(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay

Otis Redding

About (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay

"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" is a song co-written by soul singer Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper. It was recorded by Redding twice in 1967, including once just days before his death in a plane crash. The song was released on Stax Records' Volt label in 1968, becoming the first posthumous single to top the charts in the US. It reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Redding started writing the lyrics to the song in August 1967, while sitting on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California. He completed the song with the help of Cropper, who was a Stax producer and the guitarist for Booker T. & the M. G.'s. The song features whistling and sounds of waves crashing on a shore. 


Year:
2001
2:42
100 

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Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
'Cause I've had nothin' to live for
It look like nothin's gonna come my way
So I'm just gon' sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time

Look like nothin's gonna change
Everything, still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes

Sittin' here restin' my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
Two thousand miles, I roam
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm just gon' sit, at the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh yeah
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

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Otis Redding

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. Considered one of the major figures in soul music and rhythm and blues, and one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music, his singing style influenced other soul artists of the 1960s, and he helped to craft the short-living and powerful style of R&B that formed the basis of the Stax Sound. After appearing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, he wrote and recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper, which became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts after his death in a plane crash. The Dock of the Bay reached number one on the UK A… more »

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Written by: Steve Cropper, Otis Redding

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Historical Significance
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was released posthumously after Otis Redding's death in 1967, making it one of the first ever posthumous releases to hit number one on the U.S. Billboard charts.
Creation Process
Redding started writing the lyrics to the song while he was sitting on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California.
Album Inclusion
The song is featured in "The Dock of the Bay," which is the first of numerous albums released after Redding's death.
Impact
It's widely considered to be his signature song, despite the fact that he penned many other hits during his career.
Whistle Ending
The song famously ends with Redding whistling, which was only intended to be a placeholder for further lyrics that he planned to write.
Recording Time
The final version of the song was recorded just days before Redding's death.
Chart Success
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" topped the Billboard Pop Singles chart and the Billboard R&B chart in 1968.
Grammy Awards
The song won two Grammy Awards posthumously for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1968.
Certification
The Recording Industry Association of America certified the song as gold for sales of over one million copies.
Legacy
Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 26 on its 500 greatest songs of all time list.
Influence on Genres
The song marked a change in Redding's musical style, displaying elements of pop and featuring a soft, lilting melody that greatly influenced subsequent soul and R&B recordings.
Music Video Features
There was no original music video made for the song. However, many years later a music video was made featuring scenic images of ships, the bay, and photos of Otis Redding himself.
Covers
Many artists have covered this iconic song, including Pearl Jam, Michael Bolton, and Sara Bareilles.
Cultural References
The song has been used extensively in popular media and has been featured in many movies, commercials, and TV shows over the years.
Song Theme
The song's lyrics speak about Redding's homesickness as he was longing to return to his home in Georgia. It's a reflection of the monotony of life and yearning for change.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1968

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