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)
Leave a Light On
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel this way again
Like I'm somewhere
Out there lost in time
Miss me while I'm gone
That's all I really want
And the promise of tomorrow
[Chorus]
I believe there's a reason
Why it's meant to be
I believe there's a way
That we can love and still be free
And if your heart's burning bright then
That's all I need
Yes it's right where I need it to be
So leave a light on
Leave a light on for me
We're dancing our own dance
It's a beautiful romance
And nobody can tell us how to move
We are not close enough to touch
That doesn't matter much
'Cause our spirits are connected
And we're not just passing through
[Chorus]
From your window I can see a soul that shines
I close my eyes, but yours still find a way to mine
Deep down, deep down
Every time it rains
I feel this way again
Like I'm somewhere
Out there lost in time
[Chorus]
Leave a light on for me [Repeated several times until fade]
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's song "Leave A Light On" describe a longing for someone who is physically distant but spiritually connected. The repeated phrase "every time it rains" creates a sense of nostalgia and melancholy, as if the rain triggers a memory or feeling. The singer expresses a desire to be missed while gone, not just physically but emotionally. The promise of tomorrow offers hope that they will be reunited and can embrace each other with open arms.
The chorus offers a message of hope and faith in love, saying that even though it can be difficult, it is worth it to believe in the possibility of loving and being free. The line "if your heart's burning bright then that's all I need" emphasizes the importance of emotional connection over physical distance. The final lines of the song repeat the title phrase "leave a light on for me," reinforcing the idea that even when apart, the singer knows that someone is thinking of them.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time it rains
The singer's emotions are affected every time it rains.
I feel this way again
The singer experiences the same emotional state again.
Like I'm somewhere
The singer feels lost and disconnected.
Out there lost in time
The artist feels unmoored from the present moment.
Miss me while I'm gone
The artist desires to be missed while away.
That's all I really want
Being missed while absent is the singer's primary desire.
And the promise of tomorrow
The future holds potential for the singer.
Will fill our open arms
The artist embraces the future possibilities.
I believe there's a reason
The artist has faith in destiny.
Why it's meant to be
The artist trusts in the idea that everything happens for a reason.
I believe there's a way
The singer is optimistic about finding a path forward.
That we can love and still be free
The artist believes that love is not a burden to freedom.
And if your heart's burning bright then
The singer values passion in their partner.
That's all I need
A passionate partner is the singer's only requirement.
Yes it's right where I need it to be
The singer is content with the current state of affairs.
So leave a light on
The artist requests a small token of remembrance.
We're dancing our own dance
The artist and their partner are following their own path.
It's a beautiful romance
The singer finds beauty in their relationship.
And nobody can tell us how to move
The singer feels secure in their choices.
We are not close enough to touch
The distance between the artist and their partner does not matter much.
That doesn't matter much
Physical proximity is not necessary for the artist's emotional connection.
'Cause our spirits are connected
The artist and their partner have a strong spiritual bond.
And we're not just passing through
The singer believes their relationship has a deeper meaning.
From your window I can see a soul that shines
The artist sees something special in their partner.
I close my eyes, but yours still find a way to mine
The singer feels connected to their partner even when they're apart.
Deep down, deep down
The singer feels their connection to their partner on a deep level.
Leave a light on for me
The singer requests a symbolic gesture of remembrance from their partner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SHELLY PEIKEN, JOHN SHANKS, JEFFREY VANSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind