Otis Redding wrote Sitting on the Dock of the Bay in the Summer of 1967. He was living on a rented houseboat in Sausalito when the idea came to him. He recorded the song a few days before his death in a plane crash in Wisconsin on December 10, 1967.
That song resonated in my heart the first time I heard it when his record label released it posthumously. It became a hit record in 1968.
Then in 1968, when I was a senior in high school, I had a band. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was one of our most requested songs that we played in our show.
It's a haunting melody filled with lyrics delivered by Redding in a style often copied, but never captured. His version was filled with angst, longing, and what seemed like desperation.
Whenever I'm near water, I think of Otis, and his song.
That song resonated in my heart the first time I heard it when his record label released it posthumously. It became a hit record in 1968.
Then in 1968, when I was a senior in high school, I had a band. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was one of our most requested songs that we played in our show.
It's a haunting melody filled with lyrics delivered by Redding in a style often copied, but never captured. His version was filled with angst, longing, and what seemed like desperation.
Whenever I'm near water, I think of Otis, and his song.
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay is a great song, an oldy but a goody as they say. I listened this morning to the Willie Nelson/Tom Petty version of Goodnight Irene, a very old song which has stayed with me for years.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your holiday...
Ms Soup
I remember that as a sad song but I love the melody. It's very catchy and once I hear it, it's hard to get it out of my head.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you're having a joyful and memorable time and that you will not be fooled by the GPS this time.
We're having a grey day today but temperatures are rising so I'm having sunshine in my heart.
JB
It still remains one of my favourite songs.. and Otis Redding one of my favourite artists of all time.
ReplyDeleteI love that song. Put your pants on.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I have a different take on the lyrics to this song. Of course he was thinking about lost opportunities and loneliness but he seemed to have accepted his life. He was content to sit on the dock. He knew what he was missing but it was his life. He made the best of it.
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ReplyDeleteDefinitely a catchy tune. I love it when something hits home all the way down to my socks. We had a crazy DJ on WBT in Charlotte, NC 'Groans by Jones" He opened at 6 AM One day he said betwen each song, got a treat for You, soon. He did that until 7AM and he started Rock around The Clock and played it for an hour except for the required commercials and station breaks. At the end he said, I think that will become a hit, I like it.
ReplyDeleteHe was nearly fired.
Anyway I like the shot of the pier, I wanna fish!
Is it possible to walk a dock and and.not hear that song?
ReplyDeleteI love that song Rick... I can be sitting and listening to music and when that song comes on... I get lost in the words... beautiful and haunting...
ReplyDeleteI didn't know he wrote that song and died so soon after...
I love that song too. What a tragedy to have died. 1967 I think we had Expo in Montreal
ReplyDeleteSpent the whole summer running around exhibits
Sittin on the dock of the bay Cause I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothin's gonna come my way.
Boy was he wrong.hunh.sad.
Hey, I can remember right where I was when I first heard it! I guess I didn't realize how soon he was killed after writing it! Keep singing...
ReplyDeleteI do love that song too...I wish I was on a dock by a bay that had heat and sun right now! I hope you have a dock in your future! Enjoy the week!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite songs...one that always comes to mind when on a dock off the gulf or ocean!
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