The Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding Lyrics
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I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes
Watchin' the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide, roll away
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bayWastin' time
I left my home in Georgia
And I headed for the Frisco Bay
'Cause I've got nothin' to live for
Looks like nothin's gonna come my way, so
I'm just come sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time
Looks like nothin's gonna change
Everything seems to stay the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same
I'm sittin' here restin' my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
This two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
I'm wastin' time
The lyrics to Otis Redding's song "The Dock of the Bay" are a reflection on the human experience of loneliness and the struggle to find purpose or meaning in life. The singer is sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the ships come and go, and wasting time. His wandering, rootless existence has brought him to this place where he can do nothing but sit and reflect on his life. The repetitive nature of watching the tide roll in and roll away again is a symbolic representation of the futility of life.
In the second verse, the singer explains why he left his home in Georgia and headed for the Frisco Bay. His hopelessness is apparent as he says he has nothing to live for and it looks like nothing is going to come his way. The third verse acknowledges that nothing will change and everything seems to stay the same, but the singer cannot do what ten people tell him to do, so he remains the same.
The final verse reveals that the singer has roamed two thousand miles just to make this dock his home. He is restless, and the loneliness won't leave him alone. The last line implies that he will continue to sit on this dock, watching the tide roll away, and wasting time, as he has nowhere else to go and nothing else to do.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I am sitting on the dock enjoying the warmth and light of the morning sun.
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes
I plan to sit here all day and watch the ships come in and out until nightfall.
Watchin' the ships roll in
I am observing the boats coming into the dock.
Then I watch 'em roll away again
I am also observing the boats leaving the dock after they have arrived.
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
I am located on the dock of the bay.
Watchin' the tide, roll away
I am watching as the tide recedes and the water level drops.
Wastin' time
I am not doing anything productive while I am sitting here on the dock.
I left my home in Georgia
I have departed from my residence in Georgia.
And I headed for the Frisco Bay
I have traveled to Frisco Bay.
'Cause I've got nothin' to live for
I have lost purpose and motivation for life.
Looks like nothin's gonna come my way, so
It appears that nothing positive or worthwhile will happen for me.
Looks like nothin's gonna change
I perceive that no significant events or transitions will happen.
Everything seems to stay the same
My surroundings and circumstances persist without progression or variation.
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
I refuse to conform to the requests and commands of others.
So I guess I'll remain the same
I suppose I will continue to be in my current state and follow my own path.
I'm sittin' here restin' my bones
I am sitting on the dock, relaxing and taking a break from physical activity.
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
I am experiencing feelings of isolation and sadness that are persistent and present.
This two thousand miles I roamed
I have traveled a long distance of two thousand miles.
Just to make this dock my home
I have decided to make this dock my place of residence and comfort.
Now I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Currently, I am sitting and observing the bay from the dock.
I'm wastin' time
I am not engaging in any productive activities or actions while I am sitting on the dock.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Cropper, Otis Redding
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DhariaLurie
"The Beautiful Mountain That Is Dragon Springs
This beautiful mountain villa that is Dragon Springs
Is where we matured into men and women
With its verdant hills and crystal waters,
its songs of birds and aromatic flowers
The pagoda’s bells ring out through the sacred grounds
Youthful students in the classrooms leave a fine example,
with all their talents and grace—
Peerless artists of Shen Yun in the making
Laughing, singing, and reading together,
they spread beautiful dance and music near and far
In this troubled world ’tis truly a City of the Gods
2018
*
Faeries Aflight
The bright moon hangs from the vault of heaven
Beautiful towers and vast halls highlight a beauteous flock
Heaven and Earth are illumined, enhancing the scene
With steps soft and graceful, they whirl sleeves long
Twisting, turning, spreading, closing—these flying faeries
Aerials and swallow jumps that best the greatest dancers
Accompanied by music, the dance itself becomes melodic
With a beauty elevated still more by their grace
January 2, 2016
*
The Wait of a Thousand Autumns
Heaven’s faeries float down, dancing with elegance
Beautiful and agile, with coiffures simply divine
Moving to and fro, they exude a myriad charms
With but a smiling glance backwards,
they put the world’s flowers to shame
Spinning, turning, whirling, twirling,
they land their aerial leaps ever so lightly
Stepping so slowly, they come to a halt,
yet the beauty does not stop there
The music and dance call out to your true nature
For this one performance you’ve awaited
a thousand autumns
October 27, 2016"
(Master Li Hongzhi, Hong Yin V, from Falun Dafa teachings)
@garyraab9132
Fantastic comment.
One of the first ‘heal my broken mind’!
I cannot fully relate, however I lost my father in a gas plant explosion in 64, graduated high school in 69, and always have been cognizant of soldiers in Vietnam, and students at Kent State!
At 12, and now, visualizing a coffin being lowered into the a dark hole … with little understanding of WHY… my thoughts further scrabbled by simple adult abstraction…
Recently 0:04 Read:
Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character, by Jonathan Shay
Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming, by Jonathan Shay
War, by Sebastian Unger
There are a lot of young people, not only military personnel, with minds of varying degrees of brokenness, for many reasons that would greatly benefit from your story…learn from the song, and your healing… as a preventative message to reduce future ‘brokenness’! and better mental health!
@genegoodwin8925
One of the greatest songs ever written and one of the best of the 1960's. Call it what you will, pop, blues, soul, it doesn't matter, "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay" will always be a classic. Thank you Oits Redding for giving the world this wonderful song.
@marblebuyer1
💯👍
@TerryMartin-v8f
I was 12 in I liked this song
@rogerbenker1288
🤩
@rogerbenker1288
👏👏👍🏻👍🏻❤❤🇧🇪
@daliaflorez7050
Who cares about all this fake as songs like I’m done listening to this Shit
@jarredgallardo4798
“Sitting here resting my bones, and this loneliness won’t leave me alone.”
One of the most powerful lines I’ve ever heard in a song. R.I.P. to this LEGEND
@Goofygoober_84
He's definitely one of the greats. This song relaxes me. 😌😌😌🌊🌊🌊
@cynthialindsey7508
Me too
@kelmohror6960
That's what I am doing, trying to shake a sense of despair and directionless. The seagull's call is especially mournful now. "Just wastin' time..."