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.
My Girl_
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
Otis Redding's "My Girl" is a love song that describes the joy and happiness of having someone special in his life. The opening line of the song, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day," sets the tone for the rest of the song, indicating that the singer's girl is the source of his happiness and light. Even on cold and gloomy days, he feels warmth and happiness because he has her.
The lyrics describe how the singer is so blessed that he doesn't even need money, fortune, or fame. He already feels like the richest man in the world because he has someone who loves him unconditionally. The lyrics "I've got so much honey the bees envy me/I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees" are great metaphors for the happiness he feels inside.
The chorus emphasizes the joy and happiness he feels ("My girl, my girl, my girl, talking about my girl") and how his girl is the most special person in his life. The song ends with the line "I've even got the month of May with my girl", which is a reference to the spring season when everything is in bloom and life is beautiful.
Overall, Otis Redding's "My Girl" is a classic love song that emphasizes the importance of having someone special in your life. The lyrics create a feel-good atmosphere that makes the listener appreciate the beauty of love and how it can light up your world.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Even on a gloomy day, I have a reason to be happy.
When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May
Even during tough times, I have something positive to look forward to.
I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way?
It's hard to explain in words, but I feel incredibly happy and blessed.
My girl (my girl, my girl)
It's all thanks to my wonderful girlfriend.
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I can't help but talk about her and how amazing she is.
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I have an abundance of love and affection.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
Even nature can't compete with the joy my girlfriend brings me.
Hey hey hey
I'm just so excited and happy talking about her.
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I don't need material possessions to feel content and fulfilled.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
The love of my girlfriend is the greatest wealth I could ever possess.
With my girl, I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Being with her brings light to even the darkest moments.
I've even got the month of May, with my girl
With her, every day feels like a new beginning or a fresh start.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMIE PAULIN, LARRY MICHAEL WHITE, JUSTIN TYLER WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yo cogoluenhes
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside
I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
I've got so much honey
The bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees
Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
Ohh ohh
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Oh yeah
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
Well I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl, talkin' 'bout my girl
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl
I've even got the month of May with my girl
Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout
W TECH
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
And it's cold outside, I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make, ooh, me feel this way?
It's my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
I've got so much loving, the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song that I can sing, than the birds in the trees
I guess you will say
Ooh, what can make me feel this way?
It's my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, ooh
Ooooh+
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooooh, yeah
I don't need no money, all I need is my fame
I've got all the riches baby one big man can claim
I guess you'd say
Ooh, "What can make you feel this way?"
My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl
I've even got the month of May with my, my, my girl
Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout
marwah ibrahim
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
Venus in Scorpio
How crazy is it I’ve barely heard this version being sung by this man - Otis - so much love dripping from his mouth - this is ear honey to me! Love me some Otis Redding- great discovery!!!
Diablo Rojo
This man's voice is sunshine on a cloudy day.
Jimmy V
Best version. By leagues. You can absolutely feel it in your soul when you hear old Otis. True master at his craft.
len b
Sorry the Funk Brothers & the temptations
yo cogoluenhes
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside
I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
I've got so much honey
The bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees
Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
Ohh ohh
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Oh yeah
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
Well I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl, talkin' 'bout my girl
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl
I've even got the month of May with my girl
Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout
karakorum2007
Estoy recien descubriendo a Otis, es decir dándole el mérito de muchas fantasticas canciones escuchadas durante TODA mi vida sin saber quien las cantaba. Su musica es maravillosa. I´m just discovering Otis, I mean that just now I´m giving him the value for a lot of great songs I´ve listened through all my life, without knowing who sang them. His music is awesome!
Caly Miotti
La voz más completa del soul, hermosos arreglos
Kristen Bailey
Goosebumps the moment he started singing...simply electrifying!
Jerry Thomas
@Kristen Bailey hi how are you doing ?
Kristen Bailey
Hi Jerry Thomas👋🏻