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.
Smoke Rings
Sam Cooke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do they do
Those circles of blue and white?
Oh! why do they seem to pictures a dream above
Then why do they fade my phantom parade of love?
Where do they end, the smoke rings I send on high?
Where are they hurled
Oh! I'd give my life to laugh at this strife below
I'd be a king I'd follow each ring I blow
Puff puff puff puff your cares away
Puff puff puff night and day
Blow blow them into air silky little rings
Blow, blow them ev'ry where give your troubles wings
What do they tell and what is the spell they cast
Some of them fall and seem to recall the past
But most of them rise away to the skies of blue
Oh little smoke rings I love
"Smoke Rings" by Sam Cooke is a melancholic love ballad that explores the beauty and transience of smoke rings. The song begins with Sam Cooke asking "Where do they go, the smoke rings I blow each night? What do they do, those circles of blue and white?" In this opening stanza, he ponders the fleeting nature of smoke rings, which can symbolize both the transience of love and the evanescence of life itself. He also wonders why smoke rings seem to "picture a dream above," which may suggest that he associates smoke rings with hope, beauty, and transcendence.
The second verse adds to this theme of longing and transience. Cooke asks, "Where do they end, the smoke rings I send on high? Where are they hurled when they've kissed the world goodbye?" The image of smoke rings being "hurled" away reinforces the notion that they are ephemeral and cannot be held onto. The final lines of the verse reveal Cooke's yearning for a life free from strife: "Oh, I'd give my life to laugh at this strife below, I'd be a king, I'd follow each ring I blow." Here, he suggests that smoke rings offer a kind of escape from the hardships of life, an opportunity to transcend the mundane and enter a realm of pure beauty.
The chorus of "Smoke Rings" reinforces this theme of escape, with Cooke singing, "Puff, puff, puff your cares away, puff, puff, puff night and day/ Blow, blow them into air, silky little rings/ Blow, blow them everywhere, give your troubles wings." Here, the act of blowing smoke rings is presented as a way of releasing one's troubles and entering a state of blissful detachment. The final lines of the chorus suggest that smoke rings have a kind of magic power to transport us to a better place: "What do they tell and what is the spell they cast?/ Some of them fall and seem to recall the past/ But most of them rise away to the skies of blue/ Oh, little smoke rings, I love you."
Overall, "Smoke Rings" is a wistful and poetic meditation on the ephemeral beauty of smoke rings and their power to lift us out of the hardships of life. The song is a testament to Cooke's skill as a songwriter, with its haunting melody and evocative lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do they go, the smoke rings I blow each night
Where do the physical manifestations of my thoughts disappear to? Specifically, where do the small clouds of tobacco smoke created by my mouth each night go?
What do they do, those circles of blue and white?
What is the meaning of these blue and white rings? What is the effect of their presence?
Oh why do they seem to pictures a dream above
Why do these rings take on a dreamlike quality and seem to represent something higher or more abstract?
Then why do they fade my phantom parade of love?
If these smoke rings represent something significant, why do they eventually disappear and leave behind my feelings of love and happiness as something that has passed?
Where do they end, the smoke rings I send on high?
Where do these symbols of my thoughts go after they leave my immediate vicinity and head upwards into the sky?
Where are they hurled when they've kissed the world goodbye!
Once these rings have left my immediate surrounding, where do they go? What happens to them?
Oh I'd give my life to laugh at this strife below
I would be willing to sacrifice everything I have to escape the struggles and challenges that life presents me with.
I'd be a king I'd follow each ring I blow
If I could follow the path of my own thoughts in physical form, I would be able to regain a sense of control and instill order in my life.
Puff puff puff puff your cares away
Take long, deep drags of your pipe and clear your head of negative thoughts and emotions.
Puff puff puff night and day
Whether it be during the day or at night, smoking can be an effective way to eliminate personal stress and anxiety.
Blow blow them into air silky little rings
Exhale each drag of smoke into the air, releasing it from your body and allowing it to take on a life of its own.
Blow, blow them ev'ry where give your troubles wings
Send your smoke in every direction, allowing your negativity and worry to be carried away on the wind.
What do they tell and what is the spell they cast
What do these smoke rings say about my thoughts and emotions? What is the effect that they have on me and those around me?
Some of them fall and seem to recall the past
Some smoke rings appear to take on a physical form, almost as if they are trying to remind me of the history of my own personal struggles and challenges.
But most of them rise away to the skies of blue
The majority of smoke rings that I exhale will drift away and eventually dissipate, much like my own personal struggles and challenges.
Oh little smoke rings I love
Despite their fleeting nature, I am still drawn to the beauty and lightness of these smoke rings, representing a temporary escape from the heaviness of everyday life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GENE GIFFORD, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@laurawomack-cromartie8990
Whoever uploaded these Sam Cooke's songs - THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART ... I have almost all of his songs in albums (old school). Now I can listen to them on my computer ... Again Thanks .. He is the greatest singer of my time and our younger singers today could learn from a master.
@RootsMelody
You are so Very welcomed!! He is my all time favorite singer! The man who invented soul music 🎼 🙏🏾👑❤️
@jesserai
here's to everyone of you good hearted people who never harmed a soul in their lives, whose nightly respite from this world where 2+2=5 can put you in prison and have your family broken up. keep being you, keep your individual mind no matter what people say, and just relax for a little while. peace to you!
@kingmarkariel
Im not a smoker, but this is one of my favorite Sam Cook songs. It's fantastic.
@1234pouvez
In those days everybody and their Uncle Fred smoked. I've never smoked but I love his rendition of the beautiful song. He could have sung the phone book, and given it special meaning.
@Feelin2nice
A great song by one of the greatest singers of the past 70 years.
@Feelin2nice
I keep listening to this song, day after day, over and over. Something about it... it's just perfection in a song. It's so smooth and the lyrics are on point. I don't smoke but it sure makes me want to hold a cigarette and pretend. :-)
@ObboMohammed
O Sam, he just breaths SOUL ...
@Mr1223able
blowin a L rite now while this plays such a perfect fit my favorite singer just so happens to have a song dedicated to smoking
@dchern
what a great tune