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.
Sweet Lorene
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring yourself home to me
You've got my mind
Messed up and shattered
I'm at the point
Where don't nothin' matter
You got me beggin', pleadin' and needin'
Oh sweet Lorene, girl, all right
The places that we used to go
I can't stand to go there no more
The smilin' faces we used to see
I bow my head
'Cause they're starin' at me, now
You got me scared, weepin' and moanin'
Oh sweet Lorene, girl, all right
Let me tell you about it
If you want my lovin', girl
You got to get it home to me, girl
I'm gonna kiss you from head to toe
Love you more and more
When you get here
I'm gonna sock it to you
ou, ha
ou yeah
Do it, do it
Ooh sweet Lorene, all right, yeah girl
You got to hurry, don't stay no longer
'Cause my need for you
Is gettin' mighty stronger, girl
Five long years I been sufferin'
Tryin' to tell you, girl
I ain't had nothin'
You got me beggin', pleadin' and weapin'
Oh sweet Lorene, girl, all right
The opening lyrics of Sweet Lorene by Otis Redding say it all: "Hey Lorene girl, bring yourself home to me." This song is a plea to Lorene, begging her to return to the singer, as he simply cannot go on without her. The song's lyrics are straightforward and honest, expressing the singer's deep feelings of need, desire and affection towards Lorene. The lines "The places that we used to go, I can't stand to go there no more" indicate that something has gone horribly wrong between them, and the singer is at a loss for what to do or where to turn.
The last stanza of the song is a call to action, the singer asking Lorene to come to him and start anew. "If you want my lovin', girl, you got to get it home to me, girl. I'm gonna kiss you from head to toe. Love you more and more when you get here." This song is a perfect mix of Redding's emotive voice and the poignant lyrics that seem to speak directly to us, making this an all-time classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Lorene girl, huh
Addressing Lorene, showing interest
Bring yourself home to me
Asking Lorene to come back home
You've got my mind
Thinking about Lorene constantly
Messed up and shattered
Unable to focus and feeling broken
I'm at the point
At a critical stage
Where don't nothin' matter
Nothing seems important anymore
You got me beggin', pleadin' and needin'
Desperately asking for her love and affection
Oh sweet Lorene, girl, all right
Referring to Lorene in a sweet and loving manner
The places that we used to go
Locations where they used to spend time together
I can't stand to go there no more
Emotionally unable to revisit those places
The smilin' faces we used to see
People they used to interact together
I bow my head
Feeling embarrassed or ashamed
'Cause they're starin' at me, now
Assuming people are judging him
You got me scared, weepin' and moanin'
Feeling very scared, crying and expressing grief
Let me tell you about it
Wants to share his feelings with Lorene
If you want my lovin', girl
The love is conditional
You got to get it home to me, girl
Asking Lorene to show love in return
I'm gonna kiss you from head to toe
Expressing his deep love for her
Love you more and more
His love for her keeps growing
When you get here
Anticipating her arrival
I'm gonna sock it to you
Going to shower her with love and attention
ou, ha
Exclamation of excitement
ou yeah
Showing enthusiasm
Do it, do it
Encouraging Lorene to come to him
Ooh sweet Lorene, all right, yeah girl
Referring to Lorene as sweet and expressing happiness
You got to hurry, don't stay no longer
Urging Lorene to come back home soon
'Cause my need for you
Desperately wants her
Is gettin' mighty stronger, girl
His desire for her is increasing
Five long years I been sufferin'
Been longing for her for five years
Tryin' to tell you, girl
Trying to convey his feelings to her
I ain't had nothin'
Feels like he has nothing without her
You got me beggin', pleadin' and weapin'
Desperate for her love, crying and pleading
Oh sweet Lorene, girl, all right
Referring to Lorene in a sweet-loving manner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ISAAC HAYES, ALVERTIS ISBELL, OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind