John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English si… Read Full Bio ↴John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of songs written by other song writers, though he composed a number of songs for most of his albums as well, often in conjunction with songwriting partner Chris Stainton.

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)

Not Too Young To Die Of A Broken Heart
Joe Cocker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She came in through the bathroom window
Protected by a silver spoon
But now she sucks her thumb and wonders
By the banks of her own lagoon

She said she'd always been a dancer
She worked at fifteen clubs a day
And though I thought that I knew the answer

I just knew what I could not say

Didn't anybody tell her
Didn't anybody see
Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Tuesday's on the phone to me

And so I quit the police department
To get myself a steady job
Once she tried her best to help me
She could steal, but she could not rob

Didn't anybody tell her
Oh, didn't anybody see
Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Tuesday's on the phone to me

Didn't anybody tell her
Whoa, didn't anybody see

Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Tuesday's on the phone to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Joe Cocker's "Not Too Young to Die of a Broken Heart" paint a picture of a mysterious woman who comes from a privileged background but seems to be lost and alone. The first verse describes how she entered the singer's life through the bathroom window, which suggests something illicit or secretive. She is characterized as being protected by a silver spoon, indicating that she has had a privileged upbringing. However, the singer observes that she now sucks her thumb and wonders by the banks of her own lagoon. This suggests that despite her privileged background, she is now struggling and feeling disconnected.

In the second verse, the woman tells the singer that she has always been a dancer and has worked at fifteen clubs a day. Although the singer thinks he knows the answer to her troubles, he is unable to articulate it. Then, in the chorus, he wonders if anyone has tried to help her, as Sunday's on the phone to Monday and Tuesday's on the phone to him. This suggests that the woman is reaching out for help or connection, but is still struggling to find it.

In the final verse, the singer describes how he quit the police department to get a steady job. The woman tried to help him, but could only steal and not rob. This suggests that although she may have some criminal tendencies, she ultimately cannot provide what the singer needs to succeed. The final chorus repeats the question of whether anyone has tried to help her and highlights the sense of disconnect and loneliness that pervades the song.

Overall, "Not Too Young to Die of a Broken Heart" is a poignant meditation on the difficulties of connecting with others and finding meaning in life, even for those who seemingly have everything.

Line by Line Meaning

She came in through the bathroom window
She entered the situation in a sneaky and unnoticed way

Protected by a silver spoon
She was born into a wealthy and privileged family

But now she sucks her thumb and wonders
She is now struggling and confused

By the banks of her own lagoon
She is trapped in her own stagnant and isolated world

She said she'd always been a dancer
She claimed to have a strong understanding and confidence about herself

She worked at fifteen clubs a day
She was constantly on the move, hustling to survive

And though I thought that I knew the answer
Even though I assumed I knew what was going on

I just knew what I could not say
I was aware of the problem, but couldn't express it

Didn't anybody tell her
Did nobody give her advice or guidance?

Didn't anybody see
Did nobody notice the warning signs?

Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Time keeps moving forward, days blend together