John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English si… Read Full Bio ↴John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of songs written by other song writers, though he composed a number of songs for most of his albums as well, often in conjunction with songwriting partner Chris Stainton.

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)

Guilty
Joe Cocker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yes, baby, I been drinkin'
And I shouldn't come by I know
But I found myself in trouble
And I had nowhere else to go

Got some whiskey from the barman
Got some cocaine from a friend
I just had to keep on movin'

'Til I was back in your arms again

Guilty, baby I'm guilty
And I'll be guilty the rest of my life
How come I never do what I'm supposed to do
How come nothin' that I try to do ever turns out right?

You know, you know how it is with me baby
You know, I just can't stand myself

And it takes a whole lot of medicine
For me to pretend that I'm somebody else

Overall Meaning

The song "Guilty" by Joe Cocker tells a familiar tale of a man who has fallen into despair and is seeking refuge with a lover. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been drinking and taking drugs, and has found himself in trouble. Despite knowing that he shouldn't come to his lover's door, he feels he has nowhere else to go. The verses are raw and unpolished, conveying a sense of desperation and vulnerability.

The chorus of the song is where the guilt and shame of the singer are vividly expressed. He admits to being guilty and feeling guilty for the rest of his life. He cannot understand why he never does what he's supposed to do or why nothing he tries ever turns out right. He reveals to his lover that he just can't stand himself and it takes a whole lot of medicine to pretend that he's somebody else. Through these lyrics, it can be inferred that the singer is battling with some form of addiction or mental health issues.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes, baby, I been drinkin'
I consumed alcohol, my beloved

And I shouldn't come by I know
I am aware that visiting you is not appropriate

But I found myself in trouble
However, I encountered a problem

And I had nowhere else to go
I had no other option but to come see you

Got some whiskey from the barman
I obtained some whiskey from the bar attendant

Got some cocaine from a friend
A friend gave me cocaine

I just had to keep on movin'
I had to continue moving

'Til I was back in your arms again
Until I could be with you once more

Guilty, baby I'm guilty
I am at fault, my dear, I am responsible

And I'll be guilty the rest of my life
This fault will stay with me until the end of my days

How come I never do what I'm supposed to do
Why is it that I never accomplish what I should

How come nothin' that I try to do ever turns out right?
Why is it that everything I attempt is always wrong?

You know, you know how it is with me baby
My dear, you are aware of how things are with me

You know, I just can't stand myself
You know I dislike myself

And it takes a whole lot of medicine
It requires a significant amount of medication

For me to pretend that I'm somebody else
For me to pretend that I am anyone other than myself

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADRIAN NEWMAN, JOHAN BANG-JOHANSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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