Cigarettes and coffee
Redding (Otis) Lyrics


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It's early in the morning
About a quarter 'til three
I'm sittin' here talkin' with my baby
Over cigarettes and coffee, yeah
And to tell you that
Darling I've been so satisfied
Honey since I met you
Baby, since I met you, whoa

All the places that I've been around
And all the good looking girls I've met
They just don't seem to fit in
Knowing this particularly sad, yeah

But it seemed so natural, darling
That you and I are here
Just talking over cigarettes and drinking coffee, ooh now

And, oh, my heart cries out
Love at last, I've found you, ooh now
And honey won't you let me
Just build my whole life around you?
And whoa, how complete, how complete my whole life would be, yeah
If you would take things under consideration
And walk down this aisle with me
I would love it, yeah

Well, I say it's so early in the morning
Ooh, it's a quarter 'til three
We're sittin' here talkin'
Over cigarettes and drinking coffee, now, Lord
And I'll like to show you, well
I've known nothing but good old joy
Since I met you, darling
Honey since I've met you, baby yeah

I would love to have another drink of coffee, now
And please, darling, help me smoke this one more cigarette, now
I don't want no cream and sugar
'Cause I've got you, now darling
But just let me enjoy
Help me to enjoy
This good time that we'll have, baby
It's so early, so early in the morning
So early, so early in the morning
And I've got you
And you've got me
And we have each other




And we don't, and we don't want nothing but joy, y'all
Nothing but joy

Overall Meaning

In the song "Cigarettes and Coffee," Otis Redding sings about sitting and talking with his partner in the early hours of the morning. He expresses his deep satisfaction with his relationship by saying, "all the places I've been around and all the good-looking girls I've met, they just don't seem to fit in." He contrasts this with the feeling of naturalness and completeness that he experiences when he's with his partner, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee.


The lyrics show a deep sense of contentment and joy in the simple pleasures of life - spending time with loved ones, smoking a cigarette, and drinking coffee. It speaks to the idea that happiness can be found in the mundane moments and that it's often the small things that matter the most. The song shows the importance of relationships, human experience, and the value of true love that makes everything perfect.


Interestingly, "Cigarettes and Coffee" was not an original song by Otis Redding. The song was written by Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield and first recorded by Butler in 1966. Otis Redding, however, made it his own and turned it into a soul classic. The song has also been covered by many other artists, including Ray Charles, Tina Turner, and Francis Dunnery.


Line by Line Meaning

It's early in the morning
The time is quarter till three in the morning.


About a quarter till three
The time is quarter till three in the morning.


I'm sittin' here talkin' with my baby
I am conversing with my lover.


Over cigarettes and coffee, now
We are bonding over smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee.


And to tell you that
I need to tell you that.


Darling I've been so satisfied
My dear, I am content.


Honey since I met you
Ever since I met you.


Baby since I met you, ooh
Since the day I met you, my love.


All the places that I've been around
The various locations I have visited.


And all the good looking girls I've met
And all the pretty women I have encountered.


They just don't seem to fit in
None of them compare to you.


Knowing this particularly sad, yeah
It's a disheartening realization.


But it seemed so natural, darling
However, being with you feels organic and effortless.


That you and I are here
The fact that we are together at this moment.


Just talking over cigarettes and drinking coffee, ooh now
Simply talking while we smoke and drink coffee.


And whole my heart cries out
My heart is rejoicing.


Love at last I've found you, ooh now
I have finally discovered true love.


And honey won't you let me
My love, please allow me.


Just be my whole life around you
To dedicate my entire life to being with you.


And while I complete, I complete my whole life would be, yeah
By being with you, my life would be fulfilled.


If you would take things under consideration
Please take into account.


And walk down this hour with me
Spend this moment with me.


And I would love it, yeah
I would truly love that.


People I say it's so early in the morning
Folks, it's still early in the morning.


Oh, it's a quarter till three
The time is quarter till three in the morning.


We're sittin' here talkin'
We are seated and talking.


Over cigarettes and drinking coffee, now, lord
Bonding over smoking and drinking coffee, oh my Lord.


And I'll like to show you, well
I would like to demonstrate.


I've known nothing but good old joy
Being with you has brought me immense happiness.


Since I met you, darling
Ever since I met you, my love.


Honey since I've met you, baby yeah
My love, since the day I met you.


I would love to have another drink of coffee, now
I would enjoy another cup of coffee, my dear.


And please, darling, help me smoke this one more cigarette, now
My love, can you please help me smoke one more cigarette.


I don't want no cream and sugar
I do not require cream and sugar in my coffee.


Cause I've got you, now darling
Because I have you in my life, my love.


But just let me enjoy
Please let me savor.


Help me to enjoy
Assist me in finding pleasure in this moment.


This good time that we'll have, baby
The enjoyable time we will have, my love.


It's so early, so early in the morning
It is still early in the morning.


So early, so early in the morning
Very early in the morning still.


And I've got you
I have you in my life, my dear.


And you've got me
You have me with you, my love.


And we'll have each other
We will have each other's love and companionship.


And we don't, we don't want nothing but joy, y'all
We solely desire joy, my friends.


Nothing but joy
Only joy.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jay Walker, Eddie Thomas, Jerry Butler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@melyndaduh3501

My favorite male singer when I was 16 years old. Noone has ever usurped his place. I'm 72 now and he is still my standard of vocal perfection.

@sweetiepie792

He has a Prophetic voice..yes mam..and a pastor he was called to be.......yes mam

@johnbennettusa123

ME TOO! .... I'm 71 and it all started when I was 16! .... Love that man! .... Saw him at Fairfield Hall Croydon when I was 17 on the Stax tour with Sam and Dave and co ....

@techdumbdad896

im 45, raised on otis by mom n pops and still my favorite

@tylerlabine9360

i was born 15 years after he died and i have to agree, he gets respect from the generation after him too

@Dsparks7777

That is a mouth full. So much time and artist's have passed.

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@kim4502

Everytime that I hear this song I think of me and my Moms late night conversations. Sweets memories and much wisdom.

@djmaxipad6238

In 2016 I married my best friend and THIS MASTERPIECE was our wedding song 💛

@ecb1979

I married my best friend to this in 2019. Great taste 🥰

@jessewilson9782

NICE

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