The Rationals were a garage band from Ann Arbor that first emerged in 1964,… Read Full Bio ↴The Rationals were a garage band from Ann Arbor that first emerged in 1964, with Scott Morgan on lead vocals and guitar, Steve Correll on lead guitar, Terry Trabandt on bass, and Bill Figg on drums. They had several local hits but ultimately failed to break into widespread fame. The closest they ever got to fame was with their 1966 single, Respect, which charted at 92 on the Billboard charts. Later on they experimented with psychedelia and soul but they still failed to make it big outside of Michigan. They began recording their first self-titled LP in 1969, but it was too little too late for the band. They were left with no manager or infrastructure and the band wasn't getting along, and so in 1970 the band broke up. Scott Morgan later went on to be in Sonic's Rendezvous Band. In 1995, John Sinclair released a live recording of a 1968 Rationals benefit concert entitled Temptation 'bout to Get Me. Sinclair also named his book Guitar Army after the Rationals song of the same name.

Respect
The Rationals Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What you want, baby, I got it
What you need, do you know I got it?
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you get home
(Just a little bit) hey baby
(Just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister
(Just a little bit)

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
Ain't gon' do you wrong 'cause I don't wanna
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you come home
(Just a little bit) baby
(Just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) yeah
(Just a little bit)

I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
Is to give me my propers when you get home
(Just a, just a, just a, just a) yeah, baby
(Just a, just a, just a, just a) when you get home
(Just a little bit) yeah
(Just a little bit)

Ooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey
And guess what? So is my money
All I want you to do for me, is give it to me when you get home
(Re, re, re ,re) yeah baby
(Re, re, re ,re) whip it to me
(Respect, just a little bit) when you get home, now
(Just a little bit)

R-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me
R-e-s-p-e-c-t, take care, tcb, oh
(Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect
(Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe
(Just a little bit) a little respect
(Just a little bit) I get tired
(Just a little bit) keep on tryin'
(Just a little bit) you're runnin' out of fools
(Just a little bit) and I ain't lyin'
(Just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) start when you come home
(Re, re, re, respect) or you might walk in
(Just a little bit) and find out I'm gone
(Just a little bit) I gotta have

(Just a little bit) a little respect
(Just a little bit)

Overall Meaning

The Rationals' song Respect is all about earning respect and demanding it in a relationship. The lyrics convey a message that the singer is willing to give everything, including money and kisses, but expects respect in return. The repetition of the phrase "just a little bit" throughout the song adds a touch of humor to the lyrics, making it sound playful instead of too intense or serious.

In the first verse, the singer tells the listener that they have everything they need, but all they are asking for is a little respect when they get home. In the second verse, the singer assures the listener that they won't do them wrong while they are gone. They would like the same treatment from the listener and be respected when they come home. The chorus strongly emphasizes the phrase "just a little bit" and the phrase "when you come home" because these are the two key elements that the singer is expecting from their partner.

The third verse is where the singer asks for what they believe is rightfully theirs. They are willing to give all their money to their partner, but all they want in return is a little respect. The final verse is playful and flirty, with the singer complementing her partner's kisses while also emphasizing what they need in return. The song ends with a powerful and repeated message of wanting respect from their partner.

Line by Line Meaning

What you want, baby, I got it
I have everything that you want

What you need, do you know I got it?
Do you know that I have what you need?

All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you get home
I want you to show me some respect when you come home

(Just a little bit) hey baby
I only need a small amount of respect

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
I won't do anything wrong while you're away

Ain't gon' do you wrong 'cause I don't wanna
I don't want to do anything wrong to you

All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you come home
I just want you to show me some respect when you return

(Just a little bit) baby
I only need a small amount of respect from you

I'm about to give you all of my money
I am going to give you all my money

And all I'm askin' in return, honey
All I want in return, my dear, is

Is to give me my propers when you get home
I only ask that you give me the respect I deserve when you return

(Just a, just a, just a, just a) yeah, baby
Just give me a bit of respect

Ooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey
Your kisses are very sweet

And guess what? So is my money
And you know what? So is my money

All I want you to do for me, is give it to me when you get home
All I want from you is to give me my money when you return home

(Re, re, re ,re) yeah baby
Just a reminder that I deserve respect

(Re, re, re ,re) whip it to me
Give me what I deserve

(Respect, just a little bit) when you get home, now
Just give me a bit of respect when you return

(Just a little bit)
I just want a small amount of respect

R-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me
Figure out what respect means to me

R-e-s-p-e-c-t, take care, tcb, oh
Take care of yourself and show some respect

(Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Give me what I want

A little respect
Just a little bit of respect

(Just a little bit) a little respect
I am only requesting a small amount of respect

(Just a little bit) I get tired
I am losing my patience

(Just a little bit) keep on tryin'
Keep trying to give me what I deserve

(Just a little bit) you're runnin' out of fools
You are running out of opportunities to disrespect me

(Just a little bit) and I ain't lyin'
And I am not lying when I say

(Re, re, re, re) start when you come home
I want you to start with showing me respect when you come home

(Re, re, re, respect) or you might walk in
If you don't show me respect, you may find that

(Just a little bit) and find out I'm gone
I won't be there anymore

(Just a little bit) I gotta have
I need it

(Just a little bit) a little respect
Just a small amount of respect

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Otis Redding

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Vicky Thatch

3y↑15

That's me sitting on the end by the bass player. Mary Tyler Moore flip and my cherished wooden bead necklace. And yes, the bass player almost hit me in the head with the guitar -- still remember it!!

ibmark2u2

2y↑1

You are Beautiful!!

DennisVernier

1y↑3

I have always loved the tone of the Epiphone Riviera guitar on this. First time I saw them was at a "Teen Fair" at Detroit's Cobo Hall back in the 60's. I was about fifteen at the time and played there with a five piece band. I was amazed at how full these guys sounded with just a harmonica, guitar, bass and drums. Of course they were pros and we were kids just starting out. It was all so amazing. I can't beleive I'm now seventy years old. I ended up performing locally in clubs and for special events for many years. I'm glad we still have these videos. My thoughts.

IwshIcldstrtover

10y↑30

I've always thought that this is the best performance ever done of this song!

Steve Roth

1y↑1

so did I - in fact it was the only one I'd ever heard when my basement band learned it!

Carol Nahigian

1y↑1

The RATIONALS! they were live at Crowleys On Woodward promoting this song! " the Rationals are in the Basement"!!!!( i ran to hear them!)

Jaden

4y↑1

Wow. Then you have been living under ten rocks your entire life.

MikeBlitzMag

5y↑1

You most assuredly thought correctly!

Richard Ranke

8y↑21

This was a single in 1966 and I remember it well. This was the first version I ever heard of Respect and for me it is the definitive version. I never did warm up to Aretha Franklyn's more popular version. (Aretha covered a lot of songs, now that I remember.)

Rick Hibdon

same

Ed Truitt

@The Jimmy I'm no longer a Sprinsteen fan, but I have to take issue as far as which version is best. I gotta go with the former "Boss" on this. Springsteens best work in my opinion was his first 3 albums.

The Jimmy

@Terry Miller Was she a first-ballot Hall of Famer when she recorded "Respect," or does that cover her entire singing career?

Manfred Mann's version of "Blinded by the Light" blows away Springsteen's original, but MM is nowhere in the ballpark when compared to Springsteen's entire body of work (and awards).

Terry Miller

4y↑2

A random garage band is a better version than a first-ballot Hall of Famer? Okay.

someguy23475

5y↑1

Otis Redding wrote and did it first. The Rationals were after Redding but before Franklin.

2 More Replies...

Bob Grilli

3y↑3

Great lead singer and tight band! Love the background vocals.

motorcityquig

11y↑8

It must of been the water, but a helluva lot of musical talent came out of Ann arbor back in the day.

ibmark2u2

That's where the rich kids lived.
They could afford all of the good equipment.

Steven Gnewkowski

1y↑1

The best version of this song by one of Ann Arbors best sixties bands!

Elliott Michaels

10y↑9

This was the first version I heard of this song, before Redding's and Aretha Franklin's versions became popular. This was pushed quite a bit on WMCA in New York, but I guess it didn't catch on. I always liked this version. BTW, Allan O'Hare, Mort Saul was a funny and highly respected (no pun intended) humorist and satirist back in the 1960's. Check out some of Saul's work on installments of the old Smothers Brothers comedy hour, and probably on some installments of the Ed Sullivan show, and you'll understand. I believe Saul coined the saying, "You've got to fight the madness!"

Marlana Wall-Ketelhut

2y↑1

I was 10 years old and loved this song! And loved Scott Morgan!

Greg Ashton

6y↑7

It's a shame that Ann Arbor's rationals never got a break like they should have I know we're sad coming from Ann Arbor that they never got the credit that they deserve is a great band what a sad day in Motown but the memory lives on we like them

motorcityquig

@Laura Marzz I'm from Michigan and the version of this song was a regional hit. The song and the Rationals were huge in the Detroit area at the time.

Laura Marzz

I FIRIST HEARD THE SONG ' RESPECT ' IN 1965 ON WOR-FM 98.7 IN NEW YORK CITY BUT IT WAS SUNG BY OTIS REDDING AND I CAN REMEMBER BUYING THE SINGLE ON THE ' VOLT ' RECORD LABEL I ALSO CAN REMEMBER ARETHA DOING IT A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER HOWEVER , I DON'T REMEMBER THIS VERSION AT ALL BY THE RATIONALS . NOW I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DIDN'T GET NATIONAL PLAY , EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN EXCELLENT VERSION , BUT MY BEST GUESS IS THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A ' COVER ' RECORD , AND TV RADIO DEE JAYS WERE RELUCTANT TO PLUG ' COVER ' RECORDS DUE TO THE INDICTMENTS BROUGHT ON BY THE ' PAYOLA SCANDAL ' IN 1960 .

Mark Sylvester

6y↑8

I saw these guys at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods MI playing at a dance in the cafeteria around 1968.
Amazing for this little gear head to see the Silvertone amps. O the memories. Amazing !

John Jarou

9y↑4

good stuff from the rationals.

Bob Davison

10y↑15

Scotty Morgan...5 stars

john b

9y↑3

Just a kid when this came out but always liked it a lot !!!!

Toni Judd

3y↑4

They lived in a house next door to my grandparents in Ann Arbor, Michigan. One actually came over when we were visiting to ask for a cup of sugar, we were going crazy! We were pretty young, 60's.

Jan Williams

4y↑1

Awesome group. Scott is a caring person. Had the pleasure of being friends.

Sally Weinreich

Love it!

Terry Newberry

7y↑12

Robin Seymour kicking off the intro on CKLW's Swinging Time

ibmark2u2

2y↑1

Scotty was born to sing this song.
A very great group from Michigan.

Timothy Flyte

5y↑2

My favorite version of this song . Listen to the bass line . I remember seeing this on Ch 9 ...( Windsor ).
Also check out the matching Epiphone Riveria and the Rivolli bass !!! Straight from the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo !!!

motorcityquig

7y↑5

There is alot of soul in this video for four high school kids.

Allan O'Hare

11y↑5

Scott had such a wonderful pure voice at this point in his career. I understand he ain't doing very well right about now, but he has every Detroiters' best wishes. But.... J.P. McCarthy and Mort Sahl... WTF is Robin Seymour talkin' about?

proudfootz

Just looked this up - local DJ McCarthy had Mort Sahl as a guest and they got into a disagreement. You can find this exchange on YouTube.

slapmyfacefull

11y↑2

Very good !!

Vince Q

3y↑2

I could swear I saw them rehearsing at the old Chatterbox nightclub in Warren at 13 Mile and Mound back in '66.

colleen donovan

8y↑2

Thanks for posting this. Memories! I have so many pictures I should scan. Great times.

joe gongora

Great song!!!

Mary Henri

2y↑2

This was all over Detroit radio!

Zo Valentine

1y↑1

I recall them performing Downriver, maybe The Bandshell, maybe Aquinas High School. Had best friend whose sister madly in love with Scott.

Manuel Esparza

6y↑2

diggin it

Vince Q

6y↑10

Sometime back around '66 when I was a kid, I swear I saw these guys rehearsing at a club called "The Chatterbox" in Warren, MI. Best version of this song, and "I Need You" was another great one these guys did.

MikeBlitzMag

7y↑6

The definitive version of this often covered Otis Redding composition (and it also had Professor Redding's blessing as his favorite among the many interpretations). Accept no substitutes. The Rationals had many singles out on the Danby's, A-Square, Cameo, Capitol, Crewe and Genesis labels. And this one remains far and away their finest moment.

Bill Kazen

I was in a band in CLE in '67, and we had to do this one 2x a nite while it was out...sadly, I saw Scott in CLE 35 yrs later, and hardly anyone showed up..but he still rocked...

drumsport

Nice work. Very close to the rendition recorded by The Soul Survivors.

yourtubesteak

3y↑1

A year before Aretha's version. The Rationals own this tune.

Laura Marzz

5y↑3

' BLUE EYE'D SOUL ' !

Barbara Dunne

5y↑3

I use to dance at CKLW Swingin Time

Jeff G

10y↑14

Prime Detroit Rock ♫

John Jarou

you bet jeff.

Bill Van Hecke

5y↑2

Cruising in my old Mustang...8 track bolted to the dash, and the infamous reverb unit in the trunk

Precision Cue Service

4y↑1

MC5 played in Birmingham at this freaky art hippie flea market place that was a former Packard dealership. My mom took me there when I was about six, 1968. There were bands there every day. Rationals were at the top, can you imagine getting in front of an audience and trying to outdo Aretha in Detroit in her prime in her hometown? There was a lot of action in Detroit in those days. NO comments about my Mom please;) She partied, OK?

Roberto Manca

9y↑3

Scott rulezzz!!!!!!!!! ;-)

Kaboomerty

i think the vagrants did a good version of this idk if anyone likes that one more but i’m a sucker for organ

Denise Obrecht

I was in their fan club.

Cynthia Ferguson

3y↑1

I saw them at the Club, south Monroe, Mi.

Sandra Dziedziula

8y↑7

MC5 didn't come outta Ann Arbor but Lincoln Park

vinni vegas

7y↑4

left handed rhythm guitar player is playing a right handed guitar. the chording is upside down ! :)

euphorik6

6y↑3

steve correll - superb player, king of the punk funk.

Ken Velickoff

Rocking Robin love you

Festers Uncle

5y↑1

My faves? Listen to me and Sunset.

Ronnie Forey

Wow........is this racist ? Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Badasses. Don't cancel it.

Jaden

Aretha Franklin killed this song!

But this white version sounds hoochie hot mess! NO SOUL!

Ken Settle

3y↑2

Why make it about race? The Rationals' version has plenty of soul! And a little history for you...The Rationals did the song almost a year BEFORE Aretha and in fact, Aretha's arrangement borrows heavily from The Rationals.