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.
Any Ole Way
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't go the places that you go
And I don't say the bad things that you say
But I love you any ole way, darling
I love you any ole way, now
I love you any ole way
But I want you to say that it's true
Wherever you go darling I will go
When you get there honey I will be there
Just to hear the sweet words that you say
It's I love you every way, now
I love you any ole way, now, now
I love you every way
And I want you to say that it's true
Sitting on my hutch
Waiting for her to come
So I can hold her
Here in my arms
Watching my watch
As the time pass
Wandering how long my love is going to last, now
Baby one more time
You're making me feel all right, oh, oh now
Wherever you go darling I will go
Whenever you get there I bet I will be there
Just to hear the sweet words that you'll say
Is I love you every way, now, now
I love you any ole way, now
I love you every way, now, now
And I love you any ole way, now
And I love you any ole way, now
I'm just wanting you just more every day, now
I'm just wanting you more and more every day
And I'm just needing you and needing and needing you, ooh
And I'm just wanting and wanting and wanting you more
In Otis Redding's song Any Ole Way, the singer is addressing his lover, conveying that he may not necessarily partake in the same activities, visit the same places or use the same language as her. Nevertheless, he still loves her unconditionally, and it doesn't matter how she behaves or where she goes – his love for her remains steady. He asks her to reciprocate his love by saying that it's true. The lyrics also express the singer's eagerness to hold his lover in his arms and hear her sweet words, as they wander how long their love will last. The song's overall message is one of love that overcomes obstacles and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't do the things that you do
I have my own habits different from yours.
And I don't go the places that you go
I have my own favorite places to go that differ from yours.
And I don't say the bad things that you say
I have different manners and do not speak harshly as you do.
But I love you any ole way, darling
Regardless of our differences, I love you in any form or way, dear.
I love you any ole way, now
I love you no matter what, even now.
I love you any ole way
I love you in any way or form.
But I want you to say that it's true
However, I want you to confirm that you love me too.
Wherever you go darling I will go
I will follow you wherever you go, my dear.
When you get there honey I will be there
I will join you and be by your side when you reach there, honey.
Just to hear the sweet words that you say
I am eager to listen to your kind words.
It's I love you every way, now
I love you wholeheartedly, in every possible way, at this moment.
And I want you to say that it's true
Yet, I still desire to hear you confess your love for me.
Sitting on my hutch
I am waiting patiently at my place.
Waiting for her to come
I am waiting for my lover to arrive.
So I can hold her
I eagerly want to embrace her in my arms.
Here in my arms
I want to hug her tightly, close to my heart.
Watching my watch
I am looking at my watch and keeping track of the time.
As the time pass
Time is passing by, and I am still waiting for my beloved.
Wandering how long my love is going to last, now
I am pondering how long our love will endure.
Baby one more time
Darling, just for once again.
You're making me feel all right, oh, oh now
You are making me feel good, oh, right now.
Whenever you get there I bet I will be there
I am so sure that I will already be with you when you arrive there.
Is I love you every way, now, now
I love you with all my heart and in every way possible, right now.
And I love you any ole way, now
I will always love you in any way or form, even now.
I'm just wanting you just more every day, now
With each passing day, I crave your love more and more.
I'm just wanting you more and more every day
Every day, my desire for your love increases.
And I'm just needing you and needing and needing you, ooh
I yearn for you with an intense longing, ooh.
And I'm just wanting and wanting and wanting you more
My yearning for you keeps growing stronger and stronger.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OTIS REDDING, STEVE CROPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jet727vans
I feel sorry for anyone that doesn't love this music !!
mark michalko
Best Soul Singer in My Life Time. Screw the Soul, One of the Singers ever and Went a way WAYYYYY To Early!! Miss Ya "Otis"
Yahya Rahman
Go Mr. Otis Redding, miss you.
Pagano
Best soul musician to ever do it, I don’t wanna hear that same ol James Brown bullshit argument
Swanage Jazz Festival
This is very similar to "Mercy, Mercy Mercy" written by pianist Joe Zawinul for the Cannonball Adderley Quintet and, I think pre-dates that jazz classic. I wonder if Zawinul heard the tune and 'absorbed' a bit of it?
Ivan Stax
Covered this CLASSIC in 1969 in Liverpool
Giovanni Liuti
Grande
WHEN I'M 64
*.*H What a sweet song I have been discovering in your recent editing Clay ( , Btw there are two or three songs I browse that You had in your channel but they seem to be gone hmmm eliminated.? I mean You made one in tribute to BJ's "Billy the Kid", don't You? There was also a ballad or two of Dan Fogelberg's? , if I can recall correctly May I ask You if You shall repost each one please Thank You for Your time and attention to this my lines, Mine.