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.
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
I keep singing them sad, sad songs, y'all
Sad songs is all I know
I keep singing them sad, sad songs, y'all
Sad songs are all I know
Anybody can sing it any old time
What in your heart puts you in a groove
And when you sing this song
It'll make you're whole body move, it goes
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Your turn
Our turn
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Your turn, now
All my life I've been singing them sad songs
Trying to get my message to you
But this is the only song, y'all, I can sing
And when I get to singing my message from me to you, it goes
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Your turn, now
It's a lovely song, y'all
Sweet music, honey
It's just a line, oh but
It tells a story, baby
You got to get the message
A stone message, honey
A lovely line, baby
I'm worried in mind, watch me
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Your turn
Everybody's turn, everybody
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, one more time
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, worried alive, y'all
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
The lyrics of Otis Redding's song "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa" reflect the artist's tendency to write sad songs that are deeply personal and authentic. Redding acknowledges that he has been singing these kinds of songs all his life, and that it's the only way he knows how to communicate his message. The repetitive chorus of "fa-fa-fa" serves as a reminder of the simplicity and universality of music, the ability of music to convey emotions even without words. The song is a celebration of the power of music to transform people, to make them dance, to inspire them to sing along.
Redding's voice is full of soulful passion and energy as he sings about his love for music and his desire to share that love with others. He wants his listeners to feel the same joy and connection that he does when he sings, and he encourages them to join in the chorus and make the song their own. The lyrics also suggest a sense of isolation and loneliness, as Redding refers to his sad songs and his worry, and he invites his listeners to understand and connect with him through his music. Overall, "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa" is a powerful and uplifting testament to the transformative power of music and the importance of sharing that power with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Repetition of a catchy phrase to introduce the song
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Continuation of the catchy phrase to keep the rhythm
I keep singing them sad, sad songs, y'all
The singer continuously performs songs with melancholic themes
Sad songs is all I know
The ability to express himself through sad songs is the only way the singer can relate to his audience
It has a sweet melody tonight
The song has a pleasant tune
Anybody can sing it any old time
Anyone can enjoy the song and perform it whenever they want
What in your heart puts you in a groove
Everyone has their own preferences and the song helps find a rhythm
And when you sing this song
The song has an uplifting effect
It'll make you're whole body move, it goes
It has a contagious rhythm that can make people dance
Your turn
Inviting the listener to sing along
Our turn
The singer is willing to share the song with the audience
All my life I've been singing them sad songs
The singer has a history of performing melancholic songs
Trying to get my message to you
The songs were a way to communicate his thoughts and feelings
But this is the only song, y'all, I can sing
The singer is limited to expressing himself through sad songs
And when I get to singing my message to you, it goes
The song is still an effective way to share his message with the audience
It's a lovely song, y'all
The singer admires the beauty of the song
Sweet music, honey
The song has an enchanting sound
It's just a line, oh but
The song may have simple lyrics but its meaning can be powerful
It tells a story, baby
The song carries a narrative
You got to get the message
The listener needs to understand the meaning behind the song
A stone message, honey
The message behind the song is solid and unchanging
A lovely line, baby
The lyrics have a calming and soothing effect
I'm worried in mind, watch me
The singer is sharing his concerns and emotions with the audience
Everybody's turn, everybody
Inviting everyone to join in the singing
One more time
The song is to be repeated once more
Worried alive, y'all
The singer is still anxious and concerned
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OTIS REDDING, STEVE CROPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind