Otis Redding

American singer and songwriter (1941–1967)

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul music and rhythm and blues (R&B).

Redding in 1967

Song lyrics

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  • [Huh]I can't turn you loose now.
    If I do I'm gonna loose my life.
    [Ooh]I can't turn you loose now.
    If I do I'm gonna loose my life.
    I can't turn you loose to nobody
    I love you baby, yes I do.
    Give shakin' mama, I told ya
    I'm in love with only you.
    [Gotta] Baby do it baby why don't ya
    I'll give ya everything you want.
  • These arms of mine,
    They are lonely.
    Lonely and feeling blue.
    These arms of mine,
    They are yearning.
    Yearning from wanting you.
    And if you would let them hold you,
    Oh how grateful I will be.
    • These Arms of Mine.
  • Ole man trouble
    Go find you someone else to pick on.
    I live my life now you see.
    Ole man trouble,
    Please stay away from me, now.

    Oh I look like I'm down in my luck.
    Please send faith to help pick me up.
    I've lived this way so many years
    Ole man trouble,
    Please wash away all my fears.

  • What you want,
    Honey you've got it.
    And what you need,
    Baby you've got it.

    All I'm asking
    Is for a little respect when I come home.

  • There were times and you want to be free
    My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me.
    Oh I've been loving you a little too long
    I don't wanna stop now, oh.
    With you my life,
    Has been so wonderful.
    I can't stop now.
  • You call me Mr. Pitiful;
    Baby that's my name now, oh.
    They call me Mr. Pitiful;
    That's how I got my fame.
    But people just don`t understand, now
    What makes a man feel so blue, now
    Ooh, they call me Mr. Pitiful;
    Cause I lost someone just like you, now.
  • Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
    I keep singing them sad sad songs, y'all.
    Sad songs is all I know.
    I keep singing them sad sad songs, y'all.
    Sad songs is all I know.
    It has a sweet melody tonight
    Anybody can sing it any old time.
    What's in your heart puts you in a groove
    And when you sing this song,
    It'll make you're whole body move.
  • Sittin' in the mornin' sun,
    I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes.
    Watchin' the ships roll in;
    And I watch 'em roll away again.
    Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
    Watchin' the tide roll away.
    Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
    Wastin' time.
  • So I guess I'll remain the same
    Sittin' here restin' my bones.
    Wish this loneliness would leave me alone.
    For 2,000 miles I roamed
    Just to make this dock my home.
    Sittin' on the dock of the bay
    Watchin' the tide roll away.
    Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
    Wastin' time.
    • (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.

About Otis Redding

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  • As Otis Reading once said: "Try a little tenderness." He understands much better than most sociologists do.
    • 1980 interview in Conversations with James Baldwin edited by Louis H. Pratt and Fred L. Standley (1989)
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