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)
Honky Tonk Women )
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride.
She had to heave me right across her shoulder,
Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind.
(chorus)
It's the honky tonk women,
That gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.
I laid a divorcee in New York City,
The lady, then she covered me in roses,
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind.
(chorus)
(chorus)
(chorus)
The lyrics to Joe Cocker's song "Honky Tonk Women" describe the experiences of a man as he encounters various women in different cities. The first verse is about a woman he meets in Memphis, who is described as a "gin-soaked barroom queen". She tries to seduce him into going upstairs with her but he is unable to resist her. He is so obsessed with her that he says he can't seem to drink her off his mind, implying that he has tried to forget about her by getting drunk.
The second verse tells the story of his encounter with a divorcee in New York City. He had to put up a fight to win her over and she rewarded him by covering him in roses. This woman blew his mind, which could be interpreted as her being sexually satisfying or being a spiritual experience. The chorus repeats the phrase, "It's the honky tonk women, that gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues," which suggests that these women are repeated temptations for the singer, and the "honky tonk blues" may refer to a melancholy feeling brought on by the lifestyle he leads.
The song overall seems to be a celebration of the hedonistic lifestyle of a traveling musician, but also acknowledges the complications and drawbacks that come with it, such as heartbreak, addiction, and unfulfilled desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Memphis,
I encountered a woman who had consumed excessive amounts of alcohol in a Memphis bar.
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride.
She attempted to bring me to her room for intimacy.
She had to heave me right across her shoulder,
I was too drunk to walk, so she had to carry me on her back.
Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind.
I cannot forget about you, even when I'm drinking.
It's the honky tonk women,
It's those women who frequent honky tonk bars.
That gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.
Those women give me the feeling of sadness and regret that is associated with honky tonk music.
I laid a divorcee in New York City,
I had sexual intercourse with a woman who had previously been married in New York City.
I had to put up some kind of a fight.
I had to resist her advances to some extent.
The lady, then she covered me in roses,
Later, she covered my body in rose petals.
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind.
She both cleaned my nose and stimulated my mind in a pleasurable way.
(chorus)
Repeats chorus of the song.
(chorus)
Repeats chorus of the song.
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Repeats chorus of the song.
Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@liisavarhalla6348
Cant believe Leon isnt listed on this video...he put Mad Dogs And Englishmen together!
Hell of a talent, Hell of a show!!!
RIP Leon...RIPJoe
You are greatly missed
Ty for sharing your music and talent with us...
@suzannehedderly1331
GREATLY missed! He was the Director of the tour.
@jillharling
I only watched this for Leon. ❤
@waltermameli2026
This is a precious video of Joe Cocker and Leon Russell.....their contribution to Rock n Roll was massive to the tenth power.....
@garynewkirk4462
Joe cocker not in the r and r hall of fame??????
@garynewkirk4462
Incredible!!
@ann-mariefrank644
So glad this was captured on film...The music was amazing, the musicians top notch, and Leon's arrangements were perfect. Captures the 70's vibe so well.
@christiandidyoung7806
Wow. Cant even imagine that energy live. I would have been climbing the walls
@raystein84
Brutally classic gutbucket rock and roll. Leon was a stone genius bringing this together. I'd watch this until I'm pushing up daisys. This.. or Russell's performance at the Bangladesh shows. Absolutely timeless.
@richardjean1933
If you like Leon's "Jumpin' Jack Flash" from the Bangladesh Concert , check out his version w/ Willie Nelson. Now THAT'S a badass grandpa!