About The Song
Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is one of the most iconic and beloved songs of all time. It was released in 1968, two days after Redding’s death in a plane crash, and became the first posthumous #1 single in the United States.
The song is a soulful ballad about a man reflecting on his life and the world around him. Redding wrote the lyrics while staying on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California, and the song’s imagery of the bay and the ships rolling in and out of port is evocative of his time there.
The song begins with the simple but poignant line, “I left my home in Georgia.” This line sets the stage for the rest of the song, which is about the speaker’s journey and his search for meaning.
The speaker sings about how he’s going to “sleep on the dock of the bay” and “watch the tide roll in.” He also talks about how he wants to “watch the ships roll by” and “think about what it all means.”
The song’s lyrics are full of wisdom and insight, and Redding’s vocals are passionate and soulful. The song is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
In addition to its commercial success, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” has also been critically acclaimed. It has been ranked among the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone, Time magazine, and other publications. The song has also been covered by numerous artists, including Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Bolton.
“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is a truly special song. It is a testament to Otis Redding’s talent and to the power of music to move and inspire us.
Video
Lyrics
Sittin’ in the morning sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch them 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 nothing to live for
And look like nothing’s gonna come my way
So, I’m just gon’ sit on the dock of the bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
Looks like nothing’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, listen
Sittin’ here resting 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 a bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
[Ends in harmonic whistling]
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