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)
Performance
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're through I will take you home
To a place where the water's always fresh and cool
I will lay you down, take off your shoes
Yes, the curtain is about to take your place
There's that sad, almost grin upon your face
Cause you know you've done your best
As they watch you fall down to your knees
They don't know that you're praying to please
They don't see the little angel at your back with a star
The only one who knows exactly who you are
You're a thing that makes music they don't understand
And they cheer as you carry out your endless plan
You are weary but you must, it's the only thing you trust
As you live you've got to give
Your performance is almost over
When you're through I will take you home
You're a ghost that I can see, you're the other part of me
Now honey I will take care of you
Cause you know you've done your best
Now honey leave the rest to me and I'll take care of you
The song "Performance" by Joe Cocker is a poignant and heartfelt tribute to the struggles of an artist. The lyrics speak to the emotional toll that performing can take on someone, and the way in which others often fail to see the true depths of that struggle. Cocker sings of a performer whose "performance is almost over," and who is clearly feeling drained and exhausted by the demands placed upon them. Yet despite this weariness, the performer must continue, because it's the "only thing" they trust, the only thing that gives their life meaning.
The lyrics suggest that despite the crowds cheering and the adulation of fans, this performer is essentially alone in their experience. They must carry out their "endless plan" even when they are "weary." The song's narrator, speaking to the performer, promises to take care of them once the performance is over, to take them to a place where "the water's always fresh and cool," and to relieve them of the burden they are carrying.
The final lines of the song, in which the performer is identified as a "ghost" that the singer can see, and the "other part" of themselves, suggest a deep emotional connection between the two, and hint at the possibility of redemption and healing for the performer once the performance is over.
Line by Line Meaning
Your performance is almost over
The time for your musical act is coming to an end
When you're through I will take you home
Once the show is done, I'll escort you back to our abode
To a place where the water's always fresh and cool
Our home is an oasis of serenity with crisp and refreshing water
I will lay you down, take off your shoes
I'll make sure you're comfortable by laying you down and removing your shoes
Yes, the curtain is about to take your place
The curtain is about to fall, signaling the end of your performance
There's that sad, almost grin upon your face
You appear to have mixed emotions, as if you're both happy and sad about the end of your act
Cause you know you've done your best
You're content since you gave it your all
Now honey leave the rest to me and I'll take care of you
Don't worry, I've got you covered and will take care of you after the show
As they watch you fall down to your knees
As people observe you, you kneel down
They don't know that you're praying to please
The onlookers are unaware that you're beseeching for their happiness
They don't see the little angel at your back with a star
The spectators can't see the guardian angel at your back holding a star
The only one who knows exactly who you are
The only being who fully understands and knows you is the guardian angel
You're a thing that makes music they don't understand
People don't always comprehend or appreciate the type of music you create
And they cheer as you carry out your endless plan
Despite their limited comprehension, they applaud you as you execute your unending musical journey
You are weary but you must, it's the only thing you trust
Although you're tired, you still have to play music since it's the only thing you're confident in
As you live you've got to give
In life, it's essential to give it your all
You're a ghost that I can see, you're the other part of me
You are someone I can perceive, akin to being the missing piece of me
Now honey I will take care of you
I'll make sure you're well taken care of
Cause you know you've done your best
Since you gave it your all, you can rest assured that you did your best
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind