Try a Little Tenderness
Otis Redding Lyrics
Oh she may be weary
Them young girls they do get wearied
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
The thing that you'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah, yeah
But while she's there waiting
That's all you got to 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
Young girls they don't forget it
Love is their whole happiness, yeah, yeah, yeah
But it's all so easy
All you got to do is try
Try a little tenderness
Yeah
All you got to do is, man, hold her when you wanna
Squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
Get to her, got, got, got to try a little tenderness, yeah, yeah
You got to know how to love her, man
Don't be surprised, man
You got to squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave
You got to hold her, brother, something, man
Try a little tenderness, yeah, yeah, yeah
You got to grab her gently, man
Don't bruise her, no, no
You got to love her, tease her, don't squeeze her
You got to try, na na na na na
Try, try a little tenderness, yeah
Watch her groove
You got to know what to do, man
Take this advice
You gotta love, squeeze, don't tease
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. Redding's style of singing gained inspiration from the gospel music that preceded the genre. His singing style influenced many other soul artists of the 1960s. During his lifetime, his recordings were produced by Stax Records, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Read Full BioOtis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. Redding's style of singing gained inspiration from the gospel music that preceded the genre. His singing style influenced many other soul artists of the 1960s. During his lifetime, his recordings were produced by Stax Records, based in Memphis, Tennessee.
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.
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.
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rohit thakuri
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
Dennis Den Diesel Jackson
The fact that this man was 24 years old when he recorded this is mind blowing ... sung with so much soul, conviction and passion man
Amber Rourk
Yass 🙌
Ron Carter Bassist
He was a true talent...
Adrienne Robinson
Truth Indeed
Denise Fields
@SayItLoud from Denise f i e l d s hello and how are you I just received your comment and I wanted to make sure that I replied and I see that you came in under the Otis Redding song title try a Little tenderness beautiful song of course this is his classic. I just finished reading your comment and yes I do agree with you 100% to be only 24 years of age having three small children a wife and yes she was very mature and even in his voice he sounded so much older the grounded. You know upon his death I was so proud of his family because what they did is they purchased a big estate huge where Otis Redding was buried and they were able to stay in the family home so they were all still together. Well a lot of times in these situations but once I have a tendency to go out and just blow the money if they can but not in this case. This is one entertainer that I was very young but I heard the adults talk about him and the accident as well as hearing his music, and I really don't know why because I've never met him or his family but he is just stuck in my mind for all these years and maybe it has to do with the fact that he was young and left behind family, he was one of those artists that became more famous when he died supposed to while he was alive I'm sure you've heard that statement before about a lot of entertainers that we've lost along the way, I don't know why they mean to the beautiful song but it was just cut way too short but will never know simply beautiful. Well my friend I'd like to thank you so very much for sending this comment into me and you know we are 24/7 7 days a week as well as comments and anytime you'd like to send a comment in please feel free to do so and I will get back with you just like I'm doing so now. He's coming to really mean a lot to us because it lets us know what type of job we are actually doing are we playing the type of songs that you really want to hear and do and are they really resonating with you. And we receive so many comments and it lets us know that we are definitely on the right track so I thank you as well so very much 🥀🎶❤️🌴🐈🌈🍉💯🌉♥️♥️♥️😎
SayItLoud
He sounds so mature
Echo30Mike
Once you hear Otis sing, you will never ever forget his voice. Once in a generation do we have talent like this. God only knows how far on from the legendary status that he earned in his short life could he of taken it. Gone too soon. xxx
Adrienne Robinson
Truth Indeed
Denise Fields
@Sharon Turner from Denise f i e l d s hi Sharon believe it or not I just received your comment in regards to Otis Redding and you came in again under song title love A Little tenderness. Yes Sharon this was really a person that was taken away way too soon and I had expressed before he left behind three small children at 24 years of age and the wife and he was one of these artists who never had the opportunity of knowing what his whole potential could have been. Let's say he became bigger than life and death didn't get to experience it while he was here on Earth which would have been so wonderful. I don't know why but out of all the stories that I've read and heard about and regards to different artists that we've lost but for some reason this particular gentleman it's like he's always with me and I know nothing personally of him or his family. I just really think that it has to do with the fact that I was at the barbecue and that overheard the adults speaking and listening to his music and what it actually happened to him. And by me being a sensitive type of person I remembered feeling it internally like oh my God. And whenever I hear of someone speak of him or I hear his music one would think that we were family they keep in mind we were not. And last but at least in a lot of other people have said the same thing I feel the record was way too short beautiful record but too short. I have the utmost respect for his family because a lot of times they don't always do the right thing when it comes to the death of a loved one who has money. But for his family you could tell that there was nothing but love they actually went out and purchased a huge beautiful ❤️ piece of land for oldest is very and were the family likes to be lives until this day and since that's something that's not love what is. Sharon I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to answer your response and if there's anything else that I might be able to assist you with please feel free anytime to contact me and I will get back with you just like I'm doing so now. And I was also like to thank you for being a listener to the station you know that we're 24 hours 7 days a week when we love it because we're able to play all of these beautiful beautiful songs for all of you. So Sharon my friend please take care and hopefully we'll be able to comment again on whatever please smile.,,,😆❤️👍🌈💯💕🌉🌉🌉🌉🌉🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶💅👄🎉🧁
Sharon Turner
Denise and Mike Sharon here I live in NC
Thank you for your comment.Otis sang with his heart and soul.Many artist have tried to sing this but in my opinion it was and will always be his song. Nobody can sing just like him. I heard he was moving heavy equipment around for bands recording at the time when he got to sing.You can tell he had lived thur times. Sometimes things happen .A GOD given talent. I bet he is singing in heaven
Sharon