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.
Hawg for You
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna root all around your door
I'm a dirty hawg for you, baby
And I'm gonna keep on rootin'
All around your door, baby, now now
I'm gonna keep on rootin', baby
Till I can't root no more
I got rockin' pneumonia, asiatic flu
I got something to tell you, baby
I want to sock it to you
Hawg for you, baby
And I'm gonna rock all around your door
Keep on rootin', rootin'
Rootin', root, baby, yeah
Till I just can't root no more
Hawg for you, baby
Hawg for you, honey
They say I'm a dirty man
But I'm doin'the best I can
They say I don't do none right
But I'm gonna make love all night, huh
I'm a hawg for you, baby
And I'm gonna root all around your door
Keep on rootin', mama
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
'Til I just can root no more
Let's take it home, boys, oh yeah
The opening lines of Otis Redding's "Hawg for You" depict a man who is completely devoted to his partner. The singer claims he is a "dirty hawg" that will "root" around her door. This suggests an insatiable hunger or desire for his lover. He is declaring to her that he is fully committed and enthralled by her, and that he will not stop pursuing her until she gives herself completely to him. This is further reinforced when he sings "I got something to tell you, baby, I want to sock it to you." Here, "sock it to you" can be interpreted as a promise to please his lover sexually. Although the lyrics have an intense sexual connotation, they can also be seen as a declaration of all-consuming passion.
Furthermore, the lyrics "They say I'm a dirty man, But I'm doing' the best I can" can imply that the singer is not accepted by society, or that he is viewed as unworthy or tainted. However, he does not let that get in the way of his love for his partner. He knows that society may judge him but he is determined to pursue her nonetheless, promising to make love to her all night long. Despite the lyrics being explicit with sexual undertones, the underlying message is one of devotion, passion, and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a hawg for you, baby
I am deeply in love with you, baby
I'm gonna root all around your door
I'm going to chase you relentlessly
I'm a dirty hawg for you, baby
I want to consume you in every way possible
And I'm gonna keep on rootin'
I'll never stop chasing you
All around your door, baby, now now
I'll follow you wherever you go
I'm gonna keep on rootin', baby
I'll never tire of pursuing you
Till I can't root no more
I will keep chasing you forever
I got rockin' pneumonia, asiatic flu
Even if I'm sick, I can't stop thinking of you
I got something to tell you, baby
I have a message for you
I want to sock it to you
I want to love you passionately
And I'm gonna rock all around your door
I'll do whatever it takes to be with you
Till I just can't root no more
I'll never give up
They say I'm a dirty man
People may judge me harshly
But I'm doin'the best I can
But I'm doing my best
They say I don't do none right
Others say I'm doing things wrong
But I'm gonna make love all night, huh
But I'm going to make love to you all night long
I'm a hawg for you, baby
I am deeply in love with you, baby
Keep on rootin', mama
I'll keep pursuing you, darling
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Oh my God...
Let's take it home, boys, oh yeah
We'll end the song here
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Corpus Callosum
Actually, it isn't even credited on the Bronx Tale soundtrack. And It's one of the best songs in the movie.
Stuart Hall
You've got a point there bro, still man's here cuz ov dat movie
murp h
It's one of the best songs in the history of Blues !! And
pantograph
Wow, I bought this LP back in college! Thanks to Wolfman Jack and the crew at KGAR 1550 in Vancouver/Portland for getting me hooked on 60's soul music!
bj nelson
Dam Otis.... your killin'em with this man!!!!
murp h
A soul transfusion by injecting major major STANK __ great great blues !!
Ringo 757
Hermoso blues
68-73WASTHEBESTMUSIC
Idk when I first heard this, of course I recognized it in Bronx Tale, but the simplicity of the ideas behind the music scape of blues...makes this song so dope!!! It fits even better cruising around in my 66 Chevy caprice.....wit my wife! Love u, Ima Hawg for u baby! And Ima root all night lawng!!! Lol
Juan Navarro
AMAZING!!!!!
GrtSatan
Miss you Otis, you were the real thing.