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)
I Think It's Going to Rain
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today
Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
Think I'll kick it down the street
That's the way to treat a friend
Bright before me the signs implore me
To help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's song "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" paint a picture of a dreary and desolate world. The broken windows, empty hallways, and pale dead moon highlight the absence of life in this landscape. The human kindness that Cocker refers to, however, is tangible and present. Despite the bleakness of the surroundings, this kindness is overflowing. The rain that Cocker predicts may seem like a natural occurrence, but it can also be seen as a metaphor for the outpouring of emotion that is about to happen. As if the rain is a cleansing force, the kindness will soon wash away the sadness and despair.
The second verse of the song continues in this vein. The scarecrows, dressed in the latest styles, represent a society that is more concerned with keeping up appearances than with genuine human connection. The frozen smiles that "chase love away" are a clear sign of this. Once again, though, the refrain highlights the presence of human kindness in the midst of all this. And just like in the first verse, the rain that Cocker predicts is a symbol of renewal and hope.
The third verse brings in some personal details about the singer's life. He is alone, with a tin can at his feet. The decision to kick it down the street reflects a sense of frustration and anger directed at the world around him. Yet the signs that he sees ahead of him encourage him to help those in need and show them the way. The final refrain again emphasizes the overflowing nature of human kindness and the hope that exists despite the dark skies.
All in all, Joe Cocker's "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" is a powerful and moving meditation on the human condition. Even in the midst of despair and loneliness, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of the kindness that connects us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken windows and empty hallways
Desolate, abandoned surroundings void of life and warmth
A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
The bleak and lifeless atmosphere of one's environment
Human kindness is overflowing
Despite the bleak surroundings, humans still possess a capacity for compassion and empathy
And I think it's going to rain today
Despite the potential for kindness, there is still an impending feeling of sadness and despair
Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
People masking themselves with superficial appearances to hide from the vulnerability of love
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Those who put on a false façade to avoid developing real connections with others
Lonely, lonely
A pervasive feeling of isolation and despair
Tin can at my feet
Symbolic of life's mundane struggles that we often ignore or overlook
Think I'll kick it down the street
An attempt to take control of one's struggles and face them head-on
That's the way to treat a friend
Encouraging oneself to treat even their own struggles as something to be examined and learned from
Bright before me the signs implore me
The world is calling for us to care for and uplift one another
To help the needy and show them the way
Being of service to others and demonstrating how we can all contribute to a kinder world
Human kindness is overflowing
Compassion and empathy are still present in the world despite the constant turmoil and struggle
And I think it's going to rain today
Despite the moments of kindness, there is an ever-present feeling of sadness and despair that looms over us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Randy Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alkiBD
Penso che pioverà oggi !
Finestre rotte e corridoi vuoti
Una luna morta pallida nel cielo striato di grigio
Gentilezza umana è straripante
E penso che pioverà oggi
Spaventapasseri vestiti con gli ultimi stili
Con sorrisi congelati per inseguire amore lontano
Gentilezza umana è straripante
E penso che pioverà oggi
Solo, solo.......
Barattolo di latta ai miei piedi
Penso di calci in fondo alla strada
Questo è il modo di trattare un amico....
Luminoso davanti a me i segni mi implorano
Per aiutare i bisognosi e mostrare loro la strada
Gentilezza umana è straripante
E penso che pioverà oggi
Gentilezza umana è straripante
E penso che pioverà oggi......
@artmsflds
Yes ! The line " help the needy and show them the way " gets me . Puts me to n a state as f grace
@sandymartyn5410
Joe Cocker had a song for everything. So glad Joe recorded this it's the best version.
We miss you Joe. XX
@user-qx1pk2uy1u
Love this Version
@gordonpeden6234
Best version RIP Mr Cocker. You still rock!!
@ko0974
Love Joe and Dusty's versions chalk and cheese..
@Karmakanik1
Quanto amo questo brano❤ho ancora il vinile,stupendo !
@exploregreer1048
2019. Joe putting his personal signature on this beautiful song.♥️
@semismokeymama
Like no other....
@GreenElfMom
I love this version of this song!
@julieputney2706
The best version of the song ever...