On December 11, 1964, Cooke was allegedly shot to death by the manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California at the age of 33. At the time, the courts ruled that Cooke was drunk and distressed, and the manager killed Cooke in what was later ruled a justifiable homicide. Since that time, the circumstances of his death have been widely questioned.
Sam Cooke (he added an "e" onto the end of his name because he thought it added a touch of class) was one of eight children of Rev. Charles and Mrs. Annie Mae Cook. The family moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1933.
Cooke began his musical career as a member of a quartet with his siblings, the Singing Children, followed by a turn as a teenager as a member of the Highway QCs, a gospel group. In 1950, at the age of 19, he joined The Soul Stirrers and achieved significant success and fame within the gospel community.
His first pop single, "Lovable" (1956) was released under the alias of "Dale Cooke," in order to not alienate his fan base; there was a considerable taboo against gospel singers performing secular music. However, the alias failed to hide Cooke's unique and distinctive vocals. No one was fooled. Art Rupe, head of Specialty Records, the label of the Soul Stirrers, gave his blessing for Cooke to record secular music under his real name, but was unhappy about the type of music Cooke and Bumps Blackwell, Cooke's pop producer, were making. Rupe expected Cooke's secular music to be similar to that of another Specialty Records artist, Little Richard. When Rupe walked in on a recording session and heard Cooke covering Gershwin, he was quite upset. After an argument between Rupe and Blackwell, Cooke and Blackwell left the label, and Cooke signed with Keen Records in 1957. His first release was "You Send Me", which spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart but which also had massive mainstream success, spending three weeks at #1 on the Billboard pop chart.
As if a R&B performer writing his own songs and achieving mainstream fame was not innovative enough, Cooke continued to astonish the music business in the 1960s with the founding of his own label, SAR Records, which soon included The Simms Twins, The Valentinos, Bobby Womack, and Johnnie Taylor. Cooke then created a publishing imprint and management firm, then left Keen to sign with RCA. One of his first RCA singles was the hit "Chain Gang." It reached #2 on the Billboard pop chart. This was followed by more hits, including "Sad Mood", "Bring it on Home to Me" (with Lou Rawls on backing vocals), "Another Saturday Night" and "Twistin' the Night Away".
Like most R&B artists of his time, Cooke focused on singles; in all he had 29 top 40 hits on the pop charts, and more on the R&B charts. In spite of this, he released a critically acclaimed blues-inflected LP in 1963, Night Beat. He was known for having written many of the most popular songs of all time in the genre, and is often uncredited for many of them by the general public.
Cooke died at the age of 33 under mysterious circumstances on December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, California. Though the details of the case are still in dispute (see below), it seems he was shot to death by Bertha Franklin, manager of the Hacienda Motel in South Los Angeles, who claimed that he had threatened her, and that she killed him in self-defense. The verdict was justifiable homicide, though many believe that crucial details did not come out in court, or were buried afterward. Cooke was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, California.
Some posthumous releases followed, many of which became hits, including "A Change Is Gonna Come", an early protest song which is generally regarded as his greatest composition.
After Cooke's death, his widow, Barbara, married Bobby Womack. Cooke's daughter, Linda, later married Bobby's brother, Cecil.
The song "A Change Is Gonna Come" was played upon the death of Malcolm X, and was memorably featured in Spike Lee's film Malcolm X. Barack Obama's presidential victory speech paraphrased the song: "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."
Rapper Tupac Shakur references Cooke in a line of the song "Thugz Mansion", and Nas references him in the song "We Major" with Kanye West. The Roots song "Stay Cool" suggests, "I got the soul of a young Sam Cooke". Mike Doughty's song "Sweet Lord in Heaven" evokes the memory of Cooke, as does the Wallflowers 2000 song "Sleepwalker": "Cupid don't draw back your bow, Sam Cooke didn't know what I know". The Irish rock-group Jetplane Landing have a song named "Sam Cooke".
A fictional version of Cooke (portrayed by Paul Mooney) appeared briefly in the 1978 film, The Buddy Holly Story, leaving the stage at the Apollo Theater before Buddy and The Crickets got on. After being featured prominently in the 1985 film Witness, the song "Wonderful World" gained further exposure. "Wonderful World" was featured in one of two concurrently running Levi's Jeans commercials in 1985 and became a hit in the United Kingdom because of this, reaching #2 in re-release. Other notable movies that featured his music are Animal House ("Wonderful World" and "Twistin' the Night Away"), American Werewolf in London, and Cadence ("Chain Gang").
Cooke's songs "Bring It on Home to Me" and "Change is Gonna Come" were both featured in the movie Ali. The opening scene of the movie consisted of a live reenactment of "Bring It on Home to Me".
Posthumous honors
Shortly following his passing, Motown Records released We Remember Sam Cooke, a collection of Cooke covers recorded by The Supremes.
In 1986, Cooke was inducted as a charter member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Cooke was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #16 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
In 2008, Cooke was named the fourth "Greatest Singer of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine."
Covers
John Lennon included a medley of two Cooke songs, "Bring It On Home to Me" and "Send Me Some Lovin'," on his 1975 oldies album, Rock 'n' Roll.
Cooke's songs are covered in a tour-available EP from Decemberists frontman, Colin Meloy. It is the third installment of his solo-tour Colin Meloy Sings...!
Johnny Nash covered the song "Cupid" in 1969 with chart success in the US and UK, and it was included as the B-side on some versions of his 1972 hit single I Can See Clearly Now.
The Animals covered the song "Bring It On Home To Me" in 1965.
Amy Winehouse also covered the song "Cupid" for the BBC Radio 1 album Radio 1 Established 1967.
British soul singer Adele covered the song "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On" as B-side to her single "Chasing Pavements" a bonus track for the Asian release of her studio album 19.
Richard Marx covered "Bring It On Home To Me" and "Wonderful World" during his earlier concerts.
"A Change Is Gonna Come" has been covered several times. Solo, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, The Fifth Dimension, The Neville Brothers, Otis Redding, The Fugees, Cold War Kids, Seal, Bill Frisell, and The Band featuring the vocals of Rick Danko have all recorded versions of the song. Seal's version debuted on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (Billboard, Nov. 2008) shortly after the election of Obama-Biden.
Gene Vincent, who was a big fan and a close personal friend of Sam Cooke's, recorded "Another Saturday Night" in 1964 and "Bring It On Home to Me" shortly before his own death in 1971.
Cat Stevens released his Greatest Hits album (1975) with a cover of Sam Cooke's "Another Saturday Night", only the second song he released that he didn't write himself. He had also released it as a single (July 12, 1974) which reached No.4 in the U.S.
Cooke was an influence on punk vocalist Mia Zapata of The Gits, who honored him with a cover of "A Change Is Gonna Come" on their album Enter: The Conquering Chicken.
In spring 1965 the British group Herman's Hermits reached no. 5 in the US charts and no.7 in the UK charts with their version of "Wonderful World".
In 1978, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, and James Taylor sang "Wonderful World" which hit the Top 40 in the US charts.
In 1966, the now cult 60s British pop show Ready Steady Goes Live, the live version of Ready Steady Go!, devoted a whole programme to a live performance of Soul singer Otis Redding, who regularly covered many of Cooke's songs. One of the highlights was a rousing version of "Shake" on which Redding was joined by British Soul legends Eric Burdon, lead singer of The Animals, and chart topper Chris Farlowe.
Jimmy Buffett covered "Another Saturday Night" on his album Margaritaville Cafe Late Night Menu, in 1993.
Just For You
Sam Cooke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just for you
Just for you
My love
Whoa-whoa-whoa for you
Just for you
My love
I finally realized that it's just for you
When you see me workin' all night long
Workin' till my strength is gone, it's for you
Whoa yes it is
I finally realized it's all for you, yeah
When you see me workin' all the day
Workin' all of my strength away, it's for you
Whoa, yes it is
I finally realized it's all for you
Just for you, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Could it be for you?
Just for you
Just for you
Whoa, just for you, now
Yes my dear, I finally realized
I finally realized that it's just for you
When you see me workin' all the day
Workin' all of my strength away, it's for you
Whoa, yes it is
I finally realized it's all for you, yeah
When you see me spending all of my money
Just to give you a good time honey, it's for you
Whoa I finally realized, I finally realized that it's just for you
It's for you, for nobody else but you, my love
It's for you
Sweetheart, I know it's for you, whoa
It's for you now
Yes my dear, I finally realized
I finally realized that it's just for you
Mmm, whoa whoa, it's just, for you
The song "Just For You" by Sam Cooke is a classic love song dedicated to one person. The chorus repeats the idea that everything he does is solely for this person: "Just for you, my love. Whoa-whoa-whoa for you. Just for you, my love." The verses describe the lengths Cooke goes to prove his love for this person: working all day and all night, spending money to make them happy, and giving his all to ensure their happiness. The bridge emphasizes his realization that everything he does is for the love of his life: "Yes my dear, I finally realized. I finally realized that it's just for you."
The lyrics are straightforward and express a simple but powerful message: Cooke will do anything for the person he loves. The song's emphasis on hard work and dedication to one person is idealistic and romantic. The song's repetition emphasizes just how deeply Cooke feels about his love. The song's melody has a gospel-like quality, emphasizing its sincerity and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Just for you
Exclusively and entirely for your benefit and pleasure
Just for you
Completely focused and directed towards you
Just for you
Intentionally and purposefully done for your sake
My love
My feelings of affection and care towards you
Whoa-whoa-whoa for you
Emphasizing the extent and intensity of my efforts and devotion to you
Just for you
Reiterating the dedicated and selfless nature of my actions towards you
My love
Continuing to express my deep affection and devotion to you
Whoa yes my dear, I finally realized
Acknowledging a new understanding or realization I have come to regarding my actions and feelings towards you
I finally realized that it's just for you
Concluding that all my efforts and actions are motivated by my love for you
When you see me workin' all night long
Noting that my hard work and dedication is observable to you
Workin' till my strength is gone, it's for you
Confirming that my exhaustion and sacrifice is solely for your benefit
Whoa yes it is
Emphasizing the certainty of my realization
I finally realized it's all for you, yeah
Continuing to affirm that all my actions stem from my love for you
When you see me workin' all the day
Noting that my dedication and effort is present throughout the day
Workin' all of my strength away, it's for you
Reiterating that my physical and emotional limits are pushed for your sake
Just for you, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Reaffirming that all my efforts and actions are exclusively for your benefit
Could it be for you?
Asking a rhetorical question to emphasize the obvious answer of my love being for you
Just for you
Restating the exclusive and selfless nature of my actions towards you
Just for you
Continuing to emphasize the dedicated and selfless nature of my actions towards you
Whoa, just for you, now
Further emphasizing that all my actions and efforts are exclusively and intentionally for your benefit
When you see me spending all of my money
Noting that my financial sacrifice and generosity is observable to you
Just to give you a good time honey, it's for you
Confirming that all my spending is solely for your enjoyment and happiness
Whoa I finally realized, I finally realized that it's just for you
Reaffirming my new understanding and conclusion that everything I do is for your sake
It's for you, for nobody else but you, my love
Stressing the exclusive nature of my love and actions towards you
It's for you
Reiterating that all my actions and efforts are solely for your benefit
Sweetheart, I know it's for you, whoa
Addressing you directly to confirm my realization and motivation being solely for your benefit
It's for you now
Emphasizing again that all my dedication and sacrifice is currently and completely for your benefit
Mmm, whoa whoa, it's just, for you
Reemphasizing the entirety of my dedication and sacrifice towards you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: SAM COOKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pitbull1165
HE IS MY FAVORITE!! HIS VOICE IS SOOOO SMOOTH AND TEMPO IS SOOOO SMOOOOOTH!!
@bootney66
Sam really sings this song well! A great example of why he’s considered the greatest singer ever ❤️
@travislittlejohn3944
😊😊😊😊🎉😅🎉😊😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😊🎉
@dpowell468
The greatest singer ever!
@HoneyHoneyBaby
Happy Heavenly Birthday to the greatest singer of all time 💖 Mr. Soul...Sam Cooke 😍 The King of Soul 👑🤴🏽🎙️🙌🏽 R.I.P. 💐🌼🕊️‼️
@jamesagwe2981
Sam is the king of soul
@MsHiflying
Amen brother
@mooneyes3263
He will always be
@DWALK
YESSSSSS
@lonniethompson3731
Agreed ,we aren't the only ones that believe this