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)
Highway Highway
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dogs grow old and in the summer it still rains
But I never thought you and I would ever be apart
Babies cry at their mothers breast
And sunday morning is still a day to be blessed
But what can I tell my broken heart
Where you go I don't know
Maybe closer to my dreams, maybe far away
Take me today
Highway, highway
Give me wings to fly
It's gonna be hard letting go of you
And living separate lives
The stars aaren't diamonds and the moons not blue
There's no gold at the end of the rainbow
There's no dream to hold on to, without you
The only thing that's real is this lonely road tonight
Maybe a change would be good for me
Who knows where this road might lead
Highway, highway
Where you go I don't know
Maybe closer to my dreams, maybe far away
Take me today
Highway, highway
Give me wings to fly
It's gonna be hard letting go of you
And living separate lives
It's gonna be hard letting go of you
And living separate lives
The lyrics of Highway Highway by Joe Cocker convey the feelings of separation and the pain of letting go of someone who was once deeply loved. The circle turning and seasons changing represent the fact that change is an inevitable part of life, but the pain of losing a loved one is unexpected and hard to bear. The imagery of babies crying at their mother's breasts and Sunday mornings being a day to be blessed highlight the fact that life goes on, irrespective of the struggles that one faces. However, these images only serve to accentuate the pain of separation, as they remind the singer of what he's lost.
The lines "There's no gold at the end of the rainbow / There's no dream to hold on to, without you" showcase the singer's realization that all his dreams and aspirations were woven around his beloved, and that without them, he has nothing to hold onto. The chorus, "Highway, highway / where you go I don't know" portrays the uncertainty of the future and the singer's willingness to go wherever life takes him, even if it means leaving behind the person he loves.
In the end, the lyrics come full circle, as the singer realizes that maybe a change would be good for him, and who knows where this road might lead. The chorus "highway, highway / give me wings to fly" embodies the singer's desire to start anew, spread his wings and soar, even if it means living separate lives from his beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
The circle turns and the season change
Life moves forward and things are always in flux
Dogs grow old and in the summer it still rains
Despite the inevitability of change, some things remain consistent
But I never thought you and I would ever be apart
Despite this, the singer didn't expect to lose their partner
Babies cry at their mothers breast
Life continues with its inherent cycles, regardless of individual experiences
And sunday morning is still a day to be blessed
Certain things, like religious observances, continue even though life changes
But what can I tell my broken heart
Despite these consistencies, the singer is heartbroken
Highway, highway
The highway represents the unknown path and journey of life
Where you go I don't know
The artist doesn't know where their partner is headed in life
Maybe closer to my dreams, maybe far away
Their partner's journey could bring them closer together, or drive them further apart
Take me today
The artist is willing to take a leap of faith and join their partner on their journey
Give me wings to fly
The singer wants to be free to find their own path, separate from their partner
It's gonna be hard letting go of you
Despite their desire for freedom, the artist knows it will be difficult to part ways with their partner
And living separate lives
The singer and their partner will have to go their separate ways, each living their own life
The stars aren't diamonds and the moons not blue
The world isn't as magical and perfect as it once seemed
There's no gold at the end of the rainbow
There are no guarantees or easy rewards in life
There's no dream to hold on to, without you
The artist had dreams that centered around their partner and cannot hold onto those dreams without them
The only thing that's real is this lonely road tonight
The only thing the artist can count on is their own journey, which is marked by loneliness
Maybe a change would be good for me
Despite the fear and sadness, change may ultimately be the best thing for the singer
Who knows where this road might lead
The future is uncertain and often unpredictable
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trubbel1601
There is no other song I have been crying more to
@dulcieerasmus3963
Beautiful song , beautifully written by Stephen Allen Davis and sung with such emotion like only Joe could..Rest in Heavenly Eternal Peace Joe Cocker..This song touches right into my soul...I love it...thank you for the music xx
@pulemokotjo5057
This song cuts deep, it makes me take a trip down memory lane. Thanks for the music Joe, may you continue to rest peacefully.
@iandawson9816
my father asked for this song at his funeral when it was played it broke my heart but now it gives inspiration
@SuperCoeck
This is being played at my funeral. 🥀
@timelessmusicspain
Love this song since the first time I've heard it in 1994. Thank you for this beautiful video.
@musicmack47
I have loves this song for years! Stephen Allen Davis is a great writer and with Joe Cocker cutting his version, couldn't sake for a better experience! Great song, great vibe, great emotion!!!
@marcseewald8078
For my son Joey , he is gone never forget you , Love dad
@lothar5426
Danke für all die schönen Songs Joe ! Ruhe in Frieden
@djbobhoskins
This song still makes me cry. The lyrics, the delivery. Wonderful.