Otis Redding

Redding in 1967

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul music and rhythm and blues (R&B).

Song lyrics

• [Huh]I can't turn you loose now.
  If I do I'm gonna loose my life.
  [Ooh]I can't turn you loose now.
  If I do I'm gonna loose my life.
  I can't turn you loose to nobody
  I love you baby, yes I do.
  Give shakin' mama, I told ya
  I'm in love with only you.
  [Gotta] Baby do it baby why don't ya
  I'll give ya everything you want.
  • I Can't Turn You Loose (1965).

Pain in My Heart (1964)

• These arms of mine,
  They are lonely.
  Lonely and feeling blue.
  These arms of mine,
  They are yearning.
  Yearning from wanting you.
  And if you would let them hold you,
  Oh how grateful I will be.
  • These Arms of Mine.

Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)

• Ole man trouble
  Go find you someone else to pick on.
  I live my life now you see.
  Ole man trouble,
  Please stay away from me, now.

  Oh I look like I'm down in my luck.
  Please send faith to help pick me up.
  I've lived this way so many years
  Ole man trouble,
  Please wash away all my fears.

  • Ole Man Trouble.

• What you want,
  Honey you've got it.
  And what you need,
  Baby you've got it.

  All I'm asking
  Is for a little respect when I come home.

  • Respect, later covered by Aretha Franklin.

• There were times and you want to be free
  My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me.
  Oh I've been loving you a little too long
  I don't wanna stop now, oh.
  With you my life,
  Has been so wonderful.
  I can't stop now.
  • I've Been Loving You Too Long, co-written with Jerry Butler.

The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (1965)

• You call me Mr. Pitiful;
  Baby that's my name now, oh.
  They call me Mr. Pitiful;
  That's how I got my fame.
  But people just don`t understand, now
  What makes a man feel so blue, now
  Ooh, they call me Mr. Pitiful;
  Cause I lost someone just like you, now.
  • Mr. Pitiful, co-written with Steve Cropper.

Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966)

• Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
  I keep singing them sad sad songs, y'all.
  Sad songs is all I know.
  I keep singing them sad sad songs, y'all.
  Sad songs is all I know.
  It has a sweet melody tonight
  Anybody can sing it any old time.
  What's in your heart puts you in a groove
  And when you sing this song,
  It'll make you're whole body move.
  • Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song), co-written with Steve Cropper.

The Dock of the Bay (1968)

• Sittin' in the mornin' sun,
  I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes.
  Watchin' the ships roll in;
  And I watch 'em roll away again.
  Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
  Watchin' the tide roll away.
  Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
  Wastin' time.
  • (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay, co-written with Steve Cropper.

• So I guess I'll remain the same
  Sittin' here restin' my bones.
  Wish this loneliness would leave me alone.
  For 2,000 miles I roamed
  Just to make this dock my home.
  Sittin' on the dock of the bay
  Watchin' the tide roll away.
  Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
  Wastin' time.
  • (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.

About Otis Redding

• As Otis Reading once said: "Try a little tenderness." He understands much better than most sociologists do.
  • 1980 interview in Conversations with James Baldwin edited by Louis H. Pratt and Fred L. Standley (1989)

• Respect is something Otis achieved for himself in a way few people do. Otis sang "Respect when I come home." And Otis has come home.
  • Jerry Wexler from Redding's eulogy; Pop Chronicles: Show 51 - The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. (Part 7), December 18, 1967.