With A Little Help From My Friends

Album: With A Little Help From My Friends (1968)
Charted: 1 68
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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 Writer/s: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TuneCore Japan KK
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 32

  • Steve Quilter from Saddleworth EnglandGrew up with this song, and Whiter Shade of Pale. Got a few connections with the band, Procul Harem. Bobby Harrison was my neighbour just across the road from our family in Brentwood Essex.
  • Ncn In Tx from TxCredit to Chris Stainton (keyboard) for recommending song be done in 2/3 time by Cocker.
  • K.f from LiverpoolThe Beatles did it much better. I suppose I just prefer the original of anything.
  • Jacobi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaJoe was an amazing artist with the grit and singing tenacity of the late great Ray Charles..when he sings, hes trying to communicate his feelings, not to try to emulate anyone else..what a voice..
  • Wolfman Jack from ChicagoAs for this version being better than the original-I love them both, but it kinda helps to have Jimmy Page on guitar.
  • Stan from Staffordshire, EnglandCreedence Clearwater Revival also performed at Woodstock and had a UK #1 hit with 'Bad Moon Rising'.
  • Stella from London, United KingdomI like this version much, much better and I love that Woodstock rendition. It also made me curious as to how it would sound if Bruce Springsteen covered it. Would it be similar?
  • Thomas from Somerville, AlMy very favorite Saturday Night Live performance was Joe singing this song and John Belushi came on stage spoofing Joe with Joe on stage. It was a moment to remember. I used to have a friend, (dead now) that could sing this song exactly like Joe. RIP Johnny!!!
  • S from Deep In The Heart Of Texas, TxIt is said that legendary session singer "Merry Clayton" sang background on this track. (She is also famous for the spine-chilling solo on the Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter" and their version of "Tumblin Dice." She also sang with musicians ranging from Carole King to Tori Amos.
  • Musicmama from New York, NyThis may be the only cover of a Beatles' tune that's actually better than the original. I guess Joe wasn't bound, as the Beatles were, by the concept of the album that contained the original. So he was freer to make it more emotional, and to sing it as a piece that stands on its own.
  • Lucy from Philly, Pajoes a hero! this is an powerful and moving interpretation, i feel like he appriciate his friends much more than in the beatles version which is awesome too...
  • Shannon from Sioux Falls, Sdgreat song, also agree its better than the original.
  • Patrick from Nowhereactually Tommy Eyre AND Stevie Winwood (Blind Faith, Traffic) played organ on the album version of the song.
  • Greg from Oakville, CanadaThis song appeared at the beginning of a Simpsons episode.
  • Aleicia from VancouverThis is the only Beatles cover I can think of that I like better than the original (sorry JPG&R!)
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrSame here Natasha, Chico, CA and James, Vidalia, GA. I watched that show with my family as a kid (about 4-6). I get all worm and comfortable when I think of the show and hear the song. Total utopia in my head. D@MN don't you wish you could be a kid again.
  • Cosmo from Norton, MaI still like the beatles version better
  • Andres Anleu from Guatemala, OtherAwesome song, I think this is the best Beatles' cover ever. I like it better than the original one.
  • Jim from Saginaw, Mijohn belushi sang this song while paradoying Joe Cocker's live performances on SNL
  • Julian from Anaheim, CaDid he perform this on SNL?
  • Steve from Fenton, MoI agree that Cocker's version of the song is almost like a different song, but I think both Cocker's version and the Beatles' version are great. A similar situation exists with Elvis Presley's version of Hound Dog being re-invented from the original and Eric Clapton's two versions of Layla.
  • James from Vidalia, GaJohn Belushi's manic Cocker is an absolute hoot! The old SNL moments when he does this song and falls all over the stage I just about die laughing.

    Glad Wonder Years used this as a theme. Can't wait to get those on DVD.
  • Barry from New York, NcJoe Cocker's most famous live version of this song can be seen in the movie WOODSTOCK. If you look carefully, he looks kind of weird, and that's because someone in the editing room
    (Scorcese???) screwed up and turned his image around. If you watch LET'S GET STONED from Woodstock Diary or The Lost Performances
    videos, you will see Joe how he should be.

    Also during the Joe Cocker sequence you can have a brief glimpse of John Densmore at the side of the stage.


  • Roundabut1983 from Ithaca, NyCorrection: Tommy Eyre played organ on "With a little help from my friends", but was also influenced by Bach. Fisher played on Cocker's cover of Dylan's "Just Like a Woman."
  • Roundabut1983 from Ithaca, NyMathew Fisher (like drummer BJ Wilson, of Procol Harum) played hammond organ (M102) on this track. He also played the famous organ part on "A Whiter Shade of Pale." He had been fooling around with alot of Bach, hense the nature of both works.
  • Max from Manalapan, NjI am not a fan of his other work, but i absolutly love this song. I recently watched Woodstock the movie, and in order to appreciate what he was feelin when he sang this, you have to watch it in the movie. His whole body is into the music. Also, in this version, there are male singers instead of the gospel choir. I think this may be the best Beatle cover.
  • Steve from Hamilton, CanadaI don't think it was a Gospel choir singing background, it was a couple of session singers named Sue and Sunny (Yvonne and Heather Wheatman). The (male) members of The Grease Band took their place on the Woodstock version.
  • Natasha from Chico, CaJoe Cocker's voice is so nice and deep, it reminds me of when i was a kid watchin the opening slide show for the Wonder Years...
  • Anonymous from Chicago, IlThis was the version used for the theme of the TV show, The Wonder Years...i think.
  • Geoff from Adelaide, AustraliaProbably one of the best Beatles covers I can think of. I love what Cocker did with this song and "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window". Cocker also did a great live version of this at Woodstock.
  • Dan from Auckland, New ZealandThe Beatles allegedly sent Joe Cocker a telegram congratulating him for his interpretation of the tune - surely that is least they could have done. Aside from the lyrics this is a very different and far superior song. Cocker probably could have added his own lyrics and credited it to himself.
  • Jon Bates from Birmingham, EnglandThe arrangement is actually in 12/8 - slow blues -and was the result of a Sunday afternoon messing around on the piano (after a lunchtime pub session) at (I think) Chris Stainton's (bass, vox and keyboards) house in Sheffield. UK. I used to share a house with guys who reckon they were there at the time - well they did have Joe Cockers' record collection with his name scrawled on sleeves so its probably true.
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