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)
It's A Sin When You Love Somebody
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the Lord, he'll forgive you if you lie
Yes, he'll forgive and he'll help you to live
But he sure frowns down soundly on you and I.
It must be a sin when you love somebody
Damned if you don't, twice damned if you do
It must be a sin when you love somebody
Now the Lord, he's known, and for his kindness
He's always willing to set a sinner free (set a sinner free)
He'll save your soul and he'll make you whole
But I don't see no angels comin' down
Shinin' their light on you and me.
It must be a sin when you love somebody
Damned if you don't, twice damned if you do
It must be a sin when you love somebody
As much as I'm lovin' you...
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's It's A Sin When You Love Somebody explore the complexities of loving someone while feeling a sense of guilt and shame because of societal expectations and religious beliefs. The first verse acknowledges that while the Lord may forgive someone for cheating or lying, there is disapproval when it comes to loving someone that society may deem inappropriate or forbidden.
The chorus repeats the line "It must be a sin when you love somebody" as a mantra, suggesting that the act of loving itself is seen as a transgression. The lyrics then take a hopeful turn in the second verse by acknowledging the Lord's kindness and willingness to forgive as well as his ability to save a sinner's soul. However, despite this avowal of faith, the singer says that he doesn't see any angels shining their light on him and his lover, suggesting that the love they share is not sanctioned by society or religion.
The lyrics of It's A Sin When You Love Somebody reflect the struggle many people feel when they love someone that is considered taboo or "wrong" by society or religion. The song highlights the tension between love and the expectations of the world around us, and the conflict that can arise when these two things collide.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the Lord, he'll forgive you for cheating
Even though the Lord is forgiving, cheating is still wrong and should not be done.
And the Lord, he'll forgive you if you lie
The Lord may forgive lying, but it is still not a good thing to do.
Yes, he'll forgive and he'll help you to live
The Lord will forgive and aid in living a better life, but that doesn't mean all mistakes are excused.
But he sure frowns down soundly on you and I
Even though the Lord forgives, he is still disappointed in those who sin.
It must be a sin when you love somebody
Loving someone can feel sinful when societal or religious pressures make it seem wrong.
Damned if you don't, twice damned if you do
Whether you act on your love or not, society will still criticize and judge you for it.
As much as I'm lovin' you.
Regardless of society's judgment, the singer loves their partner deeply.
Now the Lord, he's known, and for his kindness
The Lord is well known for his compassionate nature.
He's always willing to set a sinner free (set a sinner free)
The Lord is always accepting of those seeking redemption and forgiveness.
He'll save your soul and he'll make you whole
The Lord can grant peace and completeness to those who seek salvation.
But I don't see no angels comin' down
Despite the Lord's kindness, the singer doesn't see any immediate positive change coming from it.
Shinin' their light on you and me.
The artist doesn't feel as though they are being offered any divine guidance or intervention.
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.