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.
7. I Can
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I do I'm gonna loose my life
Oh I can't turn you loose now
If I do I'm gonna loose my life
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I love you baby, yes I do
Give shakin' mama, I told ya
I'm in love with only you
I'll give ya everything you want
Gotta, gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
I cant turn you loose now
I'm in love with the prettiest thing
I never, never turn you loose now
Because of all the sweet love she brings
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I love you baby, yes I do
Give shaking mama,
I told ya I'm in love with only you
Gotta, do it baby why don't ya
I'll give ya everything you want
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta keep a grip on you
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
I know you think I'm gonna stop now
But we ain't gonna stop it now
One more time
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
Everybody want it
Everybody can have it
Gotta, gotta gotta, gotta s
Oo, soo hold on,
I'm comin'
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Get a grip
Can't turn you loose
Hold on, I'm comin'
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Get a grip
Can't turn you loose
Hold on, I'm comin'
Hold on, I'm comin'
Gotta get a grip on you baby
Gotta, gotta gotta
Gotta, gotta gotta
We're groovin', groovin'
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin on
Gotta get a grip
Can't turn you loose
The song “I Can’t Turn You Loose” is an upbeat love tune of Otis Redding released in 1965. The song is all about a man who can’t let go of his lover no matter how much he wants to because he fears losing his life if he does. The lyrics show how much the man is in love with his woman that he tells her, “I'm in love with only you,” and “Gotta, do it baby why don't ya, I'll give ya everything you want.” He is willing to do anything and everything for her, and he can’t bear the thought of losing her to someone else.
The song features an upbeat rhythm that invites anyone to dance while listening to it. Its catchy tune can make anyone tap their feet to the rhythm. Redding's soulful and passionate voice perfectly captures the emotion of the lyrics in the song. Together with his band, the song creates an enjoyable and pleasing listening experience.
Overall, "I Can’t Turn You Loose" is a classic love song that captures the feeling of loving someone completely and not wanting to let them go. Its rhythm and soulful voice make it an enjoyable listening experience to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Huh I cant turn you loose now
I cannot let you go now
If I do I'm gonna loose my life
If I let you go, I will lose everything
Oh I can't turn you loose now
I cannot set you free now
If I do I'm gonna loose my life
If I let you go, I will lose everything
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I cannot let anyone else have you
I love you baby, yes I do
I love you and only you
Give shakin' mama, I told ya
Come on, my love, I have told you
I'm in love with only you
I am in love with you and no one else
Gotta baby do it baby why don't ya
Come on, my love, do it for me
I'll give ya everything you want
I will give you everything you desire
Keep on holdin' on
Don't let go
Never gonna turn you loose
I will never let you go
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
I must keep holding on to you
I'm in love with the prettiest thing
I am in love with the most beautiful person
Because of all the sweet love she brings
You bring me so much sweet love
I know you think I'm gonna stop now
I know you think I will let go now
But we ain't gonna stop it now
But we are not going to let go now
Everybody want it
Everyone wants this love
Everybody can have it
Everyone can have this love
Hold on, I'm comin'
Hold on tight, I am coming to you
We're groovin', groovin'
We are dancing and moving together
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chancewebster7953
Happy 82nd birthday, Otis. Rest in Peace.
@fbendz
Any true Stones fan should know about their roots, and how much they digged American soul and blues legends such as Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, Willie Dixon, Otis Redding, etc, etc. Without those guys, no Rolling Stones.
@joe6096
When Brian, Mick, and Keith were like 18-19 years old they were playing the old American blues and R&B and soul in all the small London backstreet pubs.
@geemeff
That's why they are who they are bud. All they ever wanted to do was play the Blues, everybody knows that one.
@loudmind68
Not everybody, the "centennial" fans ( The Crystal Generation ) really don't know that
@ExpTube1969
no Stones, no Zeppelin, no nothing. lol xD
@cedrikmichelofficiel
Tell us something we don't know...
@3HR3NGR4B
Sounds like The Original "I can't get no, Satisfaction!" to my Ears. ✌😘👍
@jamonfannin8628
Hands down, best cover of a Rolling Stones song. Period.
@tyecook9630
Damm right!!