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)
Feeling Alright
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause every night I have the strangest dreams
Imprisoned by the way it could have been
Left here on my own or so it seems
I've got to leave before I start to scream
Won't someone lock the door and turn the key
Feeling alright
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling that good myself
Boy you sure took me for a ride
And even now I sit and wonder why
That when I think of you
I stop myself from crying
I just can't waste my time
I must keep trying
I've got to stop believing all your lies
'Cause there's to much to do before I die
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling too good myself
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling that good myself
Don't you get to lost in all I say
But at the time you know, I really felt that way
But that was then and now you know its today
I can't escape I guess I'm here to stay
Till someone comes along to take my place
With a different name and a different face
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling that good myself
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling that good myself
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling that good myself
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling good myself
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling too good myself
Feeling alright
I'm not feeling that good myself
The song "Feeling Alright" by Joe Cocker talks about someone who is struggling to cope with their current situation and is seeking a change in their life. The first verse talks about having strange dreams and feeling trapped by the way things could have been but didn't turn out as expected. The person is left alone with their thoughts and their frustration is growing to the point where they need to leave before they start to scream. They long for someone to physically lock the door and prevent them from going back down that path.
The chorus "Feeling Alright" is ironic since the person is clearly not feeling alright as they repeat twice in each chorus that they're not feeling too good themselves. The second verse talks directly to someone who, in the past, took advantage of or hurt the person singing, causing them to question the situation and why they're feeling this way. However, the person refuses to waste their time and decides to keep trying, acknowledging that there's still a lot more to do before they die.
In the third verse, the person speaking seems somewhat resigned to their fate, saying that they can't escape and feel destined to remain where they are until someone comes to take their place. The entire song has an upbeat melody, contradictory to the lyrics, which gives off the impression that the person is trying to put up a facade to the world around them despite their inner struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems I've got to have a change of scene
I feel like I need to leave this place and start anew
'Cause every night I have the strangest dreams
I'm being tormented by my subconscious thoughts every night
Imprisoned by the way it could have been
I'm trapped in the past, haunted by what could have been
Left here on my own or so it seems
I feel alone and abandoned, as if no one is here to help me
I've got to leave before I start to scream
If I don't get out soon, I'm going to completely lose it
Won't someone lock the door and turn the key
I want to be alone and shut out the rest of the world
Feeling alright
I'm giving the impression that everything's okay
I'm not feeling too good myself
But deep down, I'm really not doing well
Boy you sure took me for a ride
You really fooled me and led me on
And even now I sit and wonder why
I'm still perplexed as to why I let you do this to me
That when I think of you
Every time you cross my mind
I stop myself from crying
I stop myself from breaking down and crying over you
I just can't waste my time
I can't afford to waste any more time on you
I must keep trying
I need to keep striving for something better
I've got to stop believing all your lies
I need to stop trusting you and your deceitful ways
'Cause there's to much to do before I die
There's so much I want to accomplish before my time is up
Don't you get to lost in all I say
Don't take my words too seriously or get carried away
But at the time you know, I really felt that way
I was genuinely feeling that way at the time
But that was then and now you know its today
But things have changed since then, and it's a new day
I can't escape I guess I'm here to stay
I'm stuck here, and there's no way out
Till someone comes along to take my place
Unless someone else takes over for me
With a different name and a different face
With their own identity and personality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffreykissell9697
I'm 69 years-old now; my body creaks, and cracks and doesn't move very fast...but I'm "feeling alright" now in Caldwell, Idaho. CLASSIC! Love you, Joe Cocker.
@elizabradley4797
Turn it up full blast baby & blow out the amps ~ 💥💋❤️☮️🤗🌹
@attiliopittiglio5883
👍👍👍u right😂big joe❤
@mikiosep9420
R.I.P. John Robert Cocker (May 20, 1944 - December 22, 2014) aka Joe Cocker. He died of lung cancer at age 70. I saw Joe, Etta James, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1990 at the Benson and Hedges Blues Festival in Costa Mesa (Orange County), CA. It was at the Pacific Amphitheatre. Little did we know that SRV would die six weeks later. All the headliners are gone now, but I am grateful for the memories of that incredible show.
@ArielKahane
I dont think you understand how jealous I am of you...
@brianmahoney467
70 here. Saw him live in his prime in Madison Square Garden years ago. Joints passing along the row, loud, incredible show. Joe was very special. He gave EVERY performance 1000 percent and never held back. Definitely a unique talent. We'll forever miss him...
@robertdonadee9860
I'm jealous. I would have loved to see this legend in action.
@teresasteele5327
I so wish I'd seen him live, my bucket list can't be fulfilled.
@tb3zamora
68 years old and this song was calling out to me. Just couldn’t get it out of my mind till I listened to it. Sure takes me back to when my body didn’t ache and I had more energy, but I’m still feeling alright.
@roe6075
Same here,!😁