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.
You Don
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You really loved me, oh
I was too blind
I could not see, now
But now that you left me
Ooh, how I cried out, I keep crying
You don't miss your water
I kept you crying
Sad and blue, oh my, oh
I was a playboy
I just wouldn't be true
But now that you left me
Good lord, how I cried, I keep crying, I keep crying
Ooh, I didn't miss my water
No I never missed my water
'Till my well were run dry
I sit here and wonder
How in the world this could be, my, oh my
I never thought, oh, I never thought
You'd ever leave me
But now that you left me
Good lord, good lord, how I cried
You don't miss your water, you don't miss your water
'Till your well runs dry
Ooh, you don't miss your water, oh, you don't miss your water
'Till your well runs dry
I miss my water
I keep missing my water
I keep missing my water
And I want my water
I need my water
I love my water
And I want my water
And I'm little thirsty, now
And I'm little thirsty, now
I want my water
I keep wanting my water
The lyrics of Otis Redding's "You Don't Miss Your Water" speak to the universal human experience of taking things for granted until they are gone. In the beginning of the song, Otis sings about a time when his lover really loved him but he was too blind to see it. He acknowledges his playboy ways and how he neglected his lover's needs, leading to her leaving him. After she was gone, Otis cried and realized the value of the love he had lost. He comes to the realization that "you don't miss your water till your well runs dry," meaning that you don't appreciate the important things in life until you no longer have them.
The lyrics also emphasize the regret and longing that comes with losing something important, in this case, love. Otis sings about how he misses his lover and how thirsty he is for her love. He reflects on how he took her for granted and never imagined that she would leave him. However, now that she's gone, he realizes the depth of his love for her.
Overall, the lyrics of "You Don't Miss Your Water" are timeless and resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of lost love or taken things for granted. Otis Redding's powerful voice and emotive performance amplify the song's message and make it one of the most memorable soul ballads of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
In the beginning
At the start of our relationship
You really loved me, oh
You had strong feelings of love for me
I was too blind
I was oblivious to the signs of trouble in our relationship
I could not see, now
I now understand my mistakes
But now that you left me
Since you left me
Ooh, how I cried out, I keep crying
I cry and mourn our relationship
You don't miss your water
You don't appreciate what you have
'Till your well runs dry
Until you lose it or it's gone
(repeat) I kept you crying
I caused you pain
Sad and blue, oh my, oh
You were heartbroken
I was a playboy
I was a womanizer
I just wouldn't be true
I was unfaithful
(repeat) Ooh, I didn't miss my water
I didn't appreciate you
No I never missed my water
I took you for granted
'Till my well were run dry
Until you left me
I sit here and wonder
I contemplate
How in the world this could be, my, oh my
How our relationship could have ended
I never thought, oh, I never thought
It never occurred to me
You'd ever leave me
You would break up with me
(repeat) Good lord, good lord, how I cried
I cried a lot
(repeat) You don't miss your water, you don't miss your water
You don't appreciate what you have
'Till your well runs dry
Until you lose it or it's gone
(repeat) Ooh, you don't miss your water, oh, you don't miss your water
You don't appreciate what you have
(repeat) 'Till your well runs dry
Until you lose it or it's gone
(repeat) I miss my water
I realize I miss you
(repeat) I keep missing my water
I continue to miss you
(repeat) And I want my water
I want you back
(repeat) I need my water
I need you back in my life
(repeat) I love my water
I still love you
(repeat) And I'm little thirsty, now
I am now realizing my thirst for you
(repeat) I want my water
I want you back
(repeat) I keep wanting my water
I continue to want you back
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tonytshabalala2380
LYRICS:
In the beginning you really loved me, oh
I was too blind, I could not see, now
But now that you left me
oh, how I cried out, I keep crying
You don't miss your water 'till your well run dry
I kept you crying, sad and blue, oh my, oh
I was a playboy, I just wouldn't be true
But now that you left me
Good Lord, how I cried, I keep crying, I keep crying
Ooh, I've been miss my water
No, I never miss my water 'till my well run dry
I sit here and wonder
How in the world this could be, my, oh my
I never thought, oh, I never thought you'd ever leave me
But now that you left me
Good Lord, good Lord, how I cried out
You don't miss your water
You don't miss your water 'till your well run dry
Ooh, You don't miss your water, oh
You don't miss your water 'till your well run dry
@__blessings123
Snowfall brought me here today but I LOVE the Motown generation. Oldies plays a huge role in my childhood. From a child to my late teens that’s all I listened to. 1920’s to 1970’s was definitely my go to music even now. It touches the deepest part of my heart and soul. Idk I attached myself that when I listen to some oldies I feel at peace. Otis Redding was PURE TALENT! The Temptations will be one of the most talented groups that would ever touch this earth. One of Motown golden artists.. not to take from the other artists from Motown days. Motown had many golden artists. Sorry I lost myself for a second took me back.. Ngl I cried listening to this because it reminded me of times when things used to be so simple in life.
@thruend2496
This is STAX Power baby.
@matthewsmith1941
They just played this on the new South Park Streaming Wars 2 and I had to hear it again. What an incredible song. Gave me chill bumps.
@fallingstar403
Otis Redding is guaranteed to pull your heart strings ❤️
@jamespowell2927
I had to listen to the entire album when I heard it again 🙂
@michelleshore9910
Agreed!
@dominiquejones3805
Dope!!!!
@dominiquejones3805
Snowfall also had it
@CCP12610
I can't believe he was only 26 when he died. Blows my mind. So many classic songs in such a short period of time. Thank you, Otis!!!!
@danielwilliams1932
in 50's and 60's all great singers died in plane crashes.