In 1989, I remember riding around in my Celica and hearing this song a lot on our then-local radio station, 103 WKDF. Later on in 2000, I got to see Joe Cocker open up for Tina Turner. Great concert with two huge talents. He hadn’t lost a step at all in 2000. The last time I posted a Cocker song, Christian reminded me about a later hit for him. It was either this one or Keep Your Hat On… but either way it’s excellent.
When this song opened the album One Night of Sin in 1989 and marked a strong return for Cocker. The track was written by Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, and Diane Warren, and you can hear that late 80s style in the structure, built for radio but still rooted in R&B and rock.
The guitar entrance is what caught my ear. Over that, Cocker’s voice carries the song. He doesn’t overplay it; he lets the quality of his voice do the work. It is controlled, but still has that edge he was known for, and what I love about him. The track became one of his bigger late-career hits and helped reintroduce him to a wider audience at the end of the decade. I’ve heard the album, and it’s good, and they avoided overproduction.
It felt current for the time, but still like Joe Cocker. The groove pulls you in, but it is the vocal that keeps you there. It is a comeback song that doesn’t try to go overboard; it just works. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard 100, #23 in Canada, and #65 in the UK in 1989. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard Album Charts, #60 in Canada, and #20 in New Zealand.
When The Night Comes
Hold onI’ll be back for youIt won’t be longBut for now there’s something elseThat’s calling meSo take me down a lonesome roadPoint me east and let me goThat suitcase weighs me downWith memories
I just want to be the one you run toI just want to be the one you come toI just want to be there for someoneWhen the night comesLet’s put all the cares behind usAnd go where they’ll never find usI just want to be there beside youWhen the night comesWhen the night comes
Two spirits in the nightThat can leave before the morning lightWhen there’s nothing left to loseAnd nothing left to fearSo meet me on the edge of townWon’t keep you waiting I’ll be ’roundThen you and IWe’ll just roll right out of here
I just want to be the one you run toI just want to be the one you come toI just want to be there for someoneWhen the night comesLet’s put all the cares behind usAnd go where they’ll never find usI just want to be there beside youWhen the night comesWhen the night comes
I know there’ll be a time for you and IJust take my hand and run awayThink of all the pieces of the shattered dreamWe’re gonna make it out some dayWe’ll be coming backComing back to stayWhen the night comes
I want to be the one you run toWhen the night comesTo be the one you’d come toI want to be the one you run toOohI just want to be the one you run towant to be the one you come toI just want to be there for someoneWhen the night comesLet’s put all the cares behind usAnd go where they’ll never find usI just want to be there beside youWhen the night comesWhen the night comesAh ah when the night comesWhen the night rolls downAh ah when the night comesI want to be with youAh ah when the night comesOh ah when the night comes inAh ah ohAh ah when the night comesWhen the night comesAh ah when the night comesI want to be right by your sideAh ah when the night comesYes babyAh ah ohDon’t do that to me womanAh ah ohEver stayed when the night time gets in hereAh ah when the night comesI want to rise and up in theWhen the night comesAh ah when the night comesAh ah ohLove me
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I remember being this video on MuchMusic back at the time. It’s amazing how many songs Adams/Vallance have written for other artists. Some good paydays for those two that is for sure.
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Adams had his hand in a lot of songs I knew nothing about
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I vaguely remember it but didn’t know Adams & Vallance had written it. Seems like he was the first to record it though so there’s no other original to compare it to. I’ve just never been a fan of Joe overall but this song isn’t bad as mainstream ’80s stuff went, he doesn’t push his voice as much as he often did.
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I remember this one and Keep Your Hat On rather well. When I’ve covered him I usually cover the earlier ones. It peaked at #11 here…I didn’t know it was that high.
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I was going to request some Joe. Sorry to the guys that wrote it. Joe’s song now. Joe kind of does that. He was one of the best in my book. The song kinda gets the motor running. Joes another guy that when he runs out of words he wails. It works for CB
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I agree…he took over With A Little Help From My Friends…so yea…he puts his huge stamp on it. Those dynamics in this song sound so good. It works for me as well.
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Same page again Max. He makes them his own and gets the right backing all the way back to his beginnings and Leon’s piano.
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Joe was the consummate entertainer, and he could bring any song to life.
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Very good song. I liked it enough at the time to get the album (on cassette). Good to hear it again.
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Yea it’s one you don’t hear anymore much…but yea…I can see why you got it.
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I enjoy Joe, very distinctive; though I don’t think I’d be tempted to listen to a double album of his, if he ever put one out. In concert, live, I’m sure he would be engaging but two sides of an album would be enough for me for one sitting. His voice is no middle of the road fare.
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