you know darn well
That I don't stand a chance
Unchain my heart (unchain my heart)
Let me go my way
Unchain my heart (unchain my heart)
You worry me night and day
Why lead me through a life of misery
When you don't care a bag of beans for me
Unchain my heart, oh please
Set me free
Alright
I'm under your spell
Just like a man in a trance, baby
But you know darn well
That I don't stand a chance
Please unchain my heart (unchain my heart)
Let me go my way
Unchain my heart (unchain my heart)
You worry me night and day
Why lead me through a life of misery
When you don't care a bag of beans for me
Unchain my heart
Please set me free
Oh, set me free
Oh, woman why don't you do that for me (unchain my heart)
You don't care
Won't you let me go (unchain my heart)
If you don't love me no more
Like a man in a trance (unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart)
Let me go
I'm under your spell (unchain my heart)
Like a man in a trance
And you know darn well (unchain my heart)
That I don't stand a chance, no
Oh (unchain my heart)
You don't care
Please set me free (unchain my heart)
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's song "Unchain My Heart" are about a man who is pleading with his lover to set him free from a relationship that has lost its love and meaning. He begs her to release him from captivity and give him the freedom he deserves. He feels trapped and helpless, and despite all his efforts, he cannot break free from the hold his lover has on him. The opening lines show that the singer wants to be released from the pain and hurt his lover has caused him. He feels that he is no longer loved or valued and wants to be free to pursue his own life.
The chorus is a plea to his lover to unchain his heart and let him go. He wants her to realize that their relationship is over and he wants to move on. He feels angry and deceived by his lover's actions, as he can't seem to get through to her and feels imprisoned by her control. The lyrics reflect a feeling of vulnerability, as the singer believes he has no control over the situation and his fate is at the mercy of his lover's whims.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of desperation from a man who has had enough of a toxic and unfulfilling relationship. He wants to be free from the pain and hurt and hopes that his lover will realize that it's better for both of them to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Unchain my heart
Release me from the emotional binds you've placed upon me
Baby, let, let me be
Allow me to pursue my own path without your interference
'Cause you don't care
Because you lack empathy towards me and my feelings
Well, please
I am requesting for you to take action
Set me free
Let me go and live my own life independently
Baby, let me go
I am requesting for you to release me from your grasp
Cause you don't love me no more
Your feelings towards me have disappeared
Every time I call you on the phone
When I attempt to contact you directly
Some fella tells me that you're not at home
I am informed that you are unavailable
Unchain my heart
I implore you to free me from the emotional bondage
You've got me sewed up like a pillow case
You have complete control over me, like a piece of fabric hemmed tightly
But you let my love go to waste
You have disregarded my love and allowed it to dissipate
I'm under your spell
You have bewitched me or captivated me with your power
Like a man in a trance baby
I feel entranced, like I am in a hypnotic state or a dreamlike stupor
Oh, but you know darn well
You are aware of the effect you have on me
That I don't stand a chance
My efforts to resist your control are futile
Let me go my way
Allow me to pursue my own course of action
You worry me night and day
You cause me a great deal of stress and anxiety
Why lead me through a life of misery
Why force me to live a life of unhappiness and sorrow
When you don't care a bag of beans for me
When you don't care at all about my welfare or feelings
Unchain my heart, oh please
I plead for you to release me from the ties that bind me
Oh, set me free
Oh, give me the freedom to live my life as I choose
Oh, woman why don't you do that for me
Why won't you grant me the autonomy I seek
You don't care
You have a lack of concern for my well-being
Won't you let me go
I am asking for you to allow me to depart from your grip
If you don't love me no more
If you no longer have feelings of affection towards me
And you know darn well
You fully understand
That I don't stand a chance, no
I am powerless to resist your spell
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert L Sharp, Teddy Powell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind