Otis Redding, nicknamed The King of Soul, recorded “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” at the end of 1967. The soul singer co-wrote the song with guitarist and producer Steve Cropper. The song appears on Otis Redding’s seventh studio album “The Dock of the Bay”. In this article, we’ll explore the story and meaning behind the song!
Posthumous Release
You can’t mention the origin and story behind the song without first mentioning Otis Redding’s tragic passing. The song was above all the last song he ever recorded. Just three days after Redding recorded “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” he, and six others, tragically passed away in a plane crash.
Otis Redding considered the song unfinished and Steve Cropper took upon the difficult task to finish the song. Due to pressure from the record company, Cropper rushed through the process of completing the song. In an interview Cropper said: “The reason I finished it up so quick is because we got a call from Atlantic Records saying we have to have a record out immediately. After, you know, his death. That was really tough.”
Redding and Cropper talked about the idea of adding backing vocals and decided to contact the Staple Singers. The Staple Singers just signed for Stax Records, the same record company Otis Redding fell under. Because of the rush to release the song, the collaboration never established.
Eventually, Cropper took raw records of the song and remixed them into the version of “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” we know today. The song was posthumously released as a single in 1968. It became the first posthumously released song to ever top the US charts.
The Origin and Meaning Behind the Song
Otis Redding wrote the first verse of the song while staying at a boathouse in California. It is rumored Redding stayed there to escape a horde of fans who found out about his original stay in downtown San Francisco. He titled the first verse “Dock of the Bay”. Guitarist and producer Steve Cropper eventually finished the lyrics.
The meaning behind the song is unclear, and the opinions of what the song is about are divided. Some believe the song is a feel-good tune about being so comfortable with life you enjoy “wasting time”. The laid-back vibes of the song add to this belief. When you delve deeper into the lyrics, however, this theory seems to be unlikely.
It’s more likely the song delves into emotions such as hopelessness and loneliness. A song about seeking meaning but being unable to find it. A song about seeking change but being unable to establish it. To escape these lonely and hopeless thoughts, Redding decides to just sit on the dock of the bay and waste time.
Although the song is about the personal life of Otis Redding, it’s important to keep in mind Steve Cropper wrote most of the lyrics. This definitely adds difficulty in the pursuit of discovering what the song is truly about.
Sound of the Song
“(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” sounds vastly different than anything else in Redding’s repertoire. Contrary to what record company Stax wanted, Otis Redding desired to change his musical style to appeal to a broader audience. He believed the song could be a hit, and he was right!
The song is known for its iconic whistling outro. Otis Redding recorded it as a fill-in for later to-be-written lyrics. These lyrics were never written as a result of Redding’s tragic passing. Steve Cropper decided to include the whistling outro in the finished song.
The Song’s Legacy
As said earlier, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” was the first song ever to posthumously top the US charts. It is often considered to be Otis Redding’s greatest song. This could be due to the fact “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” is Redding’s most successful song, if not for the undeniable connection with Redding’s tragic passing.
The song is one of the most performed songs of the twentieth century with notable covers from Michael Bolton and Sammy Hagar.
All in all, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” is considered one of the best songs ever written. The song remained popular through the years and will continue to be so!
Interested in more stories behind Otis Redding songs? Click here
