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Joe Cocker — Darling Be Home Soon
Album: Joe Cocker!
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2151









Released: 1969
Length: 4:41
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Come
And talk of all the things we did today
Here
And laugh about our funny little ways
While we have a few minutes to breathe
Then I know that it's time you must leave

But darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled
For the great relief of having you to talk to

And now
A quarter of my life is almost past
I think I've come to see myself at last
And I see that the time spent confused
Was the time that I spent without you
And I feel myself in bloom

So darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled
For the great relief of having you to talk to

Darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled
For the great relief of having you to talk to

Go
And beat your crazy head against the sky
Try
And see beyond the houses and your eyes
It's ok to shoot the moon

So darling
My darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled
For the great relief of having you to talk to
Comments (200)add comment
 ImaOldman wrote:

Joe managed to take other people's good songs and make them GREAT! 



I was just thinking the EXACT same thing.
Joe managed to take other people's good songs and make them GREAT! 
A great man and a sad loss, way too early.
This is so incredibly good.


JS's - a fine version that all other versions are a tribute to.

 hoppin_bob wrote:

Come on folks!

This is a great song, recorded many times by many folks

This is not even Joe C's best version!!



Great song.  Check out the live version on 'Slade Alive' !
Much better than the original. So full of emotion and feeling. Why is it not on his Greatest Hits albums?
 treatment_bound wrote:

Somewhere, John Sebastian sheds a tear (and gets another royalty check).



Not sure why he would be shedding a tear. Honored to have Joe do such an iconic cover would be more like it (and getting another royalty check).
When this album was released, WNEW 102.7 FM (NYC) used to play it a lot. I was 14yrs old & I bought the album. I've loved it ever since!  Thanx RP!
 Proclivities wrote:

   Perhaps, but people who were fans of "real" music from the 1940s and '50s nostalgically expressed similar grievances about music from the late '60s and early '70s.  



Very well stated!!! We are sounding like our parents, griping the same way that they did!  I'm 66 yrs old.  And ...these damn kids now-a-days! ...Are producing a LOT of great music, if you are open-minded enough to check it out!!!   PS: in 40 years, they will be griping about the "new" music! LOL!
 Proclivities wrote:

   Perhaps, but people who were fans of "real" music from the 1940s and '50s nostalgically expressed similar grievances about music from the late '60s and early '70s.  



See your point where some in all generations may see the current artists as less real than the what they grew up with. But I can also see why one might think that way for the current generation.  There's enough research on current music these days that says the majority of music over time since the last 20 years plus, is getting more and more sounding the same.  For example, you're not going to find an unpredictable chord progression you could find in a Stealy Dan number, in today's music. A lot of pop music has become basically one simple formula of a 3-chord progression that has been repeated over and over again.  
If anyone was asking, my observation today there are still great artist out there, you just may have to look a little harder to find them.
 tinypriest wrote:

Man, you're missing a lot.


And speaking of missing things, if you (meaning everyone) haven't seen "20 Feet From Stardom" I would encourage you to check it out.
Make no mistake about it, John Sebastian was one of the very best songwriters of his generation.
 aspicer wrote:
Never ever need to hear JC ever again.....sorry fans...never got this dude at all?!
 
Man, you're missing a lot.
 brollo wrote:

Love that album - still play it to this day! Saw Slade slay this at the Caird Hall, Dundee in the early 70s.
Good memories 
 
Colston Hall, Bristol, for me.  I thought the balcony was going to come down...  
Joe’s a little insecure and controlling. Probably jealous too.
Great cover! Thanks Joe!
Come on Darlin', Joe can't abide the dawdling!
I know he was a sloppy, self destructive drunk, but he sure had alot of soul...
"Mellow Mix"? Joe Cocker? Really? Don't think of Crazy Joe when the word 'mellow' comes around.
Love to hear Joe - did a few great covers. Thanks for this one!
 A very good cover of a wonderful original.  And a love song without using that word in the title or the lyrics.  
 DaidyBoy wrote:

Exactly.  I bought my first album, on cassette, in the early seventies - "Slade Alive", with a version of this on it.  I loved it.  So everyone can now get off my lawn, too.  
 
Love that album - still play it to this day! Saw Slade slay this at the Caird Hall, Dundee in the early 70s.
Good memories 
One of the first albums I bought as a youth.  Still great.  I love the rawness of it.
A joe cocker song that did not get played too often, amazing
Joe had many special superpowers, but two of them were his ability to choose just the right song to cover and then make it his own. 

And it's a great service to the music fan who gets more mileage out of a song they love.
 LOVE-LOVE-LOVE!!
The Barra MacNeils do a beautiful cover of this too!
I don't think anyone performed covers of songs any better than Joe Cocker.
He not only put his own wonderful spin on so many great songs; but arguably, at times gave us sounds that were equally as good as the originals.  What a wonderful performer!
A loved classic for sure.
 Proclivities wrote:

   People who were fans of "real" music from the 1940s and '50s nostalgically expressed similar grievances about music from the late '60s and early '70s.  
 
Exactly.  I bought my first album, on cassette, in the early seventies - "Slade Alive", with a version of this on it.  I loved it.  So everyone can now get off my lawn, too.  
"dawdled" and "toddled". My English has some weak spots so I had to look that up. 

Well the words rhyme but it's not exactly Shakespeare, is it. 
Somewhere, John Sebastian sheds a tear (and gets another royalty check).
 Steely_D wrote:
Man. From a period where musicians were real, and songs were well written.
 
   Perhaps, but people who were fans of "real" music from the 1940s and '50s nostalgically expressed similar grievances about music from the late '60s and early '70s.  
Man. From a period where musicians were real, and songs were well written.
He's among the rare singers, including Steven Tyler, whose voice I like more in his early period. So much power, mastery and perfection right from the start, until the booze made it... something else (obviously transcending, too).

RIP JOE!  I'm sorry to say you were a bit off with your line "a quarter of my life is almost passed" - in fact that would have been wishful thinking for most of us considering you were 25 at the time.  And from what I've heard from my late father (may he also RIP) and step-mom who you used to "party" with in the late 70s/early 80s, I think you had your kicks and I'm happy you made it to 70.5 years on this planet. 

RIP LEON TOO!

LONG LIVE RP....keep playing the rocking tunes B&R!


 Isabeau wrote:
Always loved this tune - but had no idea Leon Russell was joining him. No wonder this is one for the soul.

 
+1 ...same here
Always loved this tune - but had no idea Leon Russell was joining him. No wonder this is one for the soul.
<sigh> a Cocker favourite. Miss that voice.... especially the early years.
No brainer- Leon is the piano.  unbelievable at it actually.  Toured with Joe to help him.
 Antigone wrote:

Did he play the piano? If not, can anyone tell me who played the piano on this track?

 
it doesn't sound like him to me but of course he could play anything, personnel on the album include;
Chris Stainton – piano, organ, guitar
Leon Russell – piano, organ, guitar
I like this better than the Lovin Spoonful version - has more urgency in his voice.
 Skydog wrote:
great song from a great album
a Leon Russell production 

 
Did he play the piano? If not, can anyone tell me who played the piano on this track?
"Soul Singing" by The Black Crowes was obviously influenced by this track.
I don't have enough Joe Cocker in my collection.  Thanks for this!
nice cover of john Sebastian tune while with lovin spoonful
 Skydog wrote:

"spoonf"?
 you are correct Sir 
why did RP use that abbreviation?
Maybe they forgot what they filed it under and that's why they don't play them?{#Ask} 

 
I also found in the RP vault of songs for the band Spoon that there are two Lovin' Spoonful songs listed
 justin4kick wrote:


2 Search Results for "spoonf" on Radio Paradise:
Lovin' Spoonful Summer In The City Greatest Hits
The Lovin' Spoonful Daydream Best of The Lovin' Spoonful

 
"spoonf"?
 you are correct Sir 
why did RP use that abbreviation?
Maybe they forgot what they filed it under and that's why they don't play them?{#Ask} 
 Skydog wrote:

which ones? I keep getting this;
.
 
Music Search:  Artist NameSong TitleAlbum Name  
Search Results for "The Lovin' Spoonful" on Radio Paradise:
ArtistSong TitleAlbum
Sorry — No artists found matching "The Lovin' Spoonful"
TIP: On song titles, search for only a fragment of the name to increase the chances of a match. On artists, use their complete name.

.
.
Music Search:  Artist NameSong TitleAlbum Name  
Search Results for "Lovin' Spoonful" on Radio Paradise:
ArtistSong TitleAlbum
Sorry — No artists found matching "Lovin' Spoonful"
TIP: On song titles, search for only a fragment of the name to increase the chances of a match. On artists, use their complete name.

 

 


 

2 Search Results for "spoonf" on Radio Paradise:
Lovin' Spoonful Summer In The City Greatest Hits
The Lovin' Spoonful Daydream Best of The Lovin' Spoonful
 justin4kick wrote:

Actually there are two LS-songs in the library but it has been years since they were last played. Bill, would you please do us a favour?

 
which ones? I keep getting this;
.
 
Music Search:  Artist NameSong TitleAlbum Name  
Search Results for "The Lovin' Spoonful" on Radio Paradise:
ArtistSong TitleAlbum
Sorry — No artists found matching "The Lovin' Spoonful"
TIP: On song titles, search for only a fragment of the name to increase the chances of a match. On artists, use their complete name.

.
.
Music Search:  Artist NameSong TitleAlbum Name  
Search Results for "Lovin' Spoonful" on Radio Paradise:
ArtistSong TitleAlbum
Sorry — No artists found matching "Lovin' Spoonful"
TIP: On song titles, search for only a fragment of the name to increase the chances of a match. On artists, use their complete name.

 

 

 Skydog wrote:

I looked it up with 3 different spellings there is no Lovin' Spoonful in the RP library
I'm very surprised

 
Actually there are two LS-songs in the library but it has been years since they were last played. Bill, would you please do us a favour?
 justin4kick wrote:
treatment_bound wrote:
Nice—but let's get some more "Spoonful" originals up and running here at RP.
 

KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

{#Yes}

 
{#Yes}{#Yes}

 
I looked it up with 3 different spellings there is no Lovin' Spoonful in the RP library
I'm very surprised
treatment_bound wrote:
Nice—but let's get some more "Spoonful" originals up and running here at RP.
 

KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

{#Yes}

 
{#Yes}{#Yes}
Never ever need to hear JC ever again.....sorry fans...never got this dude at all?!
 treatment_bound wrote:
Nice—but let's get some more "Spoonful" originals up and running here at RP.
 
{#Yes}
 ch83575 wrote:

Sorry to rain on the love parade here, but I re-listened to this several times on spotify to verify and I am pretty sure the lyric goes:

"It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since YOU toddled.."

What a difference a word makes... one version is sweet and sentimental, the other brings up serious concerns about pedophilia.

 
 John Sebastion wrote and sang  toddled, Cocker did sing you toddled
 leafmold wrote:
"But darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled.."

 
Sorry to rain on the love parade here, but I re-listened to this several times on spotify to verify and I am pretty sure the lyric goes:

"It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since YOU toddled.."

What a difference a word makes... one version is sweet and sentimental, the other brings up serious concerns about pedophilia.
 scrubbrush wrote:

This is the verse that always got me all sentimental...

And now
A quarter of my life is almost past
I think I've come to see myself at last
And I see that the time spent confused
Was the time that I spent without you

 
Absolutely!
 leafmold wrote:
"But darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled.."

 
This is the verse that always got me all sentimental...

And now
A quarter of my life is almost past
I think I've come to see myself at last
And I see that the time spent confused
Was the time that I spent without you
great song from a great album
a Leon Russell production 
The original's far better. More heartfelt.
"But darling be home soon
I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled
My darling be home soon
It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled.."


 leonswiatek wrote:
Anything by Joe Cocker is at least an 8

 

Not for me.  He is not one of my favorites.  But he was a very good person.  He lived in Crawford here in Colorado and he did good things for the community, and not what HIS ideas were, but what the people wanted.  I respect him for that.
Nice--but let's get some more "Spoonful" originals up and running here at RP.
Anything by Joe Cocker is at least an 8
Excellent cover—whole different take on the original which is light and airy. I love this one—urgent and sort of needy.
Possibly the greatest interpreter of other people's songs in rock and roll.

From AMG: One of John Sebastian's greatest later-day Lovin' Spoonful songs, "Darling Be Home Soon" was transformed in this version by Joe Cocker to another level entirely. Lyrically, it's one of the most heartfelt songs about being away from a loved one, written from the point of view of a musician on the road writing a letter. The simple, four-chord melody is positively delicious and is a great example of restraint and subtle power. This performance is buttressed not only by Cocker's vocal but by the entire performance, especially the powerful piano performance, which neatly echoes the work on "Feelin' Alright." 
I get by with a little help from the good ol' Delta Blues...
 
 Forest267 wrote:
Very sad to learn of his passing... his voice was the soundtrack to some incredible moments in time.

 

Yes turned the radio on at 7 this morning to be greeted with the news of his passing, such a character and the music world will be a lesser place without him. He certainly was a one off. Gone but never forgotten. RIP Joe. 
Very sad to learn of his passing... his voice was the soundtrack to some incredible moments in time.
I grew up in Crookes, Sheffield and loved to go to The Ball Inn pub there. Joe's mum used to play wonderful piano in the back room, and if we were lucky Joe would turn up and sing along. Great times, great guy. Always humble. A sad loss.
R.I.P. Joe <3
RIP.....
ditto
Thanks to Bill for acknowledging the loss of another great one by working this one into a set the day after he passed! Say it isn't so Joe - too soon and too young.  Joe might not be favorite, but he certainly is part of the soundtrack of my life and world is a better place for his contribution!{#Hand}
...thanks for all you gave us Joe - R.I.P.
So long, Joe.

I liked your Spoonful cover, and most of the rest of 'em as well.
My work speakers don't get loud enough for Joe. Probably a relief to everyone else here.
Lost another great singer from the 60's !! Thanks for everything, Joe
RIP, Joe.
Nice cover of the classic Lovin' Spoonful — whose version is one of my candidates for Greatest Love Song. Notice the word 'love' is never uttered, but it expresses all the warm, affectionate, passionate aspects of the genuine article. For the great relief of having this song to hear.
It's not the version I heard in high school, but still a killer!  For years, I wanted my voice to have his rasp.  My vote is a 9.
Great singer! Terrific soulful arrangements (in connection with his early stuff) ... this particular song ... not so crazy about ... {#Sunny}
sehr , sehr schön  cocker - like 
I'ts guooooooooooooooooooooood (as Jim Carey would say){#Sunny}
6.9? Holy shite. Was gonna say Bill You Rock Like This Song Does. Definitely a 10.

Rhyme you don't hear much... "dawdled" and "tottled"....  


I love this version.
Working away at my pc. and then I was suddenly transported to my university days ....... 
 
It's 0821 with loads of work to do........ and it's just what I needed.
Thanks so much for this.
 RobRyan wrote:

Can't speak for appy_monkey but I certainly do. You can name any song and it's immediately obvious what it will sound like after Cockerization. I may have to write an app for that - something like "Cockerize it!"

 

Please don't.
 daveesh wrote:
 

Oh the memories....
Maybe 'Darling' saw the cover and decided it wasn't worth it. Good tune though.
Come on folks!

This is a great song, recorded many times by many folks

This is not even Joe C's best version!!
 johnjconn wrote:

Better known as Joe Blow
 
Well Joe definitely didn´t blow this cover. It sounds great.

 johnjconn wrote:

Better known as Joe Blow

 
Pubertal jokes ...

 scraig wrote:
I need more Joe Cocker in my life.
 

So would you say you are a sucker for Cocker...or a Cockersucker?
Not bad. Listenable. Got a nice r & b groove going on, and I'm glad to see the Spoonful get covered. But nothing and no one could equal the original. It's one of my favorite love tunes. Sweet and soulful, for the great relief of having that tune to listen to. 
 RedGuitar wrote:

...  (btw, it's The Lovin' Spoonful)

 
Lovin' Spoonful = 10cc {#Ask}
I feel like I'm trying to get off RP but I'm stuck in traffic of great songs.  I need to go do stuff!
With all due respect, Joe has done some great stuff but this isn't one - the original by The Lovin' Spoonful completely blows this away {#Moon}
 dedawson wrote:

And I'm guessing  appy_monkey prefers the Beatles plinky "With a Little Help From My Friends" over Joe and the Grease Band's masterpiece at Woodstock!! 
 
Can't speak for appy_monkey but I certainly do. You can name any song and it's immediately obvious what it will sound like after Cockerization. I may have to write an app for that - something like "Cockerize it!"

{#Cry}
Cockerization strikes again {#Razz}
 1wolfy wrote:
Love and Spoonful own this one I.M.O.
 
I agree with you.  (btw, it's The Lovin' Spoonful)

Love and Spoonful own this one I.M.O.
Beautiful. Graceful. Wonderful.
 scraig wrote:
I need more Joe Cocker in my life.
 
I do as well.......he's better as he ages...{#Heartkiss}


Essential.
I need more Joe Cocker in my life.
Somehow I'd  never heard this before. What an awful chorus!
The best cover of this song I have heard is done by the Barra MacNeils.
A great cover of an even greater John Sebastian/Lovin' Spoonful song.  Also, Joe did a good job with his bit part in "Across the Universe."


 ilibjorn wrote:
White man with soulful voice. 
 
And almost no idea what to do with it.
 
Cocker has done truly beautiful things, but too often depends on the arrangements that are made for him. This one is awful.
White man with soulful voice. 
Normally JC does not do it for me... but I like this!
man it's tough to listen to this, the once great voice of mr cocker
 djengs wrote:
I always thought of Joe as a Ray Charles rip-off backed by incredible bands, where he tries pump up the the original and the band makes it right- not just a bland cover. Something had to be there...
 
I really have to agree...but I still love his stuff, regardless of whether it is him or his band.  I think he brings the sound of soul and feeling even if it is a rip-off.  His band(s)?  Pretty much the perfect compliment to his attempt at soul and feeling.  The whole package just comes together so well.  Who cares if he ripped everything off?  It is well known, and I assume he gives the original artists their credit.

 woohouse wrote:
Who's butchered more perfectly good songs - Jose Feliciano, Tom Jones, or Joe Cocker?
 

Actually, I like all three.  They all do different things musically, but they each do what they do extremely well.