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)
Wake Up Little Susie
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
We've both been sound asleep, wake up, little Susie, and weep
The movie's over, it's four o'clock, and we're in trouble deep
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, well
What are we gonna tell your mama
What are we gonna tell our friends when they say 'ooh-la-la'
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, well
I told your mama that you'd be in by ten
Well Susie baby looks like we goofed again
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, we got to go home
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
The movie wasn't so hot, it didn't have much of a plot
We fell asleep, our goose is cooked, our reputation is shot
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie, well
What are we gonna tell your mama
What are we gonna tell your pa
What are we gonna tell our friends when they say 'ooh-la-la'
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's "Wake Up Little Susie" are a story of two young lovers who have fallen asleep during a movie and have overslept. They are now in trouble and must figure out what to say to Susie's parents and their friends. The urgency in the repeated lines "Wake up, little Susie, wake up" convey the panic and anxiety they are feeling over their predicament.
The song is a classic example of a 1950s teenage love song. It captures the innocence but also the fear and awkwardness of young love. The fear of getting caught by parents, the fear of judgment from friends, and the fear of ruining their reputation are all concerns that resonate with many.
The song's lyrics were written by Boudleaux Bryant and his wife Felice, who also wrote many other hit songs like "Bye Bye Love" for the Everly Brothers. The song was initially offered to the Everly Brothers, but they turned it down. Joe Cocker's version was one of the many covers of the song, which included renditions by Simon and Garfunkel, Don Everly, and Nancy Sinatra.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
Joe Cocker is urging Susie to wake up and become aware of their current situation.
We've both been sound asleep, wake up, little Susie, and weep
Joe Cocker and Susie have been asleep, and upon waking up, Susie should cry realizing the trouble they are in.
The movie's over, it's four o'clock, and we're in trouble deep
The movie they were watching is over, and it is already late, which means they are in a whole lot of trouble.
What are we gonna tell your mama
Joe Cocker is asking what they should say to Susie's mom about the situation.
What are we gonna tell your pa
Joe Cocker is asking what they should say to Susie's dad about the situation.
What are we gonna tell our friends when they say 'ooh-la-la'
Joe Cocker is wondering what they will say to their friends who will inevitably tease them about the situation.
I told your mama that you'd be in by ten
Joe Cocker is informing Susie that he told her mom that Susie would be home by 10 pm.
Well Susie baby looks like we goofed again
Joe Cocker believes that they messed up once again.
The movie wasn't so hot, it didn't have much of a plot
Joe Cocker is admitting that the movie they watched was not very good and did not have a clear storyline.
We fell asleep, our goose is cooked, our reputation is shot
Joe Cocker and Susie fell asleep during the movie, and now their reputation is in jeopardy.
Wake up little Susie
Joe Cocker is once again urging Susie to wake up and face the situation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
stalkingwolf1954
GOD, what a voice joe had back then
John Robertson
Joe could sing ANYTHING
Soul Shouter
Damn! What a voice!
hohum488
Leave to Joe Cocker to give actual feeling to even a cutesy song. I love it!
marili ant
love it!!!
Massimiliano Guidotti
Another rare diamond, wow!
Nick Soulman
It´s Swinging Blues! BRILLIANT!
JC 187
"Wake Up" goes from a gentle suggestion in the original to a desperate, urgent plea under Joe's tutelage!
stalkingwolf1954
@oeyv1, whrere do you find these classics? thanks again