With A Little Help From My Friends
Joe Cocker (With a Little Help From My Friends - 1969) Lyrics


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What would you do if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
I will try not to sing out of key

Oh, baby I get by (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
All I need is my buddies (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I say I'm gonna get high (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Oh yeah (Ooh)

What do I do when my love is away?
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
No no
How do I feel at the end of the day?
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)
I tell ya I don't get sad no more

(Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Gonna get by with my friends (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna try (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Keep on getting high, oh Lord (Ooh)

(Do you need anybody?)
I need somebody to love
(Could it be anybody?)
All I need is someone
That's just where I'm going, yeah
Somebody knows that's where I'm showing
Baby

(Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Said I'm gonna make it with my friends (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Oh, I'm gonna keep on trying (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'm gonna keep on trying (Ooh)

(Would you believe in a love at first sight?)
I'm certain it happens all the time, yeah
(What do you see when you turn out the light?)
I can't tell you but it sure feels like mine

(Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Don't you know I'm gonna make it with my friends? (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I promised myself I'd get by (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Said I'm gonna try and not work too hard (Ooh)

(Do you need anybody?)
Well I, yeah yeah yeah
(Could it be anybody?)
Oh there's gotta be somebody
Don't treat me wrong Lord
Oh yeah yeah

(Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Said I'm gonna get by with my friends, yeah (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Oh, yes I'm gonna keep trying, now (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Keep on trying with my friends (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Oh, I'm never gonna stop there, oh (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'm gonna keep on trying, yeah yeah (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'm getting high, I'm gonna make time, oh Lord (Ooh)
Gonna get by with my friends




Oh, I'm gonna get on by, yes I'm gonna get on by, my Lord
I'm gonna tell them all about it, I'm gonna tell them all, yeah yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "With A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker is a call for the support of friends in times of need. The lyrics suggest a speaker who's uncertain about his ability to perform, unsure about feelings of love, and perhaps lonely overall. The repeated refrain of "I get by with a little help from my friends" shows the importance of community and shared experiences. The idea that friends can help one to "get high" is a nod to both emotional and physical help--the suggestion being that a supportive community ultimately leads to happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

What would you do if I sang out of tune?
If I'm not singing well, would you still support me?


Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Would you abandon me if I disappoint you?


Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
Listen to me and I'll perform for you


I will try not to sing out of key
I'll do my best to stay on pitch


Oh, baby I get by (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I manage to cope with life thanks to my friends' help


All I need is my buddies (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I don't need anything else but my friends' support


I say I'm gonna get high (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I plan to use drugs, but I'll do it with my friends there for me


Oh yeah (Ooh)
I'm enthusiastic about that prospect


What do I do when my love is away?
How do I cope with the absence of my beloved?


(Does it worry you to be alone?)
(Does that feeling of loneliness scare you as well?)


No no
No, it doesn't worry me anymore


How do I feel at the end of the day?
What's my overall emotional state at the end of the day?


(Are you sad because you're on your own?)
(Do you feel blue because you're in solitude?)


I tell ya I don't get sad no more
I reassure you that I'm not unhappy anymore


Gonna get by with my friends (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'll manage to make it with my friends' assistance


Yeah yeah, I'm gonna try (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'll put effort into achieving my goals with my friends' aid


Keep on getting high, oh Lord (Ooh)
I'll keep using drugs, heaven help me


(Do you need anybody?)
(Do you require anyone's help?)


I need somebody to love
I yearn for someone to love


(Could it be anybody?)
(Is there anybody out there capable of loving me?)


All I need is someone
All I really require is to have someone by my side


That's just where I'm going, yeah
That's my destination, definitely


Somebody knows that's where I'm showing
There's someone out there who knows where I'm headed


Said I'm gonna make it with my friends (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'm confident I can succeed with my buddies' help


Oh, I'm gonna keep on trying (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'll persevere, and my friends will stand by my side


Said I'm gonna try and not work too hard (Ooh)
I'll attempt not to overwork myself in the process


Well I, yeah yeah yeah
Yes, I'm in need


Oh there's gotta be somebody
Somewhere out there, someone must fit the bill


Don't treat me wrong Lord
I pray that person won't wrong me in any way


Said I'm gonna get by with my friends, yeah (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'm sure I can make it with my friends' support


Oh, yes I'm gonna keep trying, now (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Yes, I'll persist, and seek my friend's aid when needed


Keep on trying with my friends (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
Together with my friends, I'll push forward


Oh, I'm never gonna stop there, oh (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I won't give up until I achieve my goals, thanks to my friends


I'm gonna keep on trying, yeah yeah (Ah, with a little help from my friends)
I'll keep persisting and persevere, with my buddy's backing


I'm getting high, I'm gonna make time, oh Lord (Ooh)
I'll use drugs, manage my time, and hope for the best


Gonna get by with my friends
I'll achieve my ambitions in conjunction with my friends


Oh, I'm gonna get on by, yes I'm gonna get on by, my Lord
I will hold fast and go through with it, with God's blessing


I'm gonna tell them all about it, I'm gonna tell them all, yeah yeah
I'll inform everyone and share my story, without question




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@oldsongs6688

This is me and my wife's song , 37 years strong . She was 15 and I was 17 , 4 children and 9 grandchildren. what a beautiful wife and life I have been blessed with

@BTomic-bg7uy

God bless you.

@williamperson5848

That is truly a blessing. I pray for a relationship like that. I'm 67 and I believe my window of opportunity is fading. First Valentine's day l ever spent all alone. I envy you, sorry but I'm also a little jealous of you. But I pray about it everyday and l think God is going to bring me someone. God bless you both l loved this post, it increased my hope...

@thoughtfuldragontears4964

Rock on!!!

@jayneknight7574

Very lucky you xx

@tylerbard2102

​@@williamperson5848 hang in there brother!

36 More Replies...

@bobjohnson62

2024 & Joe still rules! RIP! Thank you for music for a lifetime!

@tiportangeles2696

I still miss Joe, too. I won't feel half as sad as I do now, when Bobby Zimmerman slips into oblivion..

@smokeybob80

Amen

@sarahoefs8296

So glad I seen him in Laughlin NV. 🎉🎉🎉

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