Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and at the age of 2, moved to Macon, Georgia. Redding quit school at age 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard's backing band, the Upsetters, and by performing in talent shows at the historic Douglass Theatre in Macon. In 1958, he joined Johnny Jenkins's band, the Pinetoppers, with whom he toured the Southern states as a singer and driver. An unscheduled appearance on a Stax recording session led to a contract and his first single, "These Arms of Mine", in 1962.
Stax released Redding's debut album, Pain in My Heart, two years later. Initially popular mainly with African-Americans, Redding later reached a wider American pop music audience. Along with his group, he first played small gigs in the American South. He later performed at the popular Los Angeles night club Whisky a Go Go and toured Europe, performing in London, Paris and other major cities. He also performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Shortly before his death in a plane crash, Redding wrote and recorded his iconic "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The album The Dock of the Bay was the first posthumous album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. Redding's premature death devastated Stax. Already on the verge of bankruptcy, the label soon discovered that the Atco division of Atlantic Records owned the rights to his entire song catalog.
Redding received many posthumous accolades, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In addition to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are among his best-known songs.
Redding has been called the "King of Soul", an honorific also given to Brown and Cooke. He remains one of the genre's most recognized artists. His lean and powerful style exemplified the Stax sound; he was said to be "the heart and soul of Stax", while artists such as Al Jackson, Dunn and Cropper helped to expand its structure. His open-throated singing, the tremolo/vibrato, the manic, electrifying stage performances and perceived honesty were particular hallmarks, along with the use of interjections (such as "gotta, gotta, gotta"), some of which came from Cooke. Producer Stewart thought the "begging singing" was stress-induced and enhanced by Redding's shyness.
Artists from many genres have named Redding as a musical influence. George Harrison called "Respect" an inspiration for "Drive My Car". The Rolling Stones also mentioned Redding as a major influence. Other artists influenced by Redding include Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Doors, and virtually every soul and R&B musician from the early years, such as Al Green, Etta James, William Bell, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Conley. Janis Joplin was influenced by his singing style, according to Sam Andrew, a guitarist in her band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She stated that she learned "to push a song instead of just sliding over it" after hearing Redding.
The Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb wrote the song "To Love Somebody" for him to record. He loved it, and he was going to "cut it", as Barry put it, on his return from his final concert. They dedicated the song to his memory.
That's How Strong My Love Is
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd go with love most everywhere
I'll be the moon when the sun goes down
Just to let you know that I'm still around
That's how strong my love is, whoa
That's how strong my love is
That's how strong my love is, baby, baby
That's how strong my love is
I'll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears
And you can go swimming when you're here
And I'll be the rainbow after the tears are gone
Wrap you in my colors and keep you warm
That's how strong my love is, darling
That's how strong my love is, baby
That's how strong my love is, whoa
That's how strong my love is
I'll be the ocean so deep and wide
And catch the tears whenever you cry
I'll be the breeze after the storm is gone
To dry your eyes and love you warm
That's how strong my love is, baby
That's how strong my love is
That's how strong my love is, darling
That's how strong my love is, again now
That's how strong my love is, so deep in
Well, that's how strong my love is
So much love, yes so much love, whoa
Yes so much love, yes so much love
Anything that I can do, I'll be good for you
Any kind of love you want, I'll be with you
The lyrics of Otis Redding's song "That's How Strong My Love Is" are a declaration of a deep and unwavering love for someone special. The singer compares himself to various natural elements such as the sun, the moon, the weeping willow, the ocean, and the breeze, all of which are powerful and omnipresent forces. He promises to always be there for his loved one, to catch their tears, wrap them in his bright colors to keep them warm, and dry their eyes after the storm is gone. The refrain of the song emphasizes the strength of this love, stating that no matter what happens, his love will remain strong and unwavering.
Overall, the song is about the power of true love, which can be found in even the most ordinary of things. The singer uses nature as a metaphor for the strength and constancy of his love, emphasizing that it is as infinite and unbreakable as the elements that he compares himself to. In essence, the song is a testament to the enduring power of love and its ability to conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was the sun way up there
If I were the sun up high and far away
I'd go with love most everywhere
I would spread my love everywhere that I could reach
I'll be the moon when the sun goes down
Whenever the sun goes down, I will become the moon
Just to let you know that I'm still around
To reassure you that I continue to exist and be present
I'll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears
I will personify a weeping willow tree and will be immersed in sorrow and tears
And you can go swimming when you're here
Despite my sadness, I will still make room for you to be happy
And I'll be the rainbow after the tears are gone
Once the tears have gone, I will represent the sign of hope and happiness, the rainbow
Wrap you in my colors and keep you warm
I will radiate happiness and warmth to keep you comfortable and happy
I'll be the ocean so deep and wide
I will represent the immense and extensive ocean
And catch the tears whenever you cry
Whenever you cry, I will be there to catch and comfort you
I'll be the breeze after the storm is gone
Once the storm has passed, I will represent the gentle, soothing breeze
To dry your eyes and love you warm
I will dry your tears and love you warmly with my support and comfort
That's how strong my love is, baby
This is how strong my love is, my baby
That's how strong my love is, darling
This is how strong my love is, my beloved
That's how strong my love is, again now
Once again, this is how strong my love is
That's how strong my love is, so deep in
This is how strong my love runs, so deep within
Well, that's how strong my love is
And that is the strength of my love
So much love, yes so much love, whoa
There is an abundance of love, yes so much love
Yes so much love, yes so much love
Once more, there is so much love
Anything that I can do, I'll be good for you
Whatever you need from me, I will do it and be great at it
Any kind of love you want, I'll be with you
I will love you in any way that you desire, and I will stand by your side
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: MILTON CAMPBELL, ROOSEVELT JAMISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind