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.
You Send Me
Sam Cooke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you send me
Darling, you send me
Honest, you do, honest, you do
Honest, you do, whoa
You thrill me
I know you, you, you thrill me
Honest, you do
At first I thought it was infatuation
But, woo, it's lasted so long
Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home, whoa
You, you, you, you send me
I know you send me
I know you send me
Honest you do
Whoa-oh-oh, whenever I'm with you
I know, I know, I know when I'm near you
Mm hmm, mmm hmm, honest, you do, honest, you do
Whoa-oh-oh, I know-oh-oh-oh
I know, I know, I know, when you hold me
Whoa, whenever you kiss me
Mm hmm, mm hmm, honest you do
At first I thought it was infatuation
But, woo, it's lasted so long
Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home
I know, I know, I know you send me
I know you send me
Whoa, you, you, you, you send me
Honest you do
Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" is a classic love song about the overwhelming feelings of love and affection that one feels towards their significant other. The repetitive use of phrases like "you thrill me" and "you send me" suggest that the singer is overjoyed and excited by their partner, they feel a rush of emotions that they cannot control. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been with their partner for some time, but the love they share only continues to grow. The line "at first I thought it was infatuation, but woo, it's lasted so long," suggests that the singer has experienced a deepening of their feelings over time and they have come to realize that their love is not just a fleeting moment.
The song also hints at the idea of wanting to marry the person you love and take them home. These lyrics suggest a sense of commitment and a desire for a long-term relationship with his lover. The sense of deep attachment is revealed when Cooke sings "whenever I'm with you, I know when I'm near you," establishing that the singer has become attuned to his partner's presence and feelings. The sentimentality of the song is made all the more powerful by the emotion in Cooke's voice, which conveys a genuine sense of all-consuming passion.
Overall, "You Send Me" is a romantic ballad that expresses the exhilaration and joy that comes with being deeply in love. The lyrics and Cooke's delivery merge beautifully to convey the intensity of emotions that two people can share in a blossoming relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling, you send me
The person addressed in the song is sending the singer feelings of love and affection.
I know you send me
The singer is certain that the person addressed is in fact sending them these feelings.
Honest, you do, honest, you do
The singer reassures themselves that the feelings being sent are genuine.
You thrill me
The person addressed in the song excites the singer and brings them joy.
I know you, you, you thrill me
The singer emphasizes how certain they are of the thrill they receive from the person addressed.
At first I thought it was infatuation
The singer originally believed that their feelings were just a passing crush.
But, woo, it's lasted so long
However, those feelings have persisted and become much deeper.
Now I find myself wanting
The singer expresses a desire for a committed and serious relationship.
To marry you and take you home, whoa
The singer envisions building a life together with the person addressed, either literally or figuratively.
Whoa-oh-oh, whenever I'm with you
The singer experiences intense emotions whenever they are with the person addressed, likely feelings of love and happiness.
I know, I know, I know when I'm near you
The singer has a strong, intuitive sense of when they are in close proximity to the person addressed, hinting at a deep emotional connection.
Whenever you kiss me
The singer is deeply affected by physical intimacy with the person addressed.
Mm hmm, mm hmm, honest you do
The singer reaffirms that the feelings being sent are genuine and truthful.
Whoa, you, you, you, you send me
The person addressed has a profound effect on the singer's emotions and state of being.
Honest you do
The sincerity and truthfulness of the person addressed's feelings is reiterated.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@quinosm
Darling, you send me
I know you send me
Darling, you send me
Honest, you do, honest, you do
Honest, you do, whoa
You thrill me
I know you, you, you thrill me
Darling, you, you, you, you thrill me
Honest, you do
At first I thought it was infatuation
But, woo, it's lasted so long
Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home, whoa
You, you, you, you send me
I know you send me
I know you send me
Honest you do
Whoa-oh-oh, whenever I'm with you
I know, I know, I know when I'm near you
Mm hmm, mmm hmm, honest, you do, honest, you do
Whoa-oh-oh, I know-oh-oh-oh
I know, I know, I know, when you hold me
Whoa, whenever you kiss me
Mm hmm, mm hmm, honest you do
At first I thought it was infatuation
But, woo, it's lasted so long
Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home
I know, I know, I know you send me
I know you send me
Whoa, you, you, you, you send me
Honest you do
@shubulaka27
Halfway into hearing this song for the first time; a single tear rolls down my cheek. That was the confirmation that I found the song for our first dance as husband and wife; January 12th 2020. Eternally grateful to you, Mr Cooke.
@JDCPA80
Congrats man and God bless. Keep Him in your focus and y’all will be blessed forever.
@MrLacywest
Ahmed Sam Cooke has many more that's good This Guy had his hand on the pulse with love songs.
@littlefroe3316
Congrats
@doowoppyify
Then, you should listen to the rest of his collection, he is the king of soul!
@sketedavisonsson402
Congrats
@samhathaway2251
I remember listening to a Sam Cooke cassette on repeat as a kid and I've never stopped loving his music. Still my favorite to sing.
@starleemartin1961
I seriously thank my parents for influencing my love for music, especially Sam Cooke's music. I can still remember hearing this on a record player as my parents swirled around the house with me crawling behind them. Man, Sam's voice is the only one that could melt me like butter. What sadness it is to know he was taken from us.
@Saltine_American
I just looked into his death and now I’m sad 😞 I’m not one to scream racism but it was 1964 and it was a white woman that killed him because he was angry. Unless he lunged or put his hands on her it’s the furthest thing from “justifiable homicide”. Their description of what he was wearing seems like an over the top embellishment to sell the story that he was unhinged. The lies never end with these “people”.
@deborahharris9616
Sam Cooke was one of the greatest talents of the day. His greatness is evident due to the fact that HE IS STILL BEING DISCOVERED TODAY!!!!