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)
Living Without Your Love
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's plain enough to see
Whatever it is, sure
Means a lot to me, oh yeah
I try to turn and walk away
But it does no good, I've gotta stay
This feelin' that you give
You really got a hold on me, yeah, yeah
I can't live without your love
I can't live without your love
I can't live without your love
I don't know what it is you give
But I can't live without your love
Everywhere I see your face
Even though my foolish pride
I must admit I've got
No place to hide, oh no
You're even living in my mind
It's getting to the point where I find
A day without you is like
A long lonely ride, yeah, yeah
You really got a hold on me, yeah, yeah
I can't live without your love
I can't live without your love
I can't live without your love
I don't know what it is you give
But I can't live without your love
Way that you're coming to me
Amazes me to no end
I turn my back on your love
And people tell me now that I look like
I done lost my only friend, yeah
I don't know what it is you give
But I can't live
I don't know what it is you give
But I can't live
I don't know what it is you give
But I can't live without your love, yeah
I can't live without your love
The song "Living Without Your Love" by Joe Cocker is a track about the singer's addiction to love. Joe is unable to leave his relationship despite the problems, as love has become an essential element in his life. He can't resist the attraction he feels for his partner, and no matter how much he tries, he always finds himself coming back to her. He even admits that he's got no place to hide, cementing the fact that the love he feels for his partner has permeated all aspects of his life.
In the lyrics, Joe talks about how people in his life advised him to move on from his partner, but he just can't seem to shake her off. He admits that the mere sight of her face evokes a feeling of love in him, and every moment that he's not with her is a long and lonely ride. Even though he's presumably been hurt in the relationship, he can't deny the hold that love has on him, and the power it has over his life. The chorus emphasizes this point, as he repeats over and over how he can't live without her love. Overall, the song captures the singer's desperate need for the love of his partner, and his seemingly futile efforts to break away from the grip of love over his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know what it is you got
The singer doesn't understand the exact thing that attracts him towards the person.
But it's plain enough to see
Despite not knowing the reason, it's evident that the person means a lot to the singer.
Whatever it is, sure
Without certainty, the singer knows that the attraction he feels is powerful.
Means a lot to me, oh yeah
The affection that the singer feels is immensely significant to him.
I try to turn and walk away
Even though the singer tries to ignore the feeling, he can't seem to ignore the attraction that he feels.
But it does no good, I've gotta stay
Despite struggling to ignore his feelings, the singer ends up giving in to them.
This feelin' that you give
It's the person's action or presence that creates this love in the singer.
Won't let me be, oh no
The singer can't escape the hold that the other person's love has on him.
You really got a hold on me, yeah, yeah
The singer is in deep love with the person and can't control his feelings.
I can't live without your love
The absence of the person's love will make living unbearable for the singer.
I don't know what it is you give
The singer is still uncertain about the exact thing that attracts him towards the person.
But I can't live without your love
The singer is sure that his life would be incomplete without the other person's love.
Everywhere I see your face
The image of the person is constantly present in the singer's mind.
Even though my foolish pride
The singer acknowledges the fact of being foolish to ignore his feelings for the person.
I must admit I've got
The singer realizes that he has no choice but to admit his feelings.
No place to hide, oh no
The singer can't escape his feelings or the person's love.
You're even living in my mind
The person's presence in the singer's thoughts is overwhelming.
It's getting to the point where I find
The singer is finding it increasingly difficult to control his feelings or ignore the other person's presence.
A day without you is like
The singer can't imagine life without the other person since it would be unbearable.
A long lonely ride, yeah, yeah
The absence of the other person's love would make the singer feel lonely and miserable.
Way that you're coming to me
The other person's way of approaching the singer is surprising.
Amazes me to no end
The singer is in awe of the person's actions and feels overwhelmed by them.
I turn my back on your love
The singer may have tried to ignore his feelings or push away the other person's love.
And people tell me now that I look like
People around the singer can tell that he is struggling with his feelings.
I done lost my only friend, yeah
The singer feels like he has lost the only person he can love, giving him an impression of loneliness.
But I can't live without your love, yeah
The singer will still try to live with his feelings since he can't bear the thought of losing the other person's love.
I can't live without your love
The singer is emphatic and admits that he can't live without the other person's love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOUGLAS JAMES, DOUGLAS THOMAS JAMES, MICHAEL BOLTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind