Born on 27th April 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Peebles was discovered as a talent by Gene "Bowlegs" Miller of Hi Records during a 1968 trip to sit in singing with him at a Memphis, Tennessee, nightclub. A popular local bandleader, Miller was known for also helping other musicians, such as members of the Hi Rhythm Section, get their starts in the Memphis music industry. Peebles soon began writing and singing hits for the label, cowriting with label staff songwriter Don Bryant, whom she married in 1974. Peebles released a number of commercially successful and critically well received albums produced by Willie Mitchell on Hi Records throughout the 1970s, until the rise of disco in the late 1970s took her music out of the limelight. Hi Records was sold in 1977, but Peebles reunited with Willie Mitchell in 1989 to produce her comeback album, Call Me.
Respect
Ann Peebles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ooh) baby, I got
(Ooh) what you need
(Ooh) do you know I got it?
(Ooh) all I'm askin'
(Ooh) is for a little respect
When you come home
(Just a little bit)
When you get home
(Just a little bit) mister
(Just a little bit)
I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
Ain't gonna do you wrong (ooh)
'Cause I don't wanna (ooh)
All I'm askin' (ooh)
Is for a little respect
When you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit)
When you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)
I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
Is to give me my propers
When you get home (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah baby (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)
Ooh, your kisses (ooh)
Sweeter than honey (ooh)
And guess what? (Ooh)
So is my money (ooh)
All I want you to do (ooh) for me
Is give it to me when you get home (re, re, re, re)
Yeah baby (re, re, re, re)
Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
When you get home, now (just a little bit)
R-e-s-p-e-c-t
Find out what it means to me
R-e-s-p-e-c-t
Take care, t.C.B.
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me,
Sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me
Sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
I get tired (just a little bit)
Keep on tryin' (just a little bit)
You're runnin' out of foolin' (just a little bit)
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) 'spect
When you come home (re, re, re, re)
Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit)
And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)
I got to have (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
The lyrics of Ann Peebles's song Respect is a depiction of a woman seeking respect from her partner. The “respect” referred to here in the song is not just about sexual relations, but a wider sense of overall respect in a relationship. The woman in the song is conveying the message that she is an independent and capable individual and that she deserves respect for that. The song highlights the struggles of a woman in a relationship and the inequality that is often faced in such relationships. The call for “respect” is a plea for equality and a demand for acknowledgment.
The song begins with the woman stating that she has what her partner desires and needs, and all she is asking for is a little respect in return. She emphasizes that she will not do wrong while he is gone, and that she deserves to be treated with respect. The last verse reinforces the message of the song, as she demands respect for her money, kisses, and herself.
Overall, the song Respect by Ann Peebles is a powerful message to society, stating that respect in a relationship is not a negotiable term, and should be the basis of any healthy partnership. The song has had a significant impact, as it has been interpreted as a feminist anthem and a call for civil rights.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ooh) what you want
The singer is asking what her partner wants from her.
(Ooh) baby, I got
The singer tells her partner that she can provide what they want.
(Ooh) what you need
The singer inquires about what her partner needs from her.
(Ooh) do you know I got it?
The singer confirms her ability to provide her partner with what they need.
(Ooh) all I'm askin'
The singer expresses that she only wants one thing in return.
(Ooh) is for a little respect
The singer requests that her partner show her some respect.
When you come home
The singer identifies the moment when she wants to receive respect from her partner.
(Just a little bit)
The singer emphasizes that she only wants a small amount of respect.
Hey baby (just a little bit)
The singer addresses her partner, who she affectionately calls 'baby', with the same request for a little bit of respect.
When you get home
The singer reiterates the moment when she wants to receive respect from her partner.
(Just a little bit) mister
The singer addresses her partner as 'mister', requesting a little bit of respect from him.
I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
The singer assures her partner that she will not mistreat or cheat on him while he is away.
Ain't gonna do you wrong (ooh)
The singer repeats her assurance that she will not do her partner wrong.
'Cause I don't wanna (ooh)
The singer explains her motivation behind not wanting to do her partner wrong.
Is for a little respect
The singer reiterates her request for respect from her partner.
I'm about to give you all of my money
The singer discloses that she is about to give her partner all her money.
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
The singer explains that all she wants in return is for her partner to pay her some attention and give her respect.
Is to give me my propers
The singer explicitly asks for respect from her partner.
And guess what? (Ooh)
The singer poses a rhetorical question to her partner.
So is my money (ooh)
The singer implies that her money is just as sweet as her partner's kisses.
All I want you to do (ooh) for me
The singer clarifies what she wants her partner to do for her.
Is give it to me when you get home (re, re, re, re)
The singer expresses the time when she wants to receive her money from her partner.
Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
The singer instructs her partner to give her the money quickly and respectfully.
When you get home, now (just a little bit)
The singer refers to the moment when she wants to receive the money from her partner.
R-e-s-p-e-c-t
The singer spells out the word 'respect' to emphasize its meaning.
Find out what it means to me
The singer asks her partner to understand the significance of respect to her.
Take care, t.C.B.
The singer advises her partner to take control, to direct things the correct way, and take care of business.
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me,
The singer exclaims with enthusiasm.
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
The singer calls out to her partner, asking him for a little bit of respect.
I get tired (just a little bit)
The singer acknowledges that she may become exhausted and overwhelmed with the lack of respect from her partner.
Keep on tryin' (just a little bit)
The singer encourages her partner to make an effort to give her some respect.
You're runnin' out of foolin' (just a little bit)
The singer warns her partner that he needs to stop playing games and give her respect soon.
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
The singer emphasizes that she is not lying and wants her partner to trust her.
(Re, re, re, re) 'spect
The singer repeats the word 'respect' in a musical manner.
Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit)
The singer warns her partner that if he does not give her respect, he may come home to find her gone.
And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)
The singer implies that she may leave her partner if he does not respect her.
I got to have (just a little bit)
The singer simply states that she needs a little bit of respect.
A little respect (just a little bit)
The singer reiterates her request for a small amount of respect.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Otis Redding
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurie Lanni
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Fat Possum Records
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