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.
Don
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You really loved me, oh
I was too blind
I could not see, now
But now that you left me
Ooh, how I cried out, I keep crying
You don't miss your water
I kept you crying
Sad and blue, oh my, oh
I was a playboy
I just wouldn't be true
But now that you left me
Good lord, how I cried, I keep crying, I keep crying
Ooh, I didn't miss my water
No I never missed my water
'Till my well were run dry
I sit here and wonder
How in the world this could be, my, oh my
I never thought, oh, I never thought
You'd ever leave me
But now that you left me
Good lord, good lord, how I cried
You don't miss your water, you don't miss your water
'Till your well runs dry
Ooh, you don't miss your water, oh, you don't miss your water
'Till your well runs dry
I miss my water
I keep missing my water
I keep missing my water
And I want my water
I need my water
I love my water
And I want my water
And I'm little thirsty, now
And I'm little thirsty, now
I want my water
I keep wanting my water
The lyrics of Otis Redding's “Don't Miss Your Water” is a reflection of the remorse of a man who took the love he was given for granted. The song is a lamentation of a man who realizes too late the value of the love and affection showered on him by his beloved. The opening lines of the song try to convey the singer's ignorance and insensitivity to the love he was given. He was blinded by his own selfishness and didn't appreciate the love he was given at the time. However, now that his lover has left him, he realizes the value of her affection and is filled with remorse.
As the song proceeds, the singer admits to his past mistakes and how he was responsible for the breakdown of their relationship. He was a “playboy” who didn't have an ounce of fidelity in him. He was not only unfaithful, but he also caused his lover to cry and feel sad, and now that she's gone, he's feeling the full weight of her absence. The chorus of the song keeps reemphasizing how he shouldn't have taken her love for granted, and how he misses her and needs her now more than ever.
Line by Line Meaning
In the beginning
At the start of our relationship
You really loved me, oh
You truly cared for me
I was too blind
I was unable to see
I could not see, now
I realize my blindness now
But now that you left me
Since you departed
Ooh, how I cried out, I keep crying
I wept and continue to do so
You don't miss your water
You do not realize what you had
'Till your well runs dry
Until something is gone
I kept you crying
I caused you to weep
Sad and blue, oh my, oh
Feeling dejected and unhappy
I was a playboy
I acted like a womanizer
I just wouldn't be true
I couldn't be faithful
Good lord, how I cried
I wept bitterly
Ooh, I didn't miss my water
I didn't appreciate what I had
No I never missed my water
I never realized my mistake
'Till my well were run dry
Until I lost everything
I sit here and wonder
I contemplate and ponder
How in the world this could be, my, oh my
How did this happen?
I never thought, oh, I never thought
I never expected
You'd ever leave me
You would depart
And I'm little thirsty, now
I am now longing for what I had
I want my water
I desire what I once had
I keep wanting my water
I continuously long for it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tonytshabalala2380
LYRICS:
In the beginning you really loved me, oh
I was too blind, I could not see, now
But now that you left me
oh, how I cried out, I keep crying
You don't miss your water 'till your well run dry
I kept you crying, sad and blue, oh my, oh
I was a playboy, I just wouldn't be true
But now that you left me
Good Lord, how I cried, I keep crying, I keep crying
Ooh, I've been miss my water
No, I never miss my water 'till my well run dry
I sit here and wonder
How in the world this could be, my, oh my
I never thought, oh, I never thought you'd ever leave me
But now that you left me
Good Lord, good Lord, how I cried out
You don't miss your water
You don't miss your water 'till your well run dry
Ooh, You don't miss your water, oh
You don't miss your water 'till your well run dry
@__blessings123
Snowfall brought me here today but I LOVE the Motown generation. Oldies plays a huge role in my childhood. From a child to my late teens that’s all I listened to. 1920’s to 1970’s was definitely my go to music even now. It touches the deepest part of my heart and soul. Idk I attached myself that when I listen to some oldies I feel at peace. Otis Redding was PURE TALENT! The Temptations will be one of the most talented groups that would ever touch this earth. One of Motown golden artists.. not to take from the other artists from Motown days. Motown had many golden artists. Sorry I lost myself for a second took me back.. Ngl I cried listening to this because it reminded me of times when things used to be so simple in life.
@thruend2496
This is STAX Power baby.
@matthewsmith1941
They just played this on the new South Park Streaming Wars 2 and I had to hear it again. What an incredible song. Gave me chill bumps.
@fallingstar403
Otis Redding is guaranteed to pull your heart strings ❤️
@jamespowell2927
I had to listen to the entire album when I heard it again 🙂
@michelleshore9910
Agreed!
@dominiquejones3805
Dope!!!!
@dominiquejones3805
Snowfall also had it
@CCP12610
I can't believe he was only 26 when he died. Blows my mind. So many classic songs in such a short period of time. Thank you, Otis!!!!
@danielwilliams1932
in 50's and 60's all great singers died in plane crashes.