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.
Happy Song
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Singing it for my baby
She's the only one, can bring me joy
That's why, I sing these happy songs, they go
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, come on now
On a cold rainy windy night, huh
She shut all my doors, she cut out the light
She cut off the light
She holds me and squeeze me tight
She tells me "big O, everything's all right"
Then I go dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, do it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, come on now
Those happy songs happy, happy songs
Come on
Bring my breakfast to the table
When I go to work she know I'm able
Do my job, I come back in
You oughta see my baby's face, she just grin, grin grin, I go
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum, sing them happy songs
Lovely, lovely songs
Sweet soul songs
Those good old happy songs
It gives ya such a feeling
A lovely lovely feeling
It makes you want to shout
In fact it knocks you out
Said, happy happy songs
Those good old lovely songs
Those sweet nursery rhyme songs
Those good old lovely songs
Those sweet soul music songs
Those good old, good old songs
Happy, happy songs
In Otis Redding's song "The Happy Song," he sings about his love for his significant other and how she is the only person who can bring him joy. He explains how when he sings happy songs, it is all for her. Even on a cold, rainy, and windy night, she brings him comfort by shutting all the doors, cutting off the light, and holding him tight, telling him that everything is alright. Otis Redding then brings the beat back in with the lyrics, "Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again" as he reflects on his love for his significant other while singing happy songs. The chorus of the song sums up the feeling of the song, as Otis Redding leads us to repeat the phrase "happy song" over and over again, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Overall, Otis Redding’s “The Happy Song” is an apostle of love and its ability to bring joy and happiness to individuals. Otis Redding emphasises that it is not only the thought but the act of expressing love that makes us happy. Otis celebrates the power of love through his music, painting a picture of how true and eternal love can be a source of happiness. The music video also captures him performing with his band, where they seem to be having a good time as they sing about happy songs and the joy it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
When I sing this song y'all, lord
When I sing this song, I feel the joy and happiness that my loved one brings me.
Singing it for my baby
I'm singing this song for my loved one, who is the reason for my happiness.
She's the only one, can bring me joy
My loved one is the only person who can make me feel truly happy.
That's why, I sing these happy songs, they go
That's why I sing happy songs, to express my happiness and love for my partner.
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Repetition of joyful and meaningless syllables that mimic the rhythm of my happy heart.
On a cold rainy windy night, huh
On a dark and miserable night.
She shut all my doors, she cut out the light
My partner closed out the negativity and sadness to create a safe and happy environment for us.
She cut off the light
My partner removed any source of darkness or negativity.
She holds me and squeeze me tight
My partner embraces me tightly, to let me know that everything will be okay and to express her love for me.
She tells me "big O, everything's all right"
My partner reassures me that everything is going to be okay and that we can face anything together.
Bring my breakfast to the table
My partner prepares my breakfast for me every day, to show her love and affection for me.
When I go to work she know I'm able
My partner has faith in me and trusts that I'll be able to handle my work responsibilities.
You oughta see my baby's face, she just grin, grin, grin, I go
Seeing my partner's happy and contented face fills me with happiness and love.
Those happy songs happy, happy songs
Refers to any happy or joyful song.
Sweet soul songs
Refers to soulful songs that convey deep emotion and feeling.
It gives ya such a feeling
Music has a way of creating strong emotions and feelings within us.
A lovely lovely feeling
The feeling created by happy music is a wonderful, positive and warm sensation.
It makes you want to shout
Happy music can make us so joyful that we want to shout and celebrate life.
In fact it knocks you out
The sheer joy created by happy music can be overwhelming and knock us out (in a good way).
Those good old lovely songs
Refers to classic and timeless songs that always bring happiness and good feelings.
Those sweet nursery rhyme songs
Songs that bring back memories of our childhood and simpler times.
Those sweet soul music songs
Soulful music that speaks directly to the heart and soul.
Those good old, good old songs
Refers to classic and timeless songs that always bring happiness and good feelings.
Happy, happy songs
Refers to any happy music that is enjoyed and celebrated.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: OTIS REDDING, STEVE CROPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bubs D
When I sing this song y'all, lord
Singing it for my baby
She's the only one, can bring me joy
That's why, I sing these happy songs, they go
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, come on now
Happy song, happy song, now
On a cold rainy windy night, huh
She shut all my doors, she cut out the light
She cut off the light
She holds me and squeeze me tight
She tells me "big O, everything's all right"
Then I go dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, do it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, come on now
Those happy songs happy, happy songs
Come on
Bring my breakfast to the table
When I go to work she know I'm able
Do my job, I come back in
You oughta see my baby's face, she just grin, grin grin, I go
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum, sing them happy songs
Lovely, lovely songs
Sweet soul songs
Those good old happy songs
It gives ya such a feeling
A lovely lovely feeling
It makes you want to shout
In fact it knocks you out
Said, happy happy songs
Those good old lovely songs
Those sweet nursery rhyme songs
Those good old lovely songs
Those sweet soul music songs
Those good old, good old songs
Happy, happy songs
Jevezy
I love to hear him sing this song. Soul man, pure soul. Enjoying it in 2019.
lovely Dove
Pure raw soul!!! The best entertainers have come and gone. Long live their music forever!!! RIP Otis!
Oli Moor
This man is Soul, hot soul burning soul, body & soul burning soul. I play his music in my house & always on my road trips, sometime he is the only one I play ,because I never get tired of him doing, what he is doing to me. I loved him back then, I cried when his plane crashed & I still love him to this day, His name is OTIS Yall!!!
BahamaDigital
I Knowwwwww you aint Lie! Cuz I'm the EXACT Same😂
Bubs D
When I sing this song y'all, lord
Singing it for my baby
She's the only one, can bring me joy
That's why, I sing these happy songs, they go
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, come on now
Happy song, happy song, now
On a cold rainy windy night, huh
She shut all my doors, she cut out the light
She cut off the light
She holds me and squeeze me tight
She tells me "big O, everything's all right"
Then I go dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, do it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, come on now
Those happy songs happy, happy songs
Come on
Bring my breakfast to the table
When I go to work she know I'm able
Do my job, I come back in
You oughta see my baby's face, she just grin, grin grin, I go
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum-dum, play it again
Dum, dum, baby, dee-dum, sing them happy songs
Lovely, lovely songs
Sweet soul songs
Those good old happy songs
It gives ya such a feeling
A lovely lovely feeling
It makes you want to shout
In fact it knocks you out
Said, happy happy songs
Those good old lovely songs
Those sweet nursery rhyme songs
Those good old lovely songs
Those sweet soul music songs
Those good old, good old songs
Happy, happy songs
Jevezy
King of Soul, often imitated, but never, never could be replicated. We miss you Otis.
samarvem
Back in 1968 i used to wear this out,the whole album was a masterpiece,the immortal Otis Redding.I bought it on album,tape and now c.d. I guess you can say that i am a big fan of the Big O. thanks for posting.
Jevezy
The King of Soul, one of my favorites by Otis. left us way too soon, often imitated but never, never could be replicated. It is 2020 and COVID is kicking our azzes and taking lives, thanks to Otis for lifting me out of the deep funk I was in. Sigh!
Evelyn Price
Get it, Big O !!!🎤🎶❤️💯👍🏾😊
Evelyn Price
Cool I love Mr. Redding!🎤🎶🎶❤️👍🏾💯