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.
Scratch My Back
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't know where to scratch
Come here baby
Scratch my back
I know you can do it
So baby, get to it
Aw, you're workin with it now
Little bit to the center now, baby
Hmm-mmm!
This little girl sho' knows how to scratch
Now, you're doin' the chicken-scratch
Aw, it's lookin' good, baby
Just gettin' scratchy
That's what I'm talkin' about
In these lyrics from Otis Redding's "Scratch My Back," he refers to the physical sensation of itching and the need for someone to scratch his back. The song is a playful and flirtatious call-and-response where Otis asks a woman to scratch his back, and when she obliges, he expresses his satisfaction with the way she is doing it. The lyrics also make a reference to the "chicken-scratch," which is a type of dance move that involves quick and exaggerated hand movements.
However, the lyrics of "Scratch My Back" can also be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking emotional support and intimacy. The act of scratching someone's back can be seen as a metaphor for providing comfort and care to someone in need. This interpretation is supported by the sensuous and intimate tone of the song, as well as the repetition of the phrase "you got me feelin' so good."
Overall, "Scratch My Back" is a playful and sensual blues song that combines the themes of physical pleasure and emotional intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw, I'm itchy
I am experiencing discomfort on my skin
And I don't know where to scratch
I am unable to identify the place on my body where I should scratch
Come here baby
I am requesting the presence of a significant other
Scratch my back
I want my significant other to relieve me of my discomfort by itching my back
I know you can do it
I am confident that my significant other has the ability to grant my request
So baby, get to it
I am urging my significant other to commence with itching my back
Aw, you're workin with it now
My significant other has proved capable of scratching my back
You got me feelin' so good
I am feeling better after my significant other scratched my back
Little bit to the center now, baby
I am requesting my significant other to focus on the middle of my back
Hmm-mmm!
Indication of intense pleasure
This little girl sho' knows how to scratch
My significant other is skillfully relieving me of my itch
Now, you're doin' the chicken-scratch
My significant other is now using a rhythmic hand motion to itch my back
Aw, it's lookin' good, baby
I am expressing satisfaction with the current state of my back itch
Just gettin' scratchy
The intensity of my back itch is increasing once again
That's what I'm talkin' about
I am expressing excitement about the fact that my back itch is being relieved
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ray Avery
I love this song by Slim Harpo !!!
Great blues !! But Otis ??? He really put his incredible soulful vocals to good use in this song !!! I love it !!!
Mimmo Leonardi
Forever Otis, Forever soul 🌹❤️
Russell Escritt
This song could be twice as long and wouldn't be long enough. Whenever I hear this, I'm transported back to being about 8 years old and listening to my Dad play this on LP. Thank God he was playing me some good stuff!!!
Mary Taylor
First time hearing this, knew it was going to be good, one and only Ottis.
jean-marie Basset
Quelle harmonie;un accompagnement fantastique
Ruby Mcnair
Otis Redding's was a great singer I have all his music and it brings back so many memories rest in peace Otis Redding you still good Evelyn in 2020 now and forever
Benson kaile
Just Amazing music..
Mpompadour
Love this! That bass is smoking hot
Richard Mills
His lyrical groove is just incredible. He follows or leads however necessary. he was so genius!
Joyce Bur.ett
Richard Mills THIS MY SONG ALOT OF PEOPLE SAY THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC I’M START OUT OF GA