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.
Open the Door
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm talking about. We've all been wrong a time in our life
And we all make mistakes sometimes of leaving what's good for us
I made that mistake, now I'm trying to get back to my baby
This running round, sure 'nough, is killing me
Let me, let me in
Let me in, let me in
Let me in, let me in, let me in, let me in, let me ease on in
Look into my eyes
Can't you see I got to come on in
I ain't lying, and I ain't smiling 'bout it, baby
Open the door or I'm busting in
Because this running around
Sure 'nough, sure 'nough, is killing me
Let me in, it's killing me, baby
I got a come on in
Let me in, baby, please let me in
I got a come on in, honey
Open the door
Open the door
Let me in, let me in, let me in, let me ease on in
Mama, mama, got to come in
Open the door
I can't stand this cold
Let me in this house
I'm tired of this running around
Tired of being, tired of being all alone
Standing out here and walking with, walking with
In Otis Redding's song "Open The Door," the singer pleads with his lover to let him back into her life after making a mistake and leaving what was good for him. He reflects on the fact that everyone makes mistakes and has been wrong at some point in their life. Otis Redding's soulful voice is filled with emotion as he begs his lover to open the door and let him back in.
Redding talks about the toll that running around and being away from his lover is taking on him. He is tired of being alone and wants to come back to his love. Throughout the song, Redding repeats the phrase, "Let me in," as a plea to be allowed back into his lover's life.
The lyrics to this song are relatable and speak to the human experience of making mistakes and wanting to be forgiven. Redding's delivery of the lyrics adds to the emotion and sincerity of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been so wrong, so many times. Now you know what I'm talking about.
Everyone makes mistakes and I have made plenty. I hope you understand.
We've all been wrong a time in our life
We can all relate to making mistakes.
And we all make mistakes sometimes of leaving what's good for us
We sometimes make the mistake of leaving something good for us.
I made that mistake, now I'm trying to get back to my baby
I made the mistake of walking away from my lover and now I want to get back with them.
This running round, sure 'nough, is killing me
This constant running around is really taking its toll on me.
Let me, let me in
Please let me in your home.
Look into my eyes
Look at me directly and see that I am sincere.
Can't you see I got to come on in
My desire to come inside is obvious.
I ain't lying, and I ain't smiling 'bout it, baby
I am being serious and not joking around.
Open the door or I'm busting in
Either open the door for me or I will force my way in.
Because this running around, sure 'nough, sure 'nough, is killing me
This constant running around is really wearing me down.
Let me in, it's killing me, baby
Not being able to come in is really hurting me.
I got a come on in
I absolutely need to come inside.
Let me in, baby, please let me in
Please let me in your home.
Open the door
Open the door for me please.
Mama, mama, got to come in
I really need to come inside.
I can't stand this cold
Standing outside in the cold is unbearable.
Let me in this house
Please let me into your home.
I'm tired of this running around
I am exhausted from constantly running around.
Tired of being, tired of being all alone
I am tired of being alone.
Standing out here and walking with, walking with
I am standing outside here and just walking around, waiting for you to let me in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
|| ShîrleySPaulo' •••
|| Open The Door - Otis Redding
(Abra a Porta)
Estive errado, muitas vezes.
Agora você sabe disso
Estou falando nisso. Nós sempre
erramos uma vez na vida
E todos nós cometemos enganos,
às vezes esquecendo o que é bom
para nós mesmos
Eu cometo enganos, agora estou
tentando voltar para minha querida
Esta corrida, estou certo disso,
está me matando
Deixe-me, deixe-me entrar
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar,
deixe-me entrar, deixe-me sossegar
Olhe em meus olhos
Você não vê que tenho que entrar?
Eu não estou mentindo e nem
brincando com isso, querida
Abra a porta ou vou arrombá-la
Porque esta corrida
estou certo disso,
estou certo disso,
está me matando
Deixe-me entrar,
está me matando, querida
Eu tenho que entrar
Deixe-me entrar, querida,
deixe-me entrar
Eu tenho que entrar, docinho
Abra a porta
Abra a porta
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar,
deixe-me entrar, deixe-me sossegar
Mamãe, mamãe, tenho que entrar
Abra a porta
Não posso aguentar esse frio
Deixe-me entrar nessa casa
Estou cansado dessa corrida
Cansado de ficar,
cansado de ficar sozinho
Parado aqui fora e andando com,
andando com°°°
Open The Door
(bySabra)🌻💬
Tony
No other singer Poured their heart and soul into every song from start to finish , no other singer period ! You can't help but feel all his joy and pain. Love ya Otis.
keep on rollin 79
Perfect!
Guero Coolero
Spot on my friend. There's better singer vocally (like Jackie Wilson for example) but none that have the soul like this man right here!
Keon Williams
Had a balloon release Sunday for my aunt’s 1st heavenly birthday and played this song. When she played this song and he would say Let Me In, she always yelled “Close the door and put a lock on it”!!! Oh how I miss her😢
|| ShîrleySPaulo' •••
|| Open The Door - Otis Redding
(Abra a Porta)
Estive errado, muitas vezes.
Agora você sabe disso
Estou falando nisso. Nós sempre
erramos uma vez na vida
E todos nós cometemos enganos,
às vezes esquecendo o que é bom
para nós mesmos
Eu cometo enganos, agora estou
tentando voltar para minha querida
Esta corrida, estou certo disso,
está me matando
Deixe-me, deixe-me entrar
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar,
deixe-me entrar, deixe-me sossegar
Olhe em meus olhos
Você não vê que tenho que entrar?
Eu não estou mentindo e nem
brincando com isso, querida
Abra a porta ou vou arrombá-la
Porque esta corrida
estou certo disso,
estou certo disso,
está me matando
Deixe-me entrar,
está me matando, querida
Eu tenho que entrar
Deixe-me entrar, querida,
deixe-me entrar
Eu tenho que entrar, docinho
Abra a porta
Abra a porta
Deixe-me entrar, deixe-me entrar,
deixe-me entrar, deixe-me sossegar
Mamãe, mamãe, tenho que entrar
Abra a porta
Não posso aguentar esse frio
Deixe-me entrar nessa casa
Estou cansado dessa corrida
Cansado de ficar,
cansado de ficar sozinho
Parado aqui fora e andando com,
andando com°°°
Open The Door
(bySabra)🌻💬
Kimberly Taylor
My parents used to play this— the door tapping killed me! 🔥❤️👏🏾😂
Deborrah Williams
He had a way of getting his feelings across in the way he expressed his words. A black voice of Excellence. Love you & your voice Otis. The big O!
Pepsikaczuka
szukałam tego od jakiś 10 lat i nareszcie ! kocham to!
phillip johnson
Otis was the soul of soul music. Listen to how beautifully he sings this song. I can see him standing in the front of the door saying this to a woman he loves but has been unfaithful too
Fernando Ferrador
Bom, bom, bom , muito bom !!!