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.
Thousand Miles Away
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh
I miss you darling, yeah
You are thousand miles away, yeah
Sure enough I need you honey, yeah
What's mine, baby, is yours
I want you to have it honey, oh
Ooh
I can't give it to you honey
What's yours I know is mine
I want my share, give it to me now
I'm a thousand miles away
Ooh
I can't get it from you, honey
Yeah, oh Lord, I'm suffering now, hey
Thousand miles away
One thousand
Lord, let me here from you, honey
Ooh
What's mine, baby, is yours
I want you to get it baby
But you're a thousand miles away
One thousand
Ooh
I can't give it to you honey
Yeah, uh
Lord, you got me suffering baby
Can't see you honey
I don't wanna hear from you
Don't call me on the phone baby
I love you, I wanna see you girl
The lyrics to Otis Redding's song "Thousand Miles Away" speak to the pain and heartache of a long-distance relationship. Otis sings about missing his lover who is "thousand miles away" and how this separation is causing him suffering. He yearns to hear from her and share his love with her, but the physical distance between them makes this impossible. The lyrics also convey a sense of frustration as Otis acknowledges that what is his lover's is also his, but he cannot access it due to the distance.
The first few lines of the song set the tone for the entire piece, with Otis singing "You are a thousand miles away, I miss you darling." The repetition of the distance between the two lovers emphasizes how far apart they are and how this distance exacerbates the pain of separation. The second verse speaks to the concept of shared ownership within a relationship, with Otis singing, "What's mine, baby, is yours. I want you to have it honey, oh. But you are a thousand miles away." This line highlights how distance can put a strain on even the most loving relationship, making it difficult to share or express affection.
The chorus is particularly powerful, with Otis repeating the phrase "thousand miles away" several times while pleading with his lover to reach out to him. He sings, "Lord, let me hear from you, honey," highlighting the desperation of the situation. The final lines of the song express Otis's deep love and longing for his absent partner.
Overall, the lyrics to "Thousand Miles Away" are a poignant portrayal of the emotional toll that distance can take on a romantic relationship. Otis Redding's soulful delivery only reinforces the power of the lyrics, creating a moving musical experience that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of separation from a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
You are thousand miles away
I am physically far from you
Ooh
An expression of sadness and longing
I miss you darling, yeah
I long for your presence and companionship
Sure enough I need you honey, yeah
I require your love and support in my life
What's mine, baby, is yours
Everything I have is yours to share with me
I want you to have it honey, oh
I desire for you to enjoy and benefit from what I have
But you are thousand miles away, yeah yeah
Unfortunately, I cannot physically give it to you
I can't give it to you honey
It is impossible for me to hand it over to you
What's yours I know is mine
I acknowledge that we share everything equally
I want my share, give it to me now
I desire my fair portion of what we have together
I'm a thousand miles away
My distance prevents me from receiving what I deserve
I can't get it from you, honey
Even if I wanted to, I cannot obtain it from you at this time
Yeah, oh Lord, I'm suffering now, hey
My emotional anguish is becoming unbearable
One thousand
A poetic and emotional emphasis on the distance
Lord, let me here from you, honey
I crave your communication and connection with me
I want you to get it baby
I want you to receive and use what we share together
Yeah, uh
An emotional interjection to convey pain and longing
Lord, you got me suffering baby
My emotional pain is so great due to my distance from you
Can't see you honey
I am unable to physically see and be near you
I don't wanna hear from you
I reject the idea of communicating through impersonal means
Don't call me on the phone baby
I desire a more meaningful and present connection
I love you, I wanna see you girl
I deeply care for you and desire to be in your presence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joangabriel6718
I really love this song,voice especially
@PASTORKable
Big O from Macon Ga. The Greatest.
@joangabriel6718
IF ONLY I CAN HAVE YOU BACK ❤
@user-ol8qf9kg6e
この素晴らしい唄を沢山の人に知ってほしい72歳の老人です
@msgeorgiaannettefranklin5493
Greatest artist ever 💙💚💚💚
@OtisFan1
So good to hear my Otis. There's never been another. He wrote this, too.
@isidrosentino5753
They come no better
@tomngoma51
Am still listening to you Big O, you gave us your best and it is still the best. Sleep on Otis....
@freedomremains3397
Feeling better and better everyday ☺️
@AdamWil79
This is the first I have experienced this Lovely Song. Dig. Thanks