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.
Change Is Gonna Come
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like this river, I've been running ever since
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know, a change is gotta come
Ooo yes it is
Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my
It's been too hard living, oh my
I don't know what's up there
Beyond the clouds
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come
Oh yes it is
Oh my, oh my, oh my
There's a time I would go to my brother, oh my
I asked my brother, "Will you help me please?", oh my oh my
He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother, oh
I said "Mother!"
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
It's been a time that I thought
Lord this couldn't last for very long, oh now
But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it is
Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother, oh my little brother now
I asked my brother "Brother help me please?", oh now
He turned me down and then I go to my little mother, my dear mother, oh my
I said "Mother!"
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
But there was a time that I thought
Lord this couldn't last for very long, oh my
Somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know, but I know a change is gotta come, ooo
It's been so long, it's been so long, a little too long
A change has gotta come
So tired, so tired of standing by myself
And standing up alone
A change has gotta come
You know and I know, and you know that I know
I know that you know, honey
That a change is gonna come oh yeah oh, I gotta
The lyrics to Otis Redding's song, A Change Is Gonna Come, convey the experience of an individual who has been facing tremendous obstacles in life. Born by a river in a tent, just like the river that keeps flowing, the singer has been constantly on the move, trying to survive. The lyrics describe how the individual has been living under difficult conditions and feels lost and alone, even when surrounded by people. The singer is afraid to die, not knowing what lies beyond the clouds. Despite all these struggles, the singer retains the hope that a change is going to come.
The singer has turned to family members for support, asking for help in time of need. However, his brother and mother both turned him down, leaving him feeling down on his knees, begging for help. Though the singer is tired of standing alone, he still believes that a change is going to come. There is a sense of optimism as the song comes to an end, as the singer expresses a conviction that a change is inevitable.
The lyrics of A Change Is Gonna Come evoke a profound sense of resilience, courage, and the power of hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The song is an anthem for those who are fighting for a better world, encouraging them to hold onto the belief that change can indeed come.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born by a river, oh man, in this little old tent, oh
I come from humble beginnings and have been on a journey ever since.
Just like this river, I've been running ever since
My journey has been like that of a river, constantly moving and changing.
It's been a long, long time coming
The struggle I've faced has been ongoing for an excessive amount of time.
But I know, but I know, a change is gotta come
Despite my struggles, I have faith that a positive change is imminent.
Ooo yes it is
I am confident that the change will come and it will be necessary.
It's been too hard living, oh my
My life has been a difficult one filled with challenges.
And I'm afraid to die
I fear that my struggles may lead to my untimely demise.
I don't know what's up there
I am uncertain of what lies beyond death.
Beyond the clouds
I wonder if there is peace and happiness beyond this world.
There's a time I would go to my brother, oh my
In times of need, I would turn to my family for support.
I asked my brother, "Will you help me please?", oh my oh my
I have asked for help from those close to me, but have been turned down.
He turned me down and then I ask my dear mother, oh
My brother was unable to help, so I turned to my mother for assistance.
I said "Mother!"
I cried out to my mother for help and guidance.
I said "Mother! I'm down on my knees"
I am desperate for help and am pleading with my mother to assist me.
But there was a time that I thought
There have been moments where I lost faith in a better future.
Lord this couldn't last for very long, oh now
I believed that my hardships would end soon and I could move on.
But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on
Despite the challenges, I try to remain strong and keep going.
Just like I said, I went to my little bitty brother, oh my little brother now
I returned to my brother for help, hoping he would heed my plea.
He turned me down and then I go to my little mother, my dear mother, oh my
My brother was again unable to help, so I turned to my mother once more.
So tired, so tired of standing by myself
I am exhausted from facing my struggles alone.
And standing up alone
I have been forced to face my problems without support from those around me.
You know and I know, and you know that I know
I am aware that the need for change is shared by those around me.
I know that you know, honey
I am confident that others have felt the same struggles I have.
That a change is gonna come oh yeah oh, I gotta
I firmly believe that a positive change is coming, and I must persevere until it arrives.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
festidious2644
Beautiful voice and a great song of encouragement. What a time to be alive for music! Good upload, thank you.
Ge Mail
One of greatest songs ever ...
Voice, Melody, haunting low tones and crying high notes; marching progressions and the prayful wailing of hope and change. Perfect, just perfect ...
Hazel Flynn
So powerful …………… no words ….