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Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
Ringo sang lead on this as "Billy Shears," a name chosen because it sounded good. The album was recorded as if Sgt. Pepper was a real band.
This was one of the very last songs Lennon and McCartney sat and wrote together. They were at Paul's house messing around on the piano. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA. U.S.A)
The original title was "Badfinger Boogie." The Beatles got some use out of the name when they signed a group to their label, Apple Records, and named them Badfinger.
The cheering at the beginning was taken from a Beatles concert at the Hollywood Bowl. The Beatles had stopped touring by the time this was recorded.
This hit #1 on the UK charts 3 times: first by Joe Cocker in 1968, again by Wet Wet Wet in 1988 and finally by Sam and Mark in 2004. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
John Lennon claimed this was not about drugs, but many people didn't believe him, including US vice president Spiro Agnew, who once told a crowd that this song was a "Tribute to the power of illegal drugs." He said the lines, "I get by with a little help from my friends, I get high with a little help from my friends," "Is a catchy tune, but until it was pointed out to me, I never realized that the 'friends' were assorted drugs!" (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA. U.S.A)
The first line was originally "What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and throw tomatoes at me?" Ringo did not want to sing it, fearing that if they ever did it live he would be pelted with tomatoes.
The Beatles finished recording this the night they shot the cover for the Sgt. Pepper album. This continued the "Concept" of the album, but until the reprise of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" at the end, the theme of the fictional band ends with this.
Twelve years after "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "With a Little Help from My Friends" appeared on the Sgt. Pepper album, they were released together as a 2-song medley and reached US #71 and UK #63. (thanks, Jerro - New Alexandria, PA)
Comments:
Some things are oversimlpified or overexaggerated. "I get high with a little help from my friends" means that your friends can cheer you up. Hasn't anybody heard someone say they're so happy they're higher than the clouds?
- K, nowhere, ON
Reading some of these posts...are you serious? Granted, a lot of Beatles songs are mistakenly assumed to be drug-related, but c'mon, the line "I get high with a little help from my friends" well that's pretty obvious. Do you know how many lifelong friendships are solidified through the simple passing of a joint? Don't demonize it, it's a beautiful thing.
- Mike, Highland Park, IL
whats up with the "drug" thing, people?! this song is incredibly simple- we love our friends. we get by with our friends. they make us feel high, and without them we'd be screwed. im in eighth grade, and my entire class is obsessed with this song; its our 'theme song', if you will. its on the back of our class sweatshirts, we randomly start singing it constantly. NOT DRUGS!
- chloe, st. louis, MO
i forgot to mention in my first post- the 'what do i do when my love is away?- are you sad because you're on your own?' part is not about drugs or sex or whatever the hell you people want to make it. its simply them saying 'we dont need to waste our time with romance, we have our friends'. STOP OVER ANALYZING!
- chloe, st. louis, MO
Okay people time for a history lesson. The Beatles were smoking weed and dropping acid like there was no tomorrow (John Lennon admited this in his autobiography). The lines about getting high with a little help from their friends was a drug reference. You can deny it all you want but the truth is out there and so there...
- Joel, Columbia, SC
This one was really a McCartney compostion, with some Lennon contributions.
- Barry, New York, NC
What would you think if I sang out of tune, (if i would lie to you,)
Would you stand up and walk out on me. (you'll stop trusting me)
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song, (so listen up, i've got something important to say)
And I'll try not to sing out of key. (and i'll try to make it as truthfull as possible)
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
I get high with a little help from my friends,
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends. (we need a double to be able to continue the fight)
What do I do when my love is away. (what do we do now we lost paul?)
(Does it worry you to be alone) (can we continue without him?)
How do I feel by the end of the day (we must continue the cause)
(Are you sad because you're on your own) (but we cant do it without paul)
Do you need anybody? (but who should replace him?)
I need somebody to love. (i need some1 who cares)
Could it be anybody? (would anyone do?)
I want somebody to love. (no, a specific person)
Would you believe in a love at first sight? (do you believe in destiny?)
Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.
What do you see when you turn out the light? (what's hiding in the dark?)
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine. (i'm not at liberty to say but i know it's now mine to deal with)
- mgc, mgc, Afghanistan
my fav part of this song is when they sing- "What do you see when you turn off the lights?" and Ringo answers "I cant tell you but i know its mine" i love it lol i love the beatles and this is a huge sexual reference, but its awesome
- Brandon, Miami, FL
Okay I think get high is like getting high on happiness or joy have you ever been with your friends and just been s happy you just burst out laughing and cant stop I mean thats like getting high on friendship.
- lane, shelbyville, TN
Okay I think get high is like getting high on happiness or joy have you ever been with your friends and just been s happy you just burst out laughing and cant stop I mean thats like getting high on friendship.
- lane, shelbyville, TN
I think this original would sell to teenagers today if you were to remarket it. But Joe Cockers was ridiculously better, his musical personality captured the song.
Anyway since there isn't much interpretation here, I think I'll say something.
First thing is first, the interpretation is really obvious, if you look for stupid things like drugs or masturbation or whatever when interpreting songs you're going to end up like Charles Manson and think Helter Skelter is about a race war.
In conclusion this song is simply a lonely guy (like me, but with friends) who gets high and stuff to forget about his loneliness with friends, its about forgetting about loneliness, his friends help him by either giving him drugs or making him happy.
- Mitchell, Adelaide, Australia
the bigging of this song always fools me because it doesn't sound like the rest of the song.
- Jude, Toronto, QC
I wish ringo sung more of their songs his woice is so..different
- ozzy, fresno, CA
its not all about drugs. Its about how much fun he had fun with them. My friendships don't have to do with drugs.... but i get high with a little help from my friends =]
- Katherine, orlando, FL
Oh sure, the word "friends" is always a drug reference in songs. Guess that means this song is about drugs, and a Led Zeppelin song called "Friends" is entirely about drugs.
- Peter Griffin, Quahog, RI
its funny how people think joe cocker "butchered it" when the beatles themseleves appriciated his interpretation better and praised him for his version
- lucy, philly, PA
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band has been on the record sales for forty years now. It still remains as one of the most powerful, influential and incredible albums ever to be realeased. Never shall i tolerate someone speaking out against this album, or the Beatles...that sort of person has not listened to their awe-inspiring creations. Strawberry Fields Forever!
- Simon, Chattanooga , TN
I love this song. I saw a really cute yellow shirt at Virgin Megastore in NY and on the front it said I Get High and on the back it said With A Little Help From My Friends. I aslo saw a blue one with the Sgt. Pepper drum on it.
- Krissy, Boston, MA
Listen to the song: The rest of the band play totally straight, on the beat, and it's only Paul's bass playing and the melody line that gives it the feel. Amazing.
- Fracken, Sydney, Australia
Its about a lonely young guy without a girlfriend alone in his bedroom. The friends are the fingers of his right hand. He gets high because they help him get by with a badfinger boogie. The first verse was only added to make sense in the context of Sgt. Pepper's Band. It has nothing to do with drugs, but obviously the Beatles couldn't explain what it really is about. Now look at all verses (except the first one) and all the words will make sense. Sorry to disappoint everyone.
- Janey, Swansea, Wales
Consider also how they sing the "Mmmh, I get by..." in such a double-meaning way. It's a "high" of a different kind. The early Beatles has lots of naughty juvenile stuff in it. (Whoops, double-post, sorry.)
- Janey, Swansea, Wales
I wish Ringo sang more on Sgt. Pepper's! :(. I LOVE THE SONG! :) ps. who's Billy Shears? I'm too lazy to read the facts. LOL
- Krista, Elyria, OH
In Saskatchewan, there is an 18 hour telethon every year, called Telemiracle, with a bunch of Canadian National and local musicians and performers. At the end of every broadcast, they end by singing Oh Canada and this song, periodically stopping to check the new totals before they go off the air. It's a great moment, real tear jerker type stuff.
- Renee, Saskatoon
On second thought, with respect to Joe Cocker, I have been playing the song and it is indeed difficult to play the pith of the melody without adding extra notes, making it sound kind of jazzed-up. The melody is deceptively simple, it takes talent to play it as purely and simply as the Beatles, something I didn't appreciate until I tried it myself.
The lyric: "I want somebody to love" clearly indicates a person, not a drug. In fact it could be interpreted to diminish drugs, because after all, he gets "high with a little help from" friends, regardless if they have a stash to share.
- cadgbd, washington, DC
"I get bi with a little help..." a homosexual reference maybe? I doubt it though.
"I get high..." I agree with Tim from Washington, DC, that it is ambiguous, could mean sharing a joint or friendship. Just enjoy the music; but lyrics do matter, because lyrics can ruin the song for someone who finds them objectionable.
And so what if it is about drugs? The song will always speak to me about human relationships, no matter. It cuts both ways.
Finally, I prefer the Beatles simple, authentic version to Joe Cocker's rendition, which is too brash and loud and he jazzes up the singing too much. I do feel that he butchered the song, but so what, other people like it, and the world spins 'round.
The uncomplicated delivery of the melody by the Beatles beautifully reflects simple emotions that we all feel. Thank you Beatles.
- cadgbd, washington, DC
The lyrics basically say it all. This is a fun, light, sort of cute song that is about the reafirmation of the friends in your life. Cocker over sang it, and killed it completely.
- amay, edison, NJ
I mean it's possible that it could have drug influences as far as the words are concerned, but this one isn't a drug song though.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
the beatles believed that joe cockers version was better
- paul marlo, perth
Seth, I'm originally from Fairhope also. Unexpected place to find another person from Fairhope. Anyways, this is a great, great song. As is the whole album.
- Brandon, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Jake, O-town, CA- Cockers's version reaching #1 doesn't mean one d@mn thing. Like I said before, Britney Spears and N'sync topped the charts for a while to; what the hell does that say? Don't get me wrong though, I think Joe Cocker's version is better than mediocre BUT, non-comparison to The Beatles.
- Jon, Oakridge, OR
I think that the friends are people. But I also think they are getting/giving him drugs... Drugs are a way to forget about your lovesickness after all... And on top of that, "I get high with a little help from my friends"... Don't fool yourself into thinking that his friends get him high through their awesome personalities... Come on let's be honest, but all beatles songs aren't about drugs.
- Seth, Fairhope, AL
The friends are definately people and it's not about drugs at all! It's a beautiful and inspirational song, so people should just drop all the unfounded suspicions about drugs and enjoy it. I love this song.
- Michelle, x, PA
Was that George singing the lines, "Does it worry you to be alone?" and "are you sad because you're on your own?" I like The Beatles' version better, obviously. Joe Cocker's sounded too hippyish; Kinda dragged out.
- Christianne, Guam, United States
This song is a bit more Paul than John, but a very good one. The melody and chords are very nice together. It has nothing to do with drugs.
- Bram, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
Not every beatles song is about drugs guys!! This one doesn't seem to be about drugs either. What's the big deal? Even peop;le think "Hey Jude" is about drugs! Nixon was against the counter-culture and Spiro Agnew was extremely conservative anyway, just because he said it was about drugs, doesn't mean it's about drugs. I don't care if he was the Vice-President. Plus, John Lennon wrote the song, and said it wasn't about drugs.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
I agree about the different versions of this song Steve. Another example I would lke to give is that of Bob Dylan's and Jimi Hendrix's versions of "All Along the Watch Tower" and Odis Reddings and Aretha Franklin's versions of "Respect." The original and cover versions are different, and all great, in both cases. It also works in the case of "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" as done by the Stones and by Odis Redding.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
whether or not the song is about drugs, you dont need drugs to get 'high', i have been 'high' on many occasions and ive never taken drugs... i though ringo sung 'would you stand up and walk out on me' not 'would you stand up and throw tomatoes at me'?! or did they change it...
and by the way, joe cockers version was AWFUL its the worst remake of a song i have ever heard and i scream whenever i hear it because it is so horrible...i hate people who MUTILATE great songs...
- MeL, SoutH AustraliA, Australia
If two such respected Beatles aficionados as Nixon's former vice-president Agnew and Bob from Amarillo say it's about drugs, then I'm afraid, good people, that we must humble ourselves and accept the fact that we've been wrong all these years. So just remember, from now on, when you hear the word "friends" in a song it means drugs. Friend = drugs. If anyone's keeping score, I think the total is now 187 Beatles songs about drugs.
- joe, lethbridge, Canada
Love It.
Great Song.
need I say more??
The lyrics really spoke to me...I guess
- Steve, Midland, MI
I don't think this song would have been as good if Ringo hadn't sung lead. If anyone ever wondered why the Beatles broke up, but the Rolling Stones didn't, it's as simple as this. All four of the Beatles could sing. In the Stones, only Mick could sing. The Rolling Stones had no choice but to stay with Mick, unless they wanted to play backup to someone else. And why would they want that? Joe Cocker's version is awesome, but so is the Beatles version. The two versions are so different, it's like two different songs. But both are great. Same with Elvis' Hound Dog and the blues version of Hound Dog, and the two different versions of Layla by Clapton.
- Steve, Fenton, MO
I just found out Ringo sang this. I love Ringo, but not in a wierd way. i just think he's adorable since he wrote some of my favorite songs and since was like the "goofy" guy in the Beatles.
And getting high with help from my friends, you can it's possible as a silly person with silly friends how can u not get "high" without them through laughter.
- Christina, Nor*Cal, CA
Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 had a super hit with their own interpretation of this song around the same time that Cocker had with his. The small combo's touch of light jazz, bossa nova and rich vocal harmonies in WALHFMF continues to make for pleasant listening among New Millinnium worldbeat listeners as it did for the Age of Aquarius pop music enthusiasts. Instead of blowing you away like The Fab Four and Joe do, Mendes gently massages your soul with his cover tune. Suave is cool!
- Leya Qwest, Anchorage, AK
I agree that the "friends" are likely not drugs. They're PEOPLE friends... friends who helped him get high. Maybe they shared a joint or something; maybe not. It's an ambiguous statement and, like all great songs, is left to the interpretation of the listener. No doubt Paul and John were aware of its ambiguity as well. Hell, it's just one line after all.
- Tim, Washington, DC
If the "friends" are drugs, then I've never had friends. I mean, come on now, drugs?...
- Mauricio, Hanford, CA
I love the voice Ringo has. Its even better in Octopus's Garden > I'd like to be under the sea!
- Ryan, Brentwood, CA
This is in a tie for first place of all mid to late Beatles songs. Ringo's voice, the originality of the tune, and the originality of the concept,words,ideas, music, are just unparalled. The music, the instruments lend so much to the song. I never get tired of hearing it. Hey, if a few folks had a good time smoking up and listening to it, so what. It's like the to two old ladies in Oregon who cant sleep because somewhere, somebody is having a good time.
- lee, clearwater, FL
The Beatles version is better, but give Joe cocker a break! he made the song in a way that suited him well. And also, just because a song has the word high, doesn't mean it's about drugs. Personally, i don't think this one's about drugs. And that's awesome that Jimmy Page played lead on Joe Cocker's version!
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
haha my mom said she sung this at her high school graduation with all her classmates how great "i can get high with a little help from my friends"
- Matt, Millbrae, CA
Joe Cocker's version of this song blows any other completely out of the water. He envokes the spirit of the lyrics with his vocals; smooth and polished misses the whole point!
It's not every often that someone can take a classic and rework into something better then the original. JC's version of this song at Woodstock is an incredible thing.
Z
- Zereh, Winter Haven, FL
Joe Cocker's version is horrible in my opinion, I like the Beatles version a lot better, GREAT SONG ON A GREAT ALBUM
- Tim, Dalton, MA
Why do you people care if its about drugs or not? just enjoy the music.
- Nick, Solvang, CA
the "freinds"are drugs he says i get by withh a little help from my freinds.
- bob, Amarillo, TX
Well durrrrrrr
- James, tewkesbury, England
Joe Cocker is just singing the song how it was meant to be sung
- Ross, Independence, MO
the "freinds"are drugs he says i get by withh a little help from my freinds.
- bob, Amarillo, TX
this song is sooo good.
- Dani, Winnipeg, Canada
I am an avid hater of joe cocker because he butchered such an excellent Beatles song. Lastly, Ringo is absolutely amazing. He didn't have the best voice, but that was part of the charm; his style of singing represented every man, so all can relate. Kudos to McCartney as well for writing the song.
- Sammy, New York, NY
If it isn't about drugs, what is it about?
- jordan, renton, WA
Mccartney wrote this one, Lennon Lennon came up with "what do you see when you turn out the light". This song also blew Brian Wilsons mind.
- Rich, Birmingham UK, England
it was written by mccartney and lennon and lets not hate on Joe Cockers versions people...he did take it to #1
- Jake, O-town, CA
I also think the Beatles version is much better. Joe Cocker's iskind of annoying
- Josh, Plainview, NY
He sounds like sandpaper...
I think Ringo was singing this about his songwriting, he got help from his freinds...
- Sam, Cleveland, OH
I can't stand the joe cocker version, and i really dont like how he practically gets the credit for writing the song. the beatles version is far supirior.
- Criag, Lake City, MN
yea, the joe cocker version isnt as good. its not as catchy. plus, in my own opinion, this song is a song that is supposed to make you feel good and pep you up. joe cocker screwed that up. his version is too mellow and slow
- Mark, Ridgeland, MS
I don't like the Joe Cocker version. Too poppy. And the female vocals in the chorus just don't do it for me.
- Bob, Mt. Laurel, NJ
There was a terrible cover of this song in the movie "The Lathe of Heaven." It's also a little theme at the end of the book.
- Crystal, Lebanon, OH
Ya,the Beatles used drugs, yes, its true. They didn't try to hide it, so dont you think that if it was about drugs, they'd admit it? And ya, Sgt. Pepper is awesome!
- Natasha, Chico, CA
I born in 1967 in may, the month of appears Sargent Peppers in Chile, my father buyed the album that day, really change the world... I still have the original...
- Osiel, Santiago, Chile
"Get high with a little help from my friends" is obviously just something he does with his friends, not what the whole song is about. And I agree with Lee, I thinnk it was their best album, and that this was one of the best songs on it.
- Spencer, South Kingstown, RI
Ahhhhhh!! i never knew that about the Tomatoes!!
bless him!!
- Catherine, Glasgow, England
How can it be about drugs?
Yeah, so it's got the word "high" in it but so what? doesn't mean the whole song's about bloody drugs!!!
- Catherine, Glasgow, England
Jimmy Page played lead guitar on Joe Cocker's version of this song.
- Adam, Beaver Falls, PA
Joe Cocker's version was used as the theme song for the popular American coming-of-age comedy/drama TV series The Wonder Years.
- Kei, Salem, OR
This album changed the beatles forever. they came from a pop group in the british invasion to a classic pshychedelic rock band. The album was so different and genious that it was their greatest album of all
- Lee, Durham, NC