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)
Everybody Hurts
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough of this life
Well hang on
Don't let yourself go
Everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life
Well hang on
Everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand
Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on
Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on
[Repeat & fade]
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone)
Joe Cocker's song "Everybody Hurts" is a stirring piece that speaks to a feeling that everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. This song tells us that it's okay to feel sad sometimes, and when things seem too difficult to handle, we shouldn't give up but keep holding on. The heartening lyrics urge the listener to not let themselves go and to take comfort in their friends when they are feeling low. It emphasizes that everybody feels pain, sadness and loneliness, and it's okay to cry because it makes us human. The song emphasizes the importance of belonging, of human connection, and how everyone has a part to play in making the world a better place.
In summary, the song is about hope that springs from difficulty, and how it's important to persevere through life's inevitable challenges. The lyrics encourage us to hold on and not give up, that everybody hurts and cries but we need to continue to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
When the day is long and the night
During times of hardship and struggle
The night is yours alone
You feel alone and isolated
When you're sure you've had enough of this life
You feel like giving up on life
Well hang on
Don't give up just yet
Don't let yourself go
Don't lose all hope
Everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Everyone goes through tough times
Sometimes everything is wrong
Nothing seems to be going right
Now it's time to sing along
Come together with others in solidarity
If you feel like letting go
Feeling like giving up
Well hang on
Don't give up just yet
Take comfort in your friends
Lean on your support system for help
Don't throw your hand
Don't give up hope
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
Feeling isolated but others are there for you
If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long
Life can be lonely and difficult
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on
Feeling overwhelmed and defeated
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everyone goes through tough times
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Don't give up yet, there is still hope
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone)
Reinforcing that others are also struggling and it's okay to not be okay
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: William Thomas Berry, Peter Lawrence Buck, Michael E. Mills, John Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
billredman7025
You don’t hear music, you feel music. Joe was one of the best.
James Wold
His delivery of the word HURTS at the end the first chorus is one of the most moving moments in soul music....
bitofacunt
How did I get to 58 years and a life-long Cocker fan, without hearing this version? Thank you so much for posting!! Best wishes . . . Chris.x
Seth W
Ditto. On the age a bit longer. 61!
Janice Rockwell
Isn't it nice to know that you are not unique ! Share ! 💏
Janice Rockwell
Sometimes people are not ready to hear anyone else's pain but their own. 😪
ronny parker
Joe sings life, all his songs, are from the heart.
Alejandro Rosa
De lujo. La canción top de REM en una versión comovedora. La fuerza interpretativa que le pone Joe Cocker a esta canción es incomparable. Además de la orquestación.
Pete Cleverley
No words can describe the feeling this guy puts into his perfomances. One of my all time favourites and way way up there with all the greats. Thanks Joe
Theressa Murphy
Love this song...words well spoken...wish that all who are depressed would hear this lovely song😍