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)
Girl From The North Country
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was the true love of mine.
If you go when the snowflakes storm
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see if she's a coat so warm
Please see if her hair hangs long
If it rolls and flows all down her breast
Please see from me if her hair hangs long
That's the way I remember her best.
I'm a-wonderin' if she remember me at all
Many times I've often prayed
In the darkness of my night
In the brightness of my day.
So if you're travelin' in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine.
"Girl From the North Country" is a song about lost love and longing for a former lover who lives in the north country. The first verse sets the scene for the song, mentioning the harsh weather conditions in the north and asking the listener to remember the singer to someone who lives there. The second verse shows the singer's concern for his former lover's well-being during the winter season, asking if she has a warm coat to protect her from the cold. The third verse is more introspective, with the singer reminiscing about his past love and wondering if she still thinks of him.
The chorus is the most memorable part of the song, with the singer repeating his request to be remembered to his former lover with whom he once shared a deep connection. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, expressing a universal feeling of yearning and regret.
Overall, "Girl From the North Country" is a melancholic ballad that speaks to the heartache of lost love and the desire to reconnect with someone who was once important to us.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're traveling in the north country fair
If you happen to journey through the cold north
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Where the gusts blow hard and the temperature drops low
Remember me to one who lives there
Please pass along my regards to someone special
She once was the true love of mine.
She used to hold a significant place in my heart
If you go when the snowflakes storm
If you venture out when snowflakes cover the ground
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
As the rivers freeze and the warmth of summer fades
Please see if she's a coat so warm
Please ensure she has a coat to protect her from the chills
To keep her from the howlin' winds.
And from the howl of the winds that chill to the bone
Please see if her hair hangs long
Find out if her hair is long like it was when I knew her
If it rolls and flows all down her breast
If it falls and cascades down her chest like it used to do
Please see from me if her hair hangs long
Please pass on to her that I still remember her with long hair
That's the way I remember her best.
That is how I recall her most fondly
I'm a-wonderin' if she remember me at all
I ponder whether she has any memories of me at all
Many times I've often prayed
I have prayed for this more times than I can count
In the darkness of my night
During the lonely nights when darkness is all-consuming
In the brightness of my day.
And during the bright days when memories stir my heart
So if you're travelin' in the north country fair
So, if you find yourself in the north country sometime
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Where strong winds hit the borderland
Remember me to one who lives there
Please convey my greetings to the one I loved
She once was a true love of mine.
The one who once had my heart
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.