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 About it
Otis Redding Lyrics
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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 to Otis Redding’s song “Think About It” are an impassioned plea from a man who feels he has been wronged by his partner, as she prepares to leave him. He reminds her that he saved her from a long, lonely life and gave her a taste of paradise. Despite this, she is packing her bag and leaving him, and he begs her not to do him like this. He tells her to think about what he has done for her, and how much she will miss his love if she goes. He reminds her that he taught her how to live when she wanted to die and how to laugh when she wanted to cry. He asks her not to kick love aside and wait before saying goodbye.
The lyrics are a quintessential soulful expression of lost love, regret, and desperation to hold on to what once was. The man is not only trying to remind his partner of how much he has done for her but also begging her to reconsider and think about the love they have shared. He hopes to make her see that love is worth fighting for, and that they can work out their difference if they stay together. Behind the lyrics, Otis Redding’s emotive voice adds another layer of depth to the song, making it a soulful classic that captures the essence of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait!
Stop right there, don't leave just yet.
Before you walk out that door
Don't leave me, hear me out first.
Hang your clothes in the closet
You're not ready to leave, you still have your things here.
You're forgetting one thing
You're not remembering what I've done for you.
I'm the one who saved you
I was there for you when you needed help the most.
From a long lonely life
I saved you from being alone and unhappy.
I'm the one who gave you
I'm the reason you experienced something so great.
You're first taste to paradise
I'm the one who showed you what true happiness feels like.
Look how you paying me back
You're not showing me the love and respect that I deserve.
Look how you pack in your bag
You're making plans to leave without considering what you'll miss out on.
Please don't do me like this, honey
I'm begging you, don't leave me.
All this good love you're going to miss
You're giving up on a great relationship that could have been amazing.
Think about it, honey
Please stop and consider what you're giving up.
You really ought to think about it
It's important to reflect on the value of the relationship.
'Fore you leave me
Before you go, take a moment to think about what's about to happen.
I'm the one who showed you
I taught you how to find happiness when you thought it was impossible.
How to live when you wanted to die
I helped you find meaning in life when you were at your lowest.
I'm the one who taught you
I showed you how to see the good in life.
How to laugh when you wanted to cry
I made you see the funny side of life when everything seemed hopeless.
But look what you're doing to me
You're breaking my heart by leaving.
Look how you're hurting me
Your actions are causing me pain and sadness.
Think about it, baby, listen
Please, really consider my words.
You really, really ought to think about it
It's crucial to think about the impact of your decision.
'Fore you leave
Before you go through with this, take time to reflect.
Deep down think about it
Take a moment to really consider how much you'll lose when you leave.
Do this for me honey
Please reconsider, for my sake.
Don't make me no lonely man
Without you, I'll be sad and alone.
Don't try to push me out of your plan
Don't shut me out of your life forever.
Don't try to kick out love aside
Don't abandon our love, it's worth saving.
Just wait!
Pause for a moment and think about what you really want.
Before you tell me goodbye
Take the time to reconsider before it's too late.
How I give it
Remember how much love and kindness I've shown you.
How I live it
Think about how much I've given to this relationship.
One million times
I'm asking you to consider this a million times over.
I better stay up all night
I'll never stop trying to convince you to stay.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DON COVAY, DONALD COVAY, OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind