He died on December 10, 1967 in a plane crash.
Carla Thomas (born December 21, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee) is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul . Her parents, the late Rufus and Lorene Thomas, brought three musically gifted children into this world: Carla, Marvell and Vaneese. Despite growing up in the projects, the Thomas family lived in close proximity to the locally celebrated Palace Theater on world-famous Beale Street, as Rufus was the theater’s emcee for their amateur shows.[1] This access not only gave Thomas her first taste of the music world but it also provided a springboard for her transformation into the Queen of the Memphis Sound.
Knock On Wood
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I got 'cause if I do
I will surely,
Surely lose a lot.
'Cause your love is better
Than any love I know.
It's like thunder and lightning,
You better knock, knock on wood, baby.
I'm not superstitious about ya
But I can't take no chance.
I got me spinnin', baby,
You know I'm in a trance.
'Cause your love is better
Than any love I know.
It's like thunder and lightning,
The way you love me is frightening.
You better knock, knock on wood, baby.
It's no secret about it,
That woman is my loving cup
'cause she sees to it
That I get enough.
Just one touch from here,
You know it means so much.
In Otis Redding's song "Knock on Wood," he expresses his desire to maintain the good thing he has with his lover. He fears losing her and everything that comes with her love. Otis believes that his lover's love is the best kind he's ever experienced. Otis compares his lover's love to that of thunder and lightning, it's intense and scary, but also thrilling. He tells his lover to knock on wood, which is a superstitious way of wishing for good luck, possibly suggesting that he is still uncertain that they will last. He is in a trance, and he doesn't want to take any chances, but he loves her too much to let her go.
The lyrics of "Knock on Wood" were written by Eddie Floyd, and Steve Cropper, two songwriters who met while working for Stax Records. The song was first recorded by Eddie but later became more popular after Otis Redding recorded his version, which was released in 1967.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to lose you, this good thing
That I got 'cause if I do
I will surely,
Surely lose a lot.
I value this relationship too much and losing it would be a great loss.
'Cause your love is better
Than any love I know.
Your love outshines and exceeds that of any other person I've ever known.
It's like thunder and lightning,
The way you love me is frightening.
You better knock, knock on wood, baby.
Your passionate love is so intense and powerful that it's almost scary. I hope it continues, and I knock on wood and ask for it to last.
I'm not superstitious about ya
But I can't take no chance.
I got me spinnin', baby,
You know I'm in a trance.
I'm not superstitious, but I can't take the risk of losing you. Your love has me enchanted and captivated, leaving me disoriented and dizzy.
'Cause your love is better
Than any love I know.
Your love outshines and exceeds that of any other person I've ever known.
It's no secret about it,
That woman is my loving cup
'cause she sees to it
That I get enough.
Just one touch from here,
You know it means so much.
Everyone knows that you're my one and only love who satisfies my needs. You provide everything I need, and even a simple touch from you brings me enormous joy and satisfaction.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mimmoleonardi8643
Absolutely fantastic,❤💪 great soul 🔥
@elizabethmartiezavila5634
Everything Otis sang was gold ..one of our best ever BIG O
@ablackghostmyguy3741
2:08 the way otis says knock on wood just gets me so fired up
@charlescapozzi9440
Best duo version of Knock on Wood!
@butterflyingrid
What a wonderful pleasure. Thank you so much. ☆☆☆☆☆ Otis Ray Redding received the honorific "King of Soul". Among his most well-known songs are "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness". He is considered one of the greatest singers in popular music and a major artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. The idea to produce a duet album with Carla Thomas was Jim Stewart. Three singles were lifted from the album: "Tramp" was released in 1967, followed by "Knock on Wood" and "Lovey Dovey".
@ssmith583
Otis was a master. It seems all the great artist have the ability to take a song and interpret it their own style. I wish I had a chance to see him live.
@ivansanders8459
This was B I G in the 60s in U.K. night clubs. We are very lucky to have modern technology to enable us to hear it with the same freshness as all of those years ago. Imagine the Middle Ages - perhaps only hearing a song once from a travelling minstrel! We take so many wonderful things for granted.
@lisajanedegara9858
I really appreciated this comment. Oftentimes I stumble on older recordings and feel the same way. :)
@dontheguy1
Otis, truly one of a kind!
@shecky308
we miss you Otis!