Ah shoot. We just heard that Joe Cocker died. Damn. As soon as we heard the news, his beautiful raspy voice came into our heads singing With a Little Help From My Friends. He turned the classic Beatles’ tune on it’s head and made everyone hear it differently…really hear it. He was wild to watch, as he’d flail and rock, his hands flying around, as though he was being flung around by the very song he was singing, playing it and being played. His performance of it at Woodstock on August 17, 1969, above, is regarded as one of the legendary festival’s most iconic sets.

This song comes to us on the heels of our dear friend Martha Carroll’s sudden passing, and the words resonate deeply as we think of all the acceptance, love and support she gave us, no questions asked, over more than forty years…

What would you think if sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me ?
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song
And I’ll try not to sing out of key.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away
(Does it worry you to be alone ?)
How do I feel by the end of the day,
(Are you sad because you’re on your own ?)

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody
I want somebody to love.

Would you believe in a love at first sight
Yes I’m certain that it happen all the time
What do you see when you turn out the light
I can’t tell you but I know it’s mine,

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody, I just need someone to love
Could it be anybody, I want somebody to love.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
with a little help from my friends.

 

We could not have gotten by without the help of our friend. We’re playing Joe LOUD in her honor.