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)
Inner City Blues
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
The lyrics to Joe Cocker's song "Inner City Blues" reflect the harsh realities of life for African Americans in urban areas during the 1960s and 1970s. The opening lines refer to the race to space, with rockets and moon shots being launched while the have-nots struggle to make ends meet. The lyrics go on to describe the everyday struggles of poverty, where people work hard to earn money, only to have it taken away by taxes and inflation. The frustration of not being able to keep up with bills that pile up sky-high is palpable in the singer's voice, and he sings about feeling like he is constantly being set back in life.
The lines "Make me wanna holler" and "This ain't livin', this ain't livin'" convey a sense of hopelessness and despair. The song also touches on the issue of police brutality, with the line "Trigger happy policing," and the panic that is spreading in society. The chorus, "Inner City Blues," serves as a metaphor for the poverty, crime, and social unrest that were prevalent in many urban areas at the time.
Overall, the lyrics to "Inner City Blues" are a powerful commentary on the state of American society during the 1960s and 1970s, and the struggles faced by African Americans in particular.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Refrain/interlude
Rockets, moon shots
Government spending on space programs
Spend it on the have nots
Government should be spending on those in need
Money, we make it
People earn money through work
Fore we see it you take it
Government taxes a portion of earned income
Oh, make you wanna holler
Injustice and frustration
The way they do my life
The system works against the individual
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
Life is not fulfilling
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
Life is not pleasant
Inflation no chance
Inflation makes it harder to keep up financially
To increase finance
Difficult to earn more money
Bills pile up sky high
Expenses are accumulating
Send that boy off to die
The government sends young people to war
Hang ups, let downs
Disappointments and setbacks
Bad breaks, set backs
Unfair situations and difficulties
Natural fact is
The truth is
I can't pay my taxes
Difficulties in meeting financial obligations
Oh, make me wanna holler
Frustration and disappointment
And throw up both my hands
In exasperation and resignation
Crime is increasing
Crime rates are going up
Trigger happy policing
Police violence and brutality
Panic is spreading
Fear and anxiety are increasing
God know where we're heading
Uncertainty and lack of direction
They don't understand
Others cannot comprehend the struggles one faces
Mother, mother
Appeal to a parent figure
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Society does not support us
Who are they to judge us
Questioning the authority of those who criticize us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Being judged for one's appearance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES NYX, MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind