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)
River's Invitation
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've stayed in every town
Because I'm trying to find my baby
But no one has seen her around
And you know which way I'm headed
If my baby can't be found
I spoke to the river
It said man you look so lonely
You look full of misery
And if you can't find your baby
Come and make your home with me
Well, I don't want to leave her
Because I know she's still alive
And someday I'm going to find her
And I'll take her for a ride
And we'll spend our days forever
In our home beneath the tide.
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's song 'River's Invitation' depict a man's desperate search for his lost love. He has traveled across the country and stayed in every town in his quest to find her, but his efforts have been in vain as no one seems to have seen her. The man is adamant about finding his beloved and has a clear direction of where he is headed, even if she can't be found. This shows his unwavering commitment to the cause, and he's not willing to give up on the search until he finds her.
In his loneliness and misery, the man speaks to the river, and the river speaks back to him. The river shows compassion and offers to take him in if he can't find his baby. The man is so heartbroken that he considers making his home in the river if he is unable to locate his love. He insists on continuing his search because he knows that his beloved is still alive, and someday he'll find her. The man has a grand plan to reunite with his love and spend their days together in their home beneath the tide.
Overall, the lyrics highlight the theme of love and the lengths one would go through to find and keep love. The man's determination and commitment to finding his beloved show just how important and priceless love is to humans.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been all across the country
I have traveled far and wide, visiting every town.
And I've stayed in every town
I have lived in each of these towns for a period of time.
Because I'm trying to find my baby
I am searching for my significant other, who I love deeply.
But no one has seen her around
I have been unsuccessful in finding her whereabouts so far.
And you know which way I'm headed
My plans and direction are dictated by the outcome of my search.
If my baby can't be found
In the event that I fail to find my lover.
I spoke to the river
I engaged in conversation with the river.
And the river spoke back to me
The river responded to me and we began to communicate.
It said man you look so lonely
The river expressed its observation that I appeared sad and isolated.
You look full of misery
The river noted that I was exhibiting great discomfort and unhappiness.
And if you can't find your baby
In the absence of locating my lover.
Come and make your home with me
The river offered me a place to stay and belong.
Well, I don't want to leave her
I do not desire to part ways with my significant other.
Because I know she's still alive
I hold onto hope that my lover is still living.
And someday I'm going to find her
I am confident that eventually, I will reunite with my significant other.
And I'll take her for a ride
We will go on an adventure together.
And we'll spend our days forever
We will live the rest of our lives together in peace and harmony.
In our home beneath the tide.
We will settle in a tranquil abode under the water's surface.
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
František Růžička
Joe Cocker is absolutly great singer! I love his songs!
henk paulich
Joe cocker is onderschat. Ik vrijde met een mooi indisch meisje in adam en hij song with a little help from my friends. jammer dat meisje ............... ik ben haar niet vergeten. D.