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)
Wasted Years
Joe Cocker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makin' my dream come true
I guess you could say
I've paid some dues
I can't take it with me
But neither can you
What am I gonna do
Oh Lord, what am I gonna do
I've spent a long time
Singin' the blues
And all of the sad songs that I knew
The music's still waitin'
To make its debut
What am I gonna do
Oh Lord, what am I gonna do
Wasted years, where are they comin' to
Precious time, where's it all goin'
All the melodies, peaceful harmony
I thought I could never lose
Oh Lord, I thought I could never lose
Music make you laugh
It'll make you cry
My music take you high
Music take you low and lets you go
Up to the sky so high, so high
Wasted years, where are the comin' to
Precious time, where's it all goin'
All the memories comin' back at me
I thought I could never lose
Oh Lord, what am I gonna do.
The lyrics of Joe Cocker's "Wasted Years" explore themes of regret and reflection, as the singer takes stock of their life and considers the passing of time. The first verse acknowledges the hard work and sacrifices that the singer has made in pursuit of their dreams, but recognizes that ultimately, material possessions cannot be taken with them beyond life. The second verse focuses on the music that the singer has created and performed, suggesting that while it has yet to receive the recognition it deserves, it has the potential to touch listeners deeply. The chorus repeats the phrase "wasted years," emphasizing the singer's sense of having lost time, and expresses a longing for the past and a fear of the unknown future.
The melancholic tone of the lyrics is underscored by the soulful, bluesy instrumentation of the song, which features electric guitar, piano, and a prominent horn section. Cocker's distinctive voice adds emotional depth to the lyrics, with his raspy, rough-edged vocals conveying the pain and regret of the singer. The bridge of the song highlights the transformative power of music, suggesting that it can evoke a range of emotions and transport listeners to another realm.
Overall, "Wasted Years" is a poignant rumination on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of one's time. It encourages listeners to pursue their passions and live fully in the present, while also acknowledging the weight of past mistakes and missed opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
I've spent a long time
Makin' my dream come true
I've dedicated a significant amount of time to achieving my dreams.
I guess you could say
I've paid some dues
I have faced challenges and hardships in the pursuit of my dreams.
I can't take it with me
But neither can you
When I die, I am unable to take any of my material possessions with me, just as no one else can.
What am I gonna do
Oh Lord, what am I gonna do
I am unsure of my next steps in life and seeking guidance from a higher power.
Singin' the blues
And all of the sad songs that I knew
I have spent considerable time expressing my emotions through melancholic music.
The music's still waitin'
To make its debut
I have yet to share some of my musical creations with the world.
Wasted years, where are they comin' to
Precious time, where's it all goin'
I am reflecting on how quickly time passes, wondering what my accomplishments mean and where my life is headed.
All the melodies, peaceful harmony
I thought I could never lose
The beauty of music and the joy it brings to my life are things I thought could never disappear.
Music make you laugh
It'll make you cry
My music take you high
Music take you low and lets you go
Up to the sky so high, so high
Music touches people at an emotional level, it can bring out laughter or tears and transport them to a higher state of consciousness.
All the memories comin' back at me
I thought I could never lose
Oh Lord, what am I gonna do.
I am reminiscing on past memories that I cherish and now feeling lost, wondering how to move forward.
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.