With a Little Help from My Friends

Joe Cocker

About With a Little Help from My Friends

"With a Little Help from My Friends" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and sung by drummer Ringo Starr, his lead vocal for the album. As the second track on the album, it segues from the applause of the title track. A subsequent recording of the track by Joe Cocker became a hit single in 1968 and an anthem for the Woodstock era. In 1978, the Beatles' recording, paired with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", was reissued as a single, and peaked at number 63 in Britain and number 71 in the United States. Starr has regularly performed the song in concert as a solo artist. "With a Little Help from My Friends" was ranked number 311 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 


Year:
1987
5:04
98 

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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

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Joe Cocker

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE (born 20 May 1944) is an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles. more »

4 fans

Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Original creators
"With a Little Help from My Friends" was originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for the Beatles' 1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".
Featured Artist
The song was sung by Ringo Starr in the Beatles' version, where he portrayed the character "Billy Shears".
Joe Cocker's version
Although the song was originally performed by the Beatles, it reached new heights of fame when it was covered by Joe Cocker in 1968 – his version is often considered one of the greatest cover songs.
Change in Tempo
Unlike the Beatles' upbeat and relatively fast tempo, Joe Cocker's version of the song has a slower, more soulful rendition.
Notable Performance
Joe Cocker's rendition of "With a Little Help from My Friends" is famous for his performance at Woodstock in 1969.
Chart Success
Cocker's version of the song hit number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1968.
TV Theme Song
Joe Cocker's version was later used as the theme song for the American television series "The Wonder Years".
Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2001, the Beatles' version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Live Performance by Beatles
The Beatles never performed this song live, however, it continues to be a staple in Ringo Starr's live performances with his All-Starr Band.
Special Tribute
At the 2014 Grammy Awards, surviving members of the Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, performed a special version of the song as a tribute to their late bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison.
Different Song Structures
The Beatles' and Joe Cocker's versions differ significantly not just in tempo and style, but also in structure. Cocker's version begins with a piano solo and excludes the Beatles' repeated chorus at the end.
Ringo Starr's Fear
Owing to his self-confessed lack of singing talent, Ringo Starr was initially very apprehensive about singing this song. He was afraid he would not hit the high notes.
Celebrity Backup Singers in Cocker's version
In Joe Cocker's Woodstock performance, backup vocals were provided by a group of esteemed musicians which included future rock legend Janis Joplin.
Lennon-McCartney Songwriting
Despite being released as a Lennon-McCartney song, "With a Little Help from My Friends" is one of the few Beatles' songs where all four members contributed to the composition.

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    With a Little Help from My Friends

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1968

    Billboard #68


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