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)
Standing Knee Deep in a River
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could count on one hand
With a left over finger or two
I took them all slip away
Where they are I wish I knew
They roll by just like water
And I guess we never learn
Go through life parched and empty
Sometimes I remember
Sweethearts I've known
Some I've forgotten I suppose
One or two still linger
Oh and I wonder now
Why I ever let them go
They roll by just like water
And I guess we never learn
Go through life parched and empty
Standing knee deep in a river dying of thirst
The sidewalk is crowded
The city rolls by
And I rush through another day
In a world full of strangers
Turn there eyes to me
And just look the other way
They roll by just like water
And I guess we never learn
Go through life parched and empty
Standing knee deep in a river dying of thirst
The song “Standing Knee Deep in a River” by Joe Cocker is a reflective piece that touches upon themes of regret, loneliness, and missed opportunities. The song begins with the singer lamenting the loss of close friends, who have slipped away from his life. He acknowledges that these friendships were limited, as he could count them on one hand with a leftover finger or two. He notes that these friends have rolled by like water, and he wishes he knew where they were. This sense of loss and distance is then further underscored through the use of the metaphor of standing knee deep in a river and dying of thirst, implying that despite being surrounded by plenty, one can still feel empty and unfulfilled.
The second half of the song then delves into the singer’s romantic relationships, past and present. He acknowledges that some of his past partners have been forgotten, but one or two still linger, leading him to question why he ever let them go. Once again, the metaphor of rolling by like water is employed, highlighting the fleeting nature of love and missed connections. The song’s final verse then shifts to the present moment, where the singer is rushing through his day in a world full of strangers. He feels unseen and isolated, as these strangers turn their eyes away from him. This overwhelming sense of loneliness is palpable and drives home the song’s overall message of the transience of life and the importance of connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Friends I could count on
I had very few trustworthy friends
I could count on one hand
I could easily number my close friends
With a left over finger or two
There were barely enough trustworthy friends to count with one hand
I took them all slip away
I lost touch with all of them over time
Where they are I wish I knew
I don't know where they are or what happened to them
They roll by just like water
Time passes quickly and people move on
And I guess we never learn
We don't seem to learn from past experiences
Go through life parched and empty
Life feels unfulfilled and lacking
Standing knee deep in a river dying of thirst
Being surrounded by abundance and yet feeling unsatisfied
Sometimes I remember
Occasionally I think back
Sweethearts I've known
Past romantic partners
Some I've forgotten I suppose
I can't remember some of them anymore
One or two still linger
I still have feelings for a few of them
Oh and I wonder now
I now have questions about my past choices
Why I ever let them go
I regret ending those relationships
The sidewalk is crowded
The streets are full of people
The city rolls by
Life in the city is always moving
And I rush through another day
I hurry through my daily routine
In a world full of strangers
I'm surrounded by people I don't know
Turn there eyes to me
They look at me, but not in a friendly way
And just look the other way
They ignore me or avoid interaction
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUCKY JONES, DICKEY LEE, BOB MCDILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kayeatchley2292
My husband was in a near fatal car accident, his best friend would pull up at our house play this song over and over while he was in the trauma unit! We lived on a lake in SC and he would park where he could see the water. Luckily he pulled thru, but with brain injury! Knee deep is very special to me!
@andydavies5883
JOE COCKER . . . . . A MASTER AT WORK . . . . . RIP
@Mike-iv3hy
My favorite song of
ALL time !
DML
@hag9917
my favorite song. RIP
@cserkeleizsuzsa614
Me too.
@gyulagaram6666
♡
@janicerockwell8417
Kneel and pray !
@stephendraper7414
Great song sung by the late great jo cocker.