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.
Think
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you walk out that door
Hang your clothes in the closet
You're forgetting one thing
I'm the one who saved you
From a long lonely life
I'm the one who gave you
You're first taste to paradise
Look how you paying me back
Look how you pack in your bag
Please don't do me like this, honey
All this good love you're going to miss
Think about it, honey
You really ought to think about it
'Fore you leave me
Dig this
I'm the one who showed you
How to live when you wanted to die
I'm the one who taught you
How to laugh when you wanted to cry
But look what you're doing to me
Look how you're hurting me
Please don't do me like this
All of this good loving your going to miss
Think about it, baby, listen
You really, really ought to think about it
'Fore you leave
You really ought to think about it
Deep down think about it
'Fore you leave me
Do this for me honey
Don't make me no lonely man
Don't try to push me out of your plan
Don't try to kick out love aside
Just wait!
Before you tell me goodbye
Mmmm, yeah
You really, really, really, really, really ought to think about it
How I give it
You really, really, really ought to think about it
How I live it
One million times
I better stay up all night
The lyrics of Otis Redding's song Think showcase a man pleading with his lover not to leave him. He lists all the things he has done for her, how he has saved her from a long and lonely life, and shown her how to live and laugh when she wanted to die and cry. He implores her to think about what she is doing to him and not to leave him. He asks her to consider how much she will miss the good love he has given her if she leaves him. He begs her not to make him a lonely man and not to try to push him out of her plan. He finally asks her to wait before she tells him goodbye.
The song is a poignant reminder of the pain of unrequited love and the desperate plea that one makes to keep it alive. The lyrics are touching and heartfelt, and Redding's powerful voice conveys the message of the song with great sensitivity and feeling. The song also showcases the distinctive sound of Stax Records and the powerful role it played in the development of soul music.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait!
Stop what you're doing and listen to me.
Before you walk out that door
Before you leave me.
Hang your clothes in the closet
Take off your coat and stay awhile.
You're forgetting one thing
Don't forget about me.
I'm the one who saved you
I rescued you from a life of loneliness.
From a long lonely life
You were alone, but I gave you companionship.
I'm the one who gave you
I provided to you.
You're first taste to paradise
I allowed you to experience all the good things in life.
Look how you paying me back
This is how you're treating me.
Look how you pack in your bag
You're leaving me behind.
Please don't do me like this, honey
Don't treat me this way.
All this good love you're going to miss
You'll regret not staying with me and experiencing my love.
Think about it, honey
Consider what I'm saying.
You really ought to think about it
You should put some thought into this.
'Fore you leave me
Before you go.
Dig this
Listen closely.
I'm the one who showed you
I taught you how to live.
How to laugh when you wanted to cry
I helped you through tough times and made you smile.
But look what you're doing to me
You're hurting me.
Look how you're hurting me
You're causing me pain.
All of this good loving your going to miss
You're going to regret not staying with me and experiencing my love.
Think about it, baby, listen
Listen closely to my words and reflect upon them.
Deep down think about it
Take some time to really consider what I'm saying.
Do this for me honey
Please do me this favor.
Don't make me no lonely man
Don't leave me alone and miserable.
Don't try to push me out of your plan
Don't exclude me from your life.
Don't try to kick out love aside
Don't reject love for the sake of leaving me.
Just wait!
Take a moment and hold on.
Before you tell me goodbye
Before you say farewell to me.
Mmmm, yeah
An emotional sound expressing sadness and longing.
You really, really, really, really, really ought to think about it
This is a serious matter and you should take it seriously.
How I give it
Reflect upon how I have treated you with love and affection.
How I live it
Think about my life and how I have tried to live it positively.
One million times
Many, many, many times.
I better stay up all night
This situation is keeping me up at night and worrying me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DON COVAY, DONALD COVAY, OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind