Respect
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Ooh) What you want
(Ooh) Baby, I got
(Ooh) What you need
(Ooh) Do you know I've got it
(Ooh) All I'm askin'
(Ooh) Is for a little respect when you come 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 (ooh) 'cause I don't want to (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 profits
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, 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) '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)

Overall Meaning

The song "Respect" by Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band talks about the basic need for respect in a relationship. The song is about a woman demanding respect from her partner. She talks about how she has what her partner wants and needs and all that she is asking for in return is just a little respect. In the chorus of the song, she spells out "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and asks her partner to find out what it means to her.


The lyrics indicate that while the woman in the song is about to give her partner all her money, she wants her profits in return when he gets home. The woman also reveals that her kisses are sweeter than honey and her money is just as sweet. She repeats that she just wants her partner to give her the respect she deserves when he gets home.


The song's theme is about the importance of respect in relationships, and how without respect, a relationship can fall apart. The song's upbeat tempo and the way the lyrics are delivered, make it an iconic and timeless classic.


Line by Line Meaning

(Ooh) What you want
I'm asking you what you desire from me.


(Ooh) Baby, I got
I have what you want.


(Ooh) What you need
I am asking you what your necessities are.


(Ooh) Do you know I've got it
I'm letting you know that I have what you need.


(Ooh) All I'm askin'
I'm only asking for one thing from you.


(Ooh) Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
When you return home, please show me a bit of respect.


Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
When you arrive home, show me a little respect, honey.


(Just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
Hello, sir. Please give me a small amount of respect.


I ain't gonna do you wrong, while you're gone
I won't mistreat you while you're out and about.


Ain't gonna do you wrong (ooh) 'cause I don't want to (ooh)
I don't want to wrong you, so I won't.


All I'm askin' (ooh)
Once again, all I'm requesting is a little something from you.


Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
I want you to show me a tiny bit of respect when you return home.


Baby (just a little bit), when you get home (just a little bit)
Sweetheart, when you arrive home, please give me a small amount of respect.


Yeah (just a little bit)
Yes, a little bit of respect is all that I need.


I'm about to give you all of my money
I'm ready to give you all of my funds.


And all I'm askin' in return, honey
All I want in exchange, dear, is this.


Is to give me my profits
I want you to give me what I earned.


When you get home (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you return home, please do this for me.


Yeah baby (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Honey, it's for you!


When you get home (just a little bit)
Once you arrive home, give me what I deserve.


Yeah (just a little bit)
Yes, just a tiny bit of respect is needed.


Ooh, your kisses (ooh)
Your kisses are splendid.


Sweeter than honey (ooh)
They're even sweeter than honey.


And guess what (ooh)
And you know what else?


So is my money (ooh)
So is my cash, baby.


All I want you to do (ooh) for me
This is all I request from you.


Is give it to me when you get home (re, re, re ,re)
Please give me what I deserve when you return home.


Yeah baby (re, re, re ,re)
Sweetie, this is for you.


Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
Give me what I deserve, even if it's just a bit of respect.


When you get home, now (just a little bit)
Please do this when you return home.


R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Spelling out respect.


Find out what it means to me
Learn what respect means to me.


R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Spelling re–spect again.


Take care, TCB
Take care and handle your business well.


Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Sock it to me, baby.


A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Give me some respect.


Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
Come on, honey, just a bit of respect.


A little respect (just a little bit)
I don't need much, just a little respect.


I get tired (just a little bit)
I get fatigued from needing to request respect so much.


Keep on tryin' (just a little bit)
Keep making an effort to respect me.


You're runnin' out of fools (just a little bit)
You're running out of people to disrespect.


And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
And I'm not just saying this slightly.


(Re, re, re, re) 'spect
Once again, respect is required.


When you come home (re, re, re ,re)
When you return home, remember to show me a bit of respect.


Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit)
Otherwise, you might walk in to an unpleasant surprise.


And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)
And find that I'm gone, leaving you with none of my love or respect.


I got to have (just a little bit)
It's crucial that I have a bit of respect from you.


A little respect (just a little bit)
I don't need a lot, but I require some respect from you.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Otis Redding

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions