I was smoking a cigarette when I heard that Joe Cocker has died of lung cancer at the age of 70. My first thought was of John Belushi’s spot-on impressions of Joe, back in the day, on Saturday Night Live. I found a couple of those videos on YouTube, and had to laugh at the silly grin on Joe’s face as he watched John, being Joe almost better than Joe himself.
Then as I clicked on my favorite songs, the ones included in the soundtrack of my life, a few tears slid down my cheeks. God, we were so young, and so sure that we were going to change the world into our vision of a peaceful, loving planet.
Ah well.
So here’s my tribute to Joe Cocker, inadequate as it may be. Think I’ll have another cigarette and listen to them again.
hillbillyzendotcom 
Dec 22, 2014 @ 20:24:57
She Came in through the Bathroom Window was my facebook tribute. Zee Mad Dogs, Zee Englishmen and Joe Coqear. 😦
Dec 22, 2014 @ 23:17:27
We have lost some greats this year. Really sad to lose him as well. An incredible talent. From what I read today, he was a very nice man.
Dec 23, 2014 @ 23:43:53
We were young once, huh. And the world was there to be conquered. Thanks for the tribute, Hillbilly. –Curt
Dec 27, 2014 @ 11:15:04
The Belushi-Cocker reel was hysterical! I’ll miss that raspy scratchy voice.
Kids nowadays, do they have the same passion to …change the world to our vision of peaceful, loving planet?” I think they have to save the planet itself first, huh!
Dec 28, 2014 @ 10:07:49
They will indeed have to save the planet, from the thoughtless destruction of previous and, unbelievably, our own generation. We seem to have lost our passion, whether from disinterest after realizing the difficulty of the task, or because we’ve simply gotten…too…old.
One of William Ricci’s poems (http://williamricci.com/2014/12/28/poem-fields-continued-as-the-lantern-disappears/) says it beautifully –
“Over the next hill the light
disappears into the shrinking forest.
(5)
I am clouded by doubt
as I continue to search.
What have we brought down
upon the earth.
The air is thick and heavy.
The empty sky is gone.”
Thank you, tiz – your thoughtful comments are always appreciated.