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.
Respect
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what you need, baby, you've got it
All I'm asking
For a little respect when I come home, hey now
Hey hey hey, yeah now
Do me wrong, honey, if you wanna to
You can do me wrong honey, while I'm gone
Is for a little respect when I come home, ooh, yeah now
Hey hey hey, yeah now
Hey little girl, you're so sweet, little honey
And I'm about to, just give you all of my money
And all I'm asking, hey
A little respect when I come home, hey hey
Hey hey hey, yeah now
Hey little girl, you're sweeter then honey
And I'm about to give you all of my money
But all I want you to do
Is just give it, give it
Respect when I come home, hey hey now
Hey hey hey, yeah now
Respect is what I want from you
Respect is what I need
Respect is what I want
Respect is what I need
Got to, got to have it
Got to, got to have it
Got to, got to have it
Got to, got to have it
Talkin'
Give us, give us, give us, give us
Give us, give us, give us, give us
Give us, give us some baby, everything I need
Give us, give us some baby, everything I want
Otis Redding's song "Respect" is about a man who works hard for his lover and all he asks is for a little appreciation and recognition when he comes home. The lyrics express his desire for respect in his romantic relationship. The song starts with the phrase "What you want, honey, you got it and what you need, baby, you've got it," indicating that he is willing to provide everything that his lover wants and needs. However, he also expresses his need for reciprocity in the relationship. The repetition of the phrase "All I'm asking is for a little respect when I come home" reiterates his plea for appreciation.
In the second verse, the man acknowledges that his lover may do him wrong while he is away, but he still expects respect when he comes home. The bridge of the song features the man referring to his lover as a "little girl" and saying that she is sweeter than honey. He is willing to give her all of his money, but all he wants in return is respect. The repetition of the phrase "hey hey hey, yeah now" adds emphasis to his request.
The final verse repeats the message of the previous verses, emphasizing the importance of respect in the relationship. The song ends with a call-and-response section where the man asks for respect and the backup singers respond with "give us some."
Overall, the lyrics of "Respect" convey a powerful message about the importance of mutual respect in a romantic relationship. Through his lyrics, Otis Redding expressed his desire for recognition and appreciation from his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
What you want, honey, you got it
You already have what you desire, my dear
And what you need, baby, you've got it
You possess all that you require, my love
All I'm asking
I only have one request
For a little respect when I come home, hey now
Please treat me with some regard when I return, right now
Hey hey hey, yeah now
An expression of enthusiasm
Do me wrong, honey, if you wanna to
If you wish to mistreat me, feel free
You can do me wrong honey, while I'm gone
You're free to be unfaithful while I'm absent
But all I'm asking
However, my request remains the same
Is for a little respect when I come home, ooh, yeah now
I'm seeking only some esteem when I return, oh yes, right now
Hey hey hey, yeah now
An expression of enthusiasm
Hey little girl, you're so sweet, little honey
Dear child, you're lovely, my darling
And I'm about to, just give you all of my money
I'm almost ready to provide you with all of my wealth
And all I'm asking, hey
And the only thing that I want, hey
A little respect when I come home, hey hey
Is some regard when I come back, hey hey
Hey hey hey, yeah now
An expression of enthusiasm
Hey little girl, you're sweeter then honey
Dear child, you're more delightful than honey
And I'm about to give you all of my money
I'm almost delivering all my wealth to you
But all I want you to do
Nevertheless, what I desire from you is
Is just give it, give it
Simply offer me, offer me
Respect when I come home, hey hey now
Some esteem when I return, hey hey right now
Hey hey hey, yeah now
An expression of enthusiasm
Respect is what I want from you
All I'm seeking from you is some regard
Respect is what I need
Some esteem is what I require
Respect is what I want
Some regard is what I desire
Respect is what I need
Some esteem is what I require
Got to, got to have it
I must, I must possess it
Got to, got to have it
I must, I must possess it
Got to, got to have it
I must, I must possess it
Got to, got to have it
I must, I must possess it
Talkin'
Speaking
Give us, give us, give us, give us
Offer us, offer us, offer us, offer us
Give us, give us, give us, give us
Offer us, offer us, offer us, offer us
Give us, give us some baby, everything I need
Provide me, provide me with everything I require, darling
Give us, give us some baby, everything I want
Provide me, provide me with everything I desire, darling
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Otis Redding
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chocolatecitygemini3832
Those background instruments set it off on this song nd that's why I say Aretha's remake was good.
But Otis with that soulful pleading voice backed up by those instruments gives him IMO, the nod over RE RE for the best version of Respect.
Str8 like that!!
BTW, RE RE nd Otis are among others, 2 of America's greatest Soul Singers IMO.
🗣I'M PUT N RESPECK ON BOTH OF THEIR NAMES!!!
Lls!!
🗣♊️👤
@MrChristian
Holy effin’ crap. Took me 57 years to discover that Aretha’s version was a frickin’ cover? And that Otis wrote it? WTFF!!??
@freshtapcoke
I’m right behind you, man 😭
@ahmad.tillery.1987
Otis Redding was so young but he had this old soul in his voice. This blows my mind RIP Otis Redding.
@uncoverthetruth8365
I always thought that when I found out all these singers were basically kids 😩🤣🤣
Like they sound like they been through decades of pain
@NowandDen83
Died so young at 26…crazy true legend!
@sharonjensen3016
Should have taken the bus. Just like many others who died in plane crashes.
@vashna3799
Totally different perspectives. Aretha’s is about female empowerment but Otis’ original was about him getting a bit of respect from the wife.
@bodycenteredwisdom
By calling her a little girl … lol
@Keemthedream404
They saying the same damn thing
@hellochannel6344
@@bodycenteredwisdom Listen to Ike and Tina's version at the Beat Club and you'll be at peace ✌️ 😊