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.
The Match Game
Otis Redding Lyrics
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You strike me and I'll be the flame
Girl you start the biggest fire
When you touch me I'm like a likewire
You burn a tattoo on my arms
I can't feel the fire
But your kisses is warm
Now, now I'll tell you it's the match game
Huh, come on
Honey the match game is really in
Strike me the light a cigarette
Your love keeps me burning up
Give me so much I can't get enough
My burns can burn down a building
But my kind of fire
Gives you that lovely good feeling
It's the match game
Baby, I'll tell you it's my match game
Hard is my momma's turn to free
Oh, your just ties me up in the sea
Don't you know I like it momma
Really do, love it, huh, come on
Come on honey let's play the match game
You strike me and I'll be the flame
Girl you start the biggest fire
When you touch me I'm like a live wire
You burn a tattoo on my arms
I don't feel the fire
But your kisses is warm
Now it's the
Light me up, come on and light me up
Can't get enough
Now, I tell you, it's the match game
Strike me baby, strike, strike me momma
Lord it's the match game
Come on and, come on honey, baby cake
In Otis Redding's "The Match Game," the lyrics are centered around the metaphor of striking a match and igniting a flame to describe the passion between two lovers. When the woman touches the man, he feels like a "live wire" and she sparks the biggest fire within him. She leaves a lasting impression on him, as if she burned a tattoo onto his arms. While his burns could potentially bring down a building, the fire that she ignites within him gives him a pleasurable feeling.
The lyrics illustrate the idea that the match game, or the game of igniting passion between two individuals, is one that is exciting and enticing to both parties. The singer is inviting his lover to play the game with him, and is expressing his enjoyment of the game through the lyrics. The song ends with the repetition of the idea that it is the match game, and the singer's desire to continue playing.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Match Game" evoke a sense of passion and intensity in a relationship, using the metaphor of striking a match and the resulting flame to describe the attraction and connection between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on honey let's play the match game
Let's engage in a sexual encounter.
You strike me and I'll be the flame
Your sexual advances are powerful and arousing.
Girl you start the biggest fire
Your passion lights a strong desire within me.
When you touch me I'm like a live wire
Your touch electrifies me with sexual energy.
You burn a tattoo on my arms
Your love leaves a lasting mark on me.
I don't feel the fire
The physical sensation of love-making is not as important to me as the emotional connection.
But your kisses is warm
Your affection and care for me is felt through your kisses.
Now, now I'll tell you it's the match game
Huh, come on
The passion and excitement of our sexual encounters is unmatched by any other experience.
Your love keeps me burning up
Give me so much I can't get enough
Your love is intense and I am addicted to it.
My burns can burn down a building
But my kind of fire
Gives you that lovely good feeling
Although my passion can be destructive, it ultimately provides pleasure and fulfillment.
Hard is my momma's turn to free
Oh, your just ties me up in the sea
Don't you know I like it momma
Really do, love it, huh, come on
Even though it can be overwhelming and challenging, I enjoy being dominated by you during our sexual encounters.
Now it's the
Light me up, come on and light me up
Can't get enough
I need your sexual energy to continue fueling our passion.
Strike me baby, strike, strike me momma
Lord it's the match game
Come on and, come on honey, baby cake
Our sexual encounters are like flames in a game of matches, and I am completely entranced with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID PORTER, OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind