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)
Long As I Can See The Light
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
‘Cause I feel I’ve got to move
Though I’m goin’, goin’
I’ll be comin’ home soon
Long as I can see the light
Pack my bags and let's get moving
‘Cause I’m bound to drift a while
You don’t have to worry about me, no
Long as I can see the light
Guess, I’ve got that old travelin’ bone
Thought I feelin’, leavin’ alone
But I won’t
Won’t be losin’ my way, no
Long as I can see the light
Won’t you play that thing for me right now?
Put a candle in the window
‘Cause I feel I’ve got to move
‘Cause I’m goin’, goin’
I’ll be coming home soon
Long as I can see the light
Long as I can see the light
Long as I can see the light
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's song "Long As I Can See The Light" can be interpreted to depict a person who wishes to leave their current situation and travel alone. However, despite this, there is a sense of comfort in knowing that they will always have a way back home, as long as they can see the light in the window. The singer seems to have a yearning to explore new places, but the comfort of familiarity and the knowledge that someone is waiting for them provides them with a sense of security.
The first verse depicts the singer getting ready to leave for their journey. They mention that they feel they have to move, but they will be coming home soon. The second verse depicts them packing their bags and giving reassurance to their loved ones that they need not worry about them. The line, "guess I've got that old traveling bone" speaks to the singer's innate need to travel and explore. The third verse speaks to the idea that while they may feel lost at times, as long as they can see the light, they will find their way back home. The final verse is an appeal for someone to play a musical instrument, perhaps providing some comfort and company as they continue on their journey.
Overall, the lyrics of "Long As I Can See The Light" depict the desire for adventure and exploration, while at the same time providing comfort in the knowledge that home and safety are always just within reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Put a candle in the window
I sense it's time for me to leave, so please place a candle in the window to guide me back home once my journey is done.
‘Cause I feel I’ve got to move
I have a driving urge to go somewhere else, and it's time for me to act on that feeling.
Though I’m goin’, goin’
I am leaving, and I won't be coming back for a while.
I’ll be comin’ home soon
Despite my departure, I promise to return home as soon as I can.
Long as I can see the light
As long as I have a sense of direction and purpose, I believe that I can find my way back home.
Pack my bags and let's get moving
I need to prepare myself for the journey, so let's pack my bags and start moving towards my destination.
‘Cause I’m bound to drift a while
I know that I will be wandering for a bit before I find some stability in my new surroundings.
You don’t have to worry about me, no
Please don't worry about my safety or well-being - I'll be just fine on my own.
Guess, I’ve got that old travelin’ bone
I seem to have an innate desire to travel and explore, and that urge has kicked in once again.
Thought I feelin’, leavin’ alone
Although I may feel lonely and scared about leaving, I know that I have to do this on my own.
But I won’t
I may feel hesitant, but I won't let my fear stop me from pursuing my dreams.
Won’t be losin’ my way, no
I'm confident that I won't get lost or lose sight of my goals as long as I stay focused and keep moving forward.
Won’t you play that thing for me right now?
I need some comfort and reassurance right now, so could you play some music for me to help ease my nerves?
Long as I can see the light
As long as I have a sense of direction and purpose, I believe that I can find my way back home.
Long as I can see the light
As long as I have a sense of direction and purpose, I believe that I can find my way back home.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind