‘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 (as Sgt. Pepper singer Billy Shears).
A subsequent recording of the track by Joe Cocker became a success in 1968—topping the UK Singles Chart—and an anthem for the Woodstock era. English singer Joe Cocker's version of ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ was a radical re-arrangement of the original, inspired by Cocker's influences of Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. After recording the song, Cocker and record producer Denny Cordell brought it to Paul McCartney, who later said of the recording, "it was just mind blowing, totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful for him for doing that.” The Beatles were so impressed with Cocker's version of this that they sent him a telegram of congratulations and placed an ad in the music papers praising it.
Cocker's version of the song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on the week of 6–12 November 1968. The version also peaked at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 (US) on the week of 14 December, number two on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands) on the week of 9 November, and number one on Swiss Hitparade's top 100 singles chart on the week of 3 December. In Belgium's Ultratop 50 singles charts, it also peaked at number one on the Wallonia chart on the weeks of 14 and 21 December and number eight on the Flanders chart on the week of 7 December.
Cocker’s performance of the song at Woodstock in 1969 was included in the documentary film, Woodstock. Two weeks later he performed it at the Isle of Wight Festival 1969. This version gained even more fame when it was used as the opening theme song for the television series The Wonder Years. In 2002 he performed the song at the Party at the Palace held at Buckingham Palace Garden in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2014, a BBC poll saw it voted the seventh best cover song ever. In 2001, Cocker's version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Labels – Regal Zonophone (UK), A&M (US)
Songwriters – Lennon–McCartney
Producer – Denny Cordell
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro 00:00-00:50][Guitar Solo: Jimmy Page]
[Verse 1]
What would you do if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears, then I'll sing you a song
I will try not to sing out of key, yeah
[Chorus]
Oh, baby I get by
(By with a little help from my friends)
All I need is my buddies
(High with a little help from my friends)
I say, I'm gonna get high
(Try with a little help from my friends)
Oh yeah
(Oooooh)
[Verse 2]
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 'cause you're on your own?)
I tel I don't get sad no more
[Chorus]
(By with a little help from my friends)
Gonna get by with my friends
(High with a little help from my friends)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm gonna try
(Try with a little help from my friends)
Keep on getting high, oh Lord
(Oooooh)
[Bridge]
(Do you need anybody?)
I need someone to love
(Could it be anybody?)
All I need is someone
Knows just where I'm goin', yeah
Somebody who knows just what I'll show them, baby
[Chorus]
(By with a little help from my friends)
Said, I'm gonna make it with my friends, yeah, yeah
(High with a little help from my friends)
Oh, oh, I'm gonna keep on tryin', yeah
(Try with a little help from my friends)
I'm gonna keep on tryin' now, babe
(Ooooh)
[Verse 3]
(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
[Chorus]
(By with a little help from my friends)
Don't you know I'm gonna make it with my friends?
(High with a little help from my friends)
I promised myself I'll get by
(Try with a little help from my friends)
Said, I'm gonna try it with them too hard
(Oooh)
[Bridge]
(Do you need anybody?)
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Could it be anybody?)
Oh, there's gotta be somebody
Going to be right, I know it
Somebody carefee, now
Oh, yeah, yeah
[Chorus/Outro]
(By with a little help from my friends)
Said, I'm gonna get by with my friends, yeah
(High with a little help from my friends)
Oh, yes I'm gonna keep tryin', now
(Try with a little help from my friends)
Keep on tryin' with my friends
(By with a little help from my friends)
Oh, you never gonna stop me anymore
(High, with a little help from my friends)
I'm gonna keep on tryin', yeah
(Try with a little help from my friends)
I'm gettin' high, I wanna make time, Lord, no
(Ooh)
Gonna get by with my friends, yeah
Oh, I'm gonna get on by
Yes, I'm gonna get on by
Wanna take 'em all along
I wanna take 'em all along with me, yeah, yeah