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)
One Night Of Sin
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is what I'm now paying for
The things I did and I saw
Would make the earth stand still
Don't call my name
It makes me feel so ashamed
I lost my sweet helping hand
I got myself to blame
Ain't never did no wrong
But now I know that very quiet life
Has cost me nothing but harm
One night of sin, yeah
Is what I'm now paying for
The things I did and I saw
Would make the earth stand still
Always lived, very quiet life
Ain't never did no wrong
But now I know that very quiet life
Has cost me nothing but harm
One night of sin, yeah
Is what I'm now paying for
The things I did and I saw
Would make the earth stand still
The song "One Night Of Sin" by Joe Cocker tells the story of a man who is paying the consequences of his actions from one night of indulgence. He is haunted by the memories of the things he did and saw, which would make the earth stand still. The main character is full of regret and shame, as he lost his sweet helping hand and now has only himself to blame.
The lyrics paint a picture of a man who lived a very quiet life and never did any wrong, but that one night of sin cost him everything. He now sees that his very quiet life has cost him nothing but harm, and he must live with the consequences of his actions. This song is a cautionary tale for anyone who may be tempted to engage in reckless behavior, as the consequences can be severe and far-reaching.
Overall, "One Night Of Sin" is a powerful song that reminds us to be mindful of our actions, as they can have lasting effects on our lives and the lives of those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
One night of sin, yeah
I engaged in a sinful act one night which has brought me regret
Is what I'm now paying for
I'm now experiencing consequences for that one sinful act
The things I did and I saw
The actions and sights I experienced that one night were questionable and potentially immoral
Would make the earth stand still
Such behavior was so scandalous that it could have frozen the world in shock
Don't call my name
I feel guilty for what I've done, and hearing my name spoken aloud only serves to remind me of that guilt
It makes me feel so ashamed
The reminder of my wrongdoing brings great shame and embarrassment
I lost my sweet helping hand
I lost the person who supported and helped me in life due to my actions
I got myself to blame
I acknowledge that I'm responsible for my current hardships and loss
Always lived, very quiet life
I've lived a generally quiet and peaceful existence, free from trouble
Ain't never did no wrong
I've never intentionally caused harm and have tried to live an upstanding life
But now I know that very quiet life
However, I'm coming to understand that a quiet life has its own pitfalls and drawbacks
Has cost me nothing but harm
In fact, this peaceful life has ultimately led to my current negative circumstances and distress
One night of sin, yeah
I can't escape the regret of that one sinful night
Is what I'm now paying for
My current misfortune is a direct result of that one fateful night
The things I did and I saw
I can't forget the morally questionable actions and sights that I experienced
Would make the earth stand still
The shock of what occurred that night was so immense that it could have stopped the world from turning
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANITA STEIMAN, DAVE BARTHOLOMEW, PEARL KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind