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.
A Lover's Question
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I worry, when we're apart
It's a lover's question, I'd like to know.
Does she need me, as she pretends
Is this a game, well then will I win
It's a lover's question, I'd like to know
I'd like to know when she's not with me
If she's still true to me
Does she feel just what I feel,
And how am I to know it's really real.
Oh, tell me where, the answer lies
Is it in her kiss or in her eyes
It's a lover's question I'd like to know.
I'd like to know when she's not with me
If she's still true to me
I'd like to know when we're kissing
Does she feel just what I feel,
And how am I to know it's really real.
Oh, tell me where, the answer lies
Is it in her kiss or in her eyes
It's a lover's question I'd like to know.
In Otis Redding's song, "A Lover's Question," the singer is expressing their insecurities about their relationship and questioning their partner's feelings towards them. The singer is questioning whether their partner loves them with all their heart and whether they are truly needed or just pretending. The lyrics express the desire to know whether their partner is still true to them when they are not together and whether their feelings during intimate moments are mutual. The singer is desperately searching for answers, asking where they can find the truth about their relationship - in their partner's kiss or in their eyes.
This song captures the anxiety and uncertainties that can come with being in love, especially when one's feelings are not reciprocated in the same way. It speaks to the human desire for reassurance and the need to know where one stands in a relationship. Ultimately, the singer is seeking validation that their love is real and that their partner feels the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
Does she love me, with all her heart
I want to know if she loves me completely and unconditionally.
Should I worry, when we're apart
I'm concerned about whether or not she's being faithful when we're not together.
It's a lover's question, I'd like to know.
These are the types of questions that someone in love asks.
Does she need me, as she pretends
I suspect that she may be pretending to need me, and I want to know if that's true.
Is this a game, well then will I win
I'm wondering if our relationship is just a game, and if it is, if I can come out on top.
I'd like to know when she's not with me
If she's still true to me
When we're apart, I want to know if she's remaining faithful to me.
I'd like to know when we're kissing
Does she feel just what I feel,
And how am I to know it's really real.
I want to know if the feelings we share when we're together are mutual, and if our love is genuine.
Oh, tell me where, the answer lies
Is it in her kiss or in her eyes
It's a lover's question I'd like to know.
I'm asking for guidance on how to determine if she truly loves me, whether it's through her actions or her expressions of affection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BROOK BENTON, JIMMY WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
X X
Whoever is listening to him in 2020 is being teleported to the time where great music was made. I love Otis. May his soul rest in peace.
Judge Williams
It's 2023, I'm still listening.
postatility
I've been a HUGE Otis lover for years,yet I somehow slept on this album....until I heard this the other day.It just blew my mind!Clyde McPhatter's original version is great but kind of polite and sweet after you hear Otis' power and grit....and the arrangement of piano and horns is superb! I'm thoroughly having a blast with my annual Sam(Cooke)and Otis week,remembering these two giants who left us way too soon (Dec 11,1964 and Dec 10,1967)All of us lovers of great artistry are so thankful!!
LIKEABLEMUSIC
OTIS REDDING!!! MY FAVORITE SINGER OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frank Zgrabik
this is my favorite song of his
Sic Synch
Otis made any and all covers he did his very own... Never worked the same way with other's covers of his astonishing body of work.
Sharon Pressley
Love to hear this man sing love you Otis
szmig00
One of my favourite Soul singers.
Thanks for commenting Sharon.
Mitzy Campbell
Otis - effortless mastery.
szmig00
Too true postatility! This is a great verion, Otis has the edge over Clyde I think! Thanks for viewing and commenting.