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.
Johnny's Heartbreak
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you remember when we were happy?
Do you remember? Do you remember?
Do you remember when we were lucky?
We were livin' the life almost every night
I would wrap you in my thin white arms
Sit and watch the stars glide
Yeah, do you remember when we were the losers?
Do you remember when we were the lame?
Do you remember when we were the lepers?
Do you remember? Do you remember?
Do you remember when we were strung out?
Eatin' Top Ramen, macaroni and cheese
We would get so lost in that basement room
Let the Otis Redding sing us to sleep
I wish I had one more life
I don't wanna be wasted
I don't wanna live inside this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
I don't wanna be wasted
I don't wanna live inside this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
I wish I could be like all my heroes
I wish I could be like all yours too
I wish I could sing like Otis Redding
I wish I could play this guitar in tune
Do you remember when we were hungry?
Do you remember when we were cold?
Do you remember when we were happy in a way
No one outside could ever know?
I wish I had one more life
How I wish I had one more life to live
I don't wanna be wasted
I don't wanna live inside of this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
I don't wanna be wasted
No, I don't wanna live inside of this daydream anymore
I just wanna be happy again
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be
I don't wanna be wasted, I don't wanna be blind
No, I don't wanna be blind
No, I don't wanna be blind
Do you remember when we were cold?
Do you remember when we were happy?
The lyrics of Otis Redding’s song Johnny’s Heartbreak take listeners on a journey through memories of past happiness, struggles, and victories. Throughout the song, the singer asks his partner if they remember various moments in their past, both good and bad. The reminisces of their past include memories of being cold and hungry, but also being happy in their own way, which outsiders could not comprehend. The listener is then taken to a place where the couple were winners, but also losers, where they were at times lame, and then became “lepers”. Despite the difficulties they faced, the couple connects by remembering the times they were blessed and the life they were living.
The song is a heartbreak anthem that explores the changing nature of relationships and the desire to hold on to happiness. Johnny’s Heartbreak has a simple, stripped-down melody that complements the lyrics, giving them an emotional pull that can be felt by everyone who has experienced heartbreak. The song has become an iconic track that resonates with people from different generations and continues to be a classic in the soul music genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember when we were cold?
Do you recall that time when we were experiencing hardship and struggle?
Do you remember when we were happy?
Do you recall that time when we were content and joyful?
Do you remember? Do you remember?
Do you have a vivid recollection of our past times together?
Do you remember when we were lucky?
Do you recall that time when things seemed to be in our favor?
We were livin' the life almost every night
We were enjoying our lives almost every night
I would wrap you in my thin white arms
I used to hold you tightly in my thin white arms
Sit and watch the stars glide
We used to sit and watch the stars move through the sky
Yeah, do you remember when we were the losers?
Do you recall that time when we were failures and underdogs?
Do you remember when we were the lame?
Do you recall that time when we were uncool and unimpressive?
Do you remember when we were the lepers?
Do you recall that time when we were outcasts and isolated?
Do you remember when we were strung out?
Do you recall that time when we were exhausted and overworked?
Eatin' Top Ramen, macaroni and cheese
We used to eat cheap and simple meals like Top Ramen and macaroni and cheese
We would get so lost in that basement room
We used to lose ourselves in that basement room
Let the Otis Redding sing us to sleep
We used to listen to Otis Redding's songs until we fell asleep
I wish I had one more life
I wish I had another chance at life
I don't wanna be wasted
I don't want to waste my life or potential
I don't wanna live inside this daydream anymore
I don't want to continue living in my imagination or fantasies
I just wanna be happy again
I simply want to experience joy and contentment once more
I don't wanna be blind
I don't want to be ignorant or oblivious to reality
I wish I could be like all my heroes
I wish I could emulate and embody the traits of my idols
I wish I could be like all yours too
I wish I could be similar to your own role models
I wish I could sing like Otis Redding
I wish I could possess the same musical talent as Otis Redding
I wish I could play this guitar in tune
I wish I could play the guitar perfectly
Do you remember when we were hungry?
Do you recall that time when we were struggling to find enough food?
Do you remember when we were happy in a way
Do you recall that time when we were content despite our difficult circumstances?
No one outside could ever know?
We kept our happiness hidden from the rest of the world
How I wish I had one more life to live
I deeply desire another chance at life
No, I don't wanna live inside of this daydream anymore
I refuse to keep existing in my imagination or fantasies
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ARTHUR JR. ALEXANDER, OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind