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)
Further On Up The Road
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Further on up the road, when you're all alone and blue
You're gonna hurt someone, someone is gonna hurt you
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
Like you mistreat someone, someone is gonna mistreat you
Now you're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
Further on at the road, you'll find out I wasn't lying
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
Like you mistreat someone, someone is gonna mistreat you
And now you're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
You're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
Further on at the road, you'll find out I wasn't lying
Further on at the road, say when you're all alone and blue
Further on at the road, say when you're all alone and blue
You're gonna hurt someone, someone is gonna hurt you
Say when you're all alone and blue
Say when you're all alone and blue
You're gonna hurt someone, someone is gonna hurt you
The song is a warning to a woman that if she continues down the path of mistreating people, she will eventually face the consequences of her actions. The lyrics suggest a sense of hopelessness that no matter how much someone tries to avoid getting hurt or prevent others from hurting, it will eventually happen. The line "you gotta reap just what you sow" emphasizes the idea of karma and that every action has a consequence.
The repetition of "further on up the road" creates a feeling of moving forward towards a destination, suggesting that the consequences of mistreating others are inevitable and waiting at the end of the road. The use of the phrases "all alone and blue" and "laughing and pretty baby" creates a duality in the woman's character, portraying her as both vulnerable and manipulative.
The lyrics are simple yet powerful, conveying a message of karma and the consequences of one's actions. The song's slow bluesy tempo and Joe Cocker's soulful voice add to the emotion and intensity of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Further on up the road, when you're all alone and blue
In the future, when you feel lonely and sad
Further on up the road, when you're all alone and blue
In the future, when you feel lonely and sad
You're gonna hurt someone, someone is gonna hurt you
If you mistreat someone, you'll be mistreated in return
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
The consequences of your actions will come back to you
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
The consequences of your actions will come back to you
Like you mistreat someone, someone is gonna mistreat you
If you mistreat someone, you'll be mistreated in return
And now you're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
You might be happy now, but you'll eventually be sad
Now you're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
You might be happy now, but you'll eventually be sad
Further on at the road, you'll find out I wasn't lying
Later, you'll realize that what I said was true
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
The consequences of your actions will come back to you
You gotta reap just what you sow, that old saying is true
The consequences of your actions will come back to you
Like you mistreat someone, someone is gonna mistreat you
If you mistreat someone, you'll be mistreated in return
And now you're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
You might be happy now, but you'll eventually be sad
You're laughing, pretty baby, but someday you're gonna cry
You might be happy now, but you'll eventually be sad
Further on at the road, you'll find out I wasn't lying
Later, you'll realize that what I said was true
Further on at the road, say when you're all alone and blue
In the future, if you feel lonely and sad
Further on at the road, say when you're all alone and blue
In the future, if you feel lonely and sad
You're gonna hurt someone, someone is gonna hurt you
If you mistreat someone, you'll be mistreated in return
Say when you're all alone and blue
If you feel lonely and sad
Say when you're all alone and blue
If you feel lonely and sad
You're gonna hurt someone, someone is gonna hurt you
If you mistreat someone, you'll be mistreated in return
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON ROBEY, M VEASEY JOE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind