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.
Try a Little Tenderness
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Them young girls they do get weary
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah-yeah
But when she gets weary
Try a little tenderness, yeah-yeah
(Oh my, not)
You know she's waitingJust anticipating
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah-yeah
But while she's there waiting, and without them
Try a little tenderness
(That's all you gotta do)
It's not just sentimental, no, no, no
She has her grief and care, yeah, yeah, yeah
But the soft words, they are spoke so gentle, yeah
It makes it easier
Easier to bear, yeah
You won't regret it, no, no
Some girls, they don't forget it
Love is their own happiness, yeah
But it's all so easy
All you gotta do is try, try a little tenderness, yeah
All you gotta do is, man
Hold her where you want her
Squeeze her, don't tease her
Never leave her, get to her, try, try
Just try a little tenderness, yeah-yeah-yeah
You got to rub her gentle, man
Don't got, don't bruise her, no, noYou got to love her, tease her, don't squeeze her
Got to try, now, now, now
Try, try a little tenderness, yeah
Watch her groove, you got to know what to do, man
Take this advice
"Try a Little Tenderness" is an R&B soul song first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1932. Otis Redding, the King of Southern soul music, recorded a more famous version in 1966, which became a classic of the genre. The song is a call for men to treat women with care and compassion, especially when they are feeling down. The lyrics encourage men to try a little tenderness with their partners, which can make a significant difference in improving their relationship.
The song's opening lines set the tone for its central message. When a woman is weary from the struggles of life, she needs tenderness, compassion, and understanding. Young girls, in particular, are vulnerable to exhaustion from the daily struggles of life, and tenderness can offer them the love, affection, and care they need. The chorus of the song repeats the central message that tenderness is what a woman seeks and deserves to make her life more comfortable, more relaxed, and more content.
The lyrics of "Try a Little Tenderness" emphasize the importance of treating women with respect, kindness, and compassion. The song's message was revolutionary in the 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement when women's rights were also gaining momentum. Otis Redding's soulful performance brought the song to life, making it an anthem for love, tenderness, and empathy. The song's popularity has withstood the test of time, with several artists recording different versions over the decades, making it a classic of soul music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh she may be weary
The woman may be tired and worn out
Them young girls they do get wearied
Young women can also get tired
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah, yeah
Being stuck in a routine can add to that fatigue
But when she gets weary
But when the woman in question is tired
Try a little tenderness, yeah, yeah
Try showing a bit of care and love to her
You know she's waiting
You know she's anticipating something
Just anticipating
She's eagerly looking forward to something
The thing that you'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah, yeah
She's looking for something she knows you can never provide for her
But while she's there waiting
But while she's waiting for that unobtainable thing
Without them try a little tenderness
Try offering her a little love and affection instead
That's all you got to do
It's a simple solution
It's not just sentimental no, no, no
It's not mere sentimentality or romanticism
She has her grief and care, yeah, yeah, yeah
She has her troubles and worries as well
But the soft words they are spoke so gentle, yeah
But gentle, loving words can make things easier for her
It makes it easier, easier to bear, yeah
It can make her troubles easier to bear
You won't regret it no, no
You won't regret showing her love and compassion
Young girls they don't forget it
Young women remember when someone shows them love
Love is their whole happiness, yeah, yeah, yeah
Love is what makes them happy
But it's all so easy
But it's such an easy thing to do
All you got to do is try
All you have to do is put forth a little effort
Try a little tenderness
Try showing her a little love and care
Yeah
All you got to do is, man, hold her when you wanna
Just hold her when you feel like it
Squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
Embrace her, don't play games or abandon her
Get to her, got, got, got to try a little tenderness, yeah, yeah
Make a connection with her by showing love and affection
You got to know how to love her, man
You need to understand what it takes to love her
Don't be surprised, man
Don't act surprised when your efforts pay off
You got to squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave
Embrace her, don't play games or disappear from her life
You got to hold her, brother, something, man
You need to hold her close and show her love
Try a little tenderness, yeah, yeah, yeah
Try showing her a little love and care
You got to grab her gently, man
You need to gently show her affection
Don't bruise her, no, no
Don't hurt her or cause her pain
You got to love her, tease her, don't squeeze her
Show her love and affection, but don't be overbearing or controlling
You got to try, na na na na na
You need to make an effort
Try, try a little tenderness, yeah
Try showing her a little love and care
Watch her groove
Watch her move and enjoy life
You got to know what to do, man
You need to know how to show her love and affection
Take this advice
Take this guidance
You gotta love, squeeze, don't tease
Show her love by embracing her and not playing games
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emanuellerodrigues2595
Oh, she may be weary
Young girls they do get weary
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah yeah
But when she gets weary
Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah
You know she's waiting
Just anticipating
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah
But while she's there waiting, without them
Try a little tenderness (that's all you gotta do)
It's not just sentimental, no, no, no
She has her grief and care, yeah yeah yeah
But the soft words, they are spoke so gentle, yeah
It makes it easier, easier to bear, yeah
You won't regret it, no, no
Some girls they don't forget it
Love is their only happiness, yeah
But it's all so easy
All you gotta do is try, try a little tenderness, yeah
All you gotta do is, man, hold her where you want her
Squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
Get to her, try, try
Just try a little tenderness, ooh yeah yeah yeah
You got to know how to love her, man, you'll be surprised, man
You've got to squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave
You've got to hold her and rub her softly
Try a little tenderness, ooh yeah yeah yeah
You've got to rub her gentle man, all you gotta do, no no
You've got to love her, squeeze her, don't tease her
Gotta try nah nah nah, try
Try a little tenderness, yeah, watch her groove
You've gotta to know what to do, man
Take this advice
@earnestinehamilton9760
I'm 71 year old, I was bless to hear this song 💕
@annahelena3277
what a legend 🙏
@robertheintze9413
Imagine all of the music this legend could have written, had he not died so young (at only 26)?
@newengland66
❤❤❤
@earnestinehamilton9760
So true, love me some Otis Redding, still love it 2024💕
@mrs.i.one12
Only the good die young!
@mamiemagee4939
😮😮 2:07 😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😅😅😅😅 oil 🛢️ 🪔 of@@earnestinehamilton9760
@drumscovertercermundista8246
For me, that man could have been singing rock or metal without problems, his version of this song in London towards the end his screams sound half metal.
@gabrielledarwin1158
This song breathes life back into people.
@stroescurazvan
Agreed! 👌🏻