"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artis… Read Full Bio ↴"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. "Respect" became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. While Redding wrote the song as a man's plea for respect and recognition from a woman, the roles were reversed for Franklin's version. Franklin's cover was a landmark for the feminist movement, and is often considered as one of the best songs of the Rock & Roll era, earning her two Grammy Award in 1968 for "Best Rhythm & Blues Recording" and "Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female", and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, the Library of Congress honored Franklins version by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It is number one on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Respect
Aretha Lyrics

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What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it
All I'm askin'
Is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (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 cause I don't wanna
All I'm askin'
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)
Ooo, your kisses
Sweeter than honey
And guess what?
So is my money
All I want you to do 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, TCB
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 fools (just a little bit)
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) when you come home
(Re, re, re ,re) 'spect
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)

Overall Meaning

"Respect" by Aretha Franklin is a song that demands respect from a lover. The lyrics of the song claim that the singer has everything that her lover wants and needs, but all she asks for in return is a little respect when he comes home. She declares that she is not going to do him wrong while he's gone because she doesn't want him to do the same when he returns. The song is a feminist anthem that demands recognition for the contributions that women make to relationships and society as a whole.

The song’s lyrics were written by Otis Redding in 1965, but Aretha Franklin created the iconic version that was released in 1967. For the song, Aretha added the famous bridge and the letters "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," which became the song's defining feature. The song quickly became a symbol of the civil rights and feminist movements, affirming equality in relationships and society. Moreover, it became one of the most successful and beloved songs of Aretha Franklin's career.

Line by Line Meaning

What you want
Tell me what it is that you want

Baby, I got it
I already have whatever it is that you're looking for

What you need
Tell me what it is that you really need

Do you know I got it
Are you aware that I already have what you need?

All I'm askin'
I'm only asking for one thing

Is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)
All I'm asking for is a small gesture of respect when you come back home

Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home (Just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
This respect could be from anyone, whether it's my lover (baby) or any other person (mister)

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone Ain't gonna do you wrong cause I don't wanna
I won't do anything to hurt you while you're away, and not because I'm afraid of getting caught

Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Once again, all I'm asking for is a small display of respect when you come back home

Yeah (just a little bit)
It really doesn't take a lot to show me just a little bit of respect

I'm about to give you all of my money
I'm willing to give you everything I have

And all I'm askin' in return, honey
All I want in return is one small gesture

Is to give me my propers
I just want you to give me the recognition I deserve

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)
Once again, all I want is a small gesture of respect when you come back home

Ooo, your kisses Sweeter than honey And guess what? So is my money
Your kisses are sweet, and so is my money

All I want you to do 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)
I'm not asking for much, just give me what I'm due when you come back home

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me R-E-S-P-E-C-T Take care, TCB
Respect is incredibly important to me, and I need you to understand that. Take care of business, and make sure to treat me with respect.

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)
Once again, respect is all I'm asking for. Just a small amount of it can go a long way.

I get tired (just a little bit) Keep on tryin' (just a little bit) You're runnin' out of fools (just a little bit) And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
It's exhausting to keep waiting for the respect I deserve, but I'm willing to keep asking for it. Don't treat me like a fool, because I know my own worth.

(Re, re, re, re) when you come home (Re, re, re ,re) 'spect Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit) And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)
If you don't give me the respect I deserve, you may come home to an empty house.

I got to have (just a little bit) A little respect (just a little bit)
I can't stress this enough: all I want is a little bit of respect.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: OTIS REDDING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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