“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” sold over one million units and was Redding’s first number one single on Billboard Magazine’s pop chart. Before learning this, I thought the whistling was intentional and fit perfectly, representing how the meaning of a song could be understood without words being spoken. His co-writer Steve Cropper decided to fill in the last verse with Redding’s whistling. He was unable to finish writing the last verse though, as he passed away just four days after recording began. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, there were moments of musical simplicity and lyrics that mostly talked about oneself, instead of a proclamation of love.
There are some noticeable influences The Beatles had in this song when comparing to Redding’s former music. He listened to the album during a week he spent at a houseboat in California while performing at San Francisco’s Fillmore West Theater in 1967. Redding wrote it after being influenced by The Beatles’ Sgt. Although it could be thought of as a song he wrote in a moment of happiness and peace, my impression was more pointed towards defeat. This song is more introspective and discusses an inner battle as opposed to having problems with a significant other.
The song I chose to analyze lyrically is “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of a Bay.” The reason I chose this song is that it is unlike his many romantic and love-centered tracks. Even if Redding had a seemingly-short career, his sound will carry on for many generations. Some artists that Otis Redding have inspired or have covered his songs include The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Willie Nelson, Al Green, Pearl Jam, Etta James, Rod Stewart, and Kanye West. Redding did not only influence the masses, he influenced many famous musicians. Also known as the “The King of Soul,” he is remembered mostly because of his powerful voice, soulful lyrics, and who he inspired. Justin and Shaun Bradley from Sydney band Brother Brad came in to The Music Show studios to cover this classic.Otis Redding has been noted as one of the greatest soul singers and composers of all time. It went on to become the first posthumous single to reach number 1 in the US. Steve Cropper decided to leave in the whistling and released it a month later. He died in a plane crash in December 1967 while on tour. He was to return to Memphis to record the final verse, but never had the chance. Otis hadn't written the last verse by the time he recorded the song, he was supposed to ad-lib a rap during the fade out but forgot what he was going to say, so he ended up whistling a tune instead. "Dock of the Bay" was exactly that: "I left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay" was all about him going out to San Francisco to perform. Songs like "Mr Pitiful" "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" they were about Otis and Otis' life. Otis didn't really write about himself but I did. I left my home in Georgia, Headed for the Frisco bay I have nothing to live for, Look like nothings. If you listen to the songs I collaborated with Otis, most of the lyrics are about him. Sittin in the morning sun, Ill be sittin when the evening come, Watching the ships roll in, And Ill watch em roll away again, yeah, Im sittin on the dock of the bay, Watching the tide roll away, ouh, Im just sittin on the dock of the bay, Wasting time. And that's about all he had: "I watch the ships come in and I watch them roll away again." I just took that.
And the story that I got he was renting boathouse or stayed at a boathouse or something and that's where he got the idea of the ships coming in the bay there. He had been in San Francisco doing The Fillmore. Otis was one of those the kind of guy who had 100 ideas.