When I hear the name Otis Redding I immediately think of ‘Sittin’ By the Dock of the Bay.’ And that’s a nice enough song, but nothing that rocks my world.
But the other day I got the latest issue of Rolling Stone and there’s a feature on the 100 best singers in rock-n-roll history. Redding came in somewhere in the top twenty, with a glowing write-up of his talents. The song they mention is ‘These Arms of Mine.’
Later the same week I was reading another article on the lead singer of Fall Out Boy (I’m not sure why) and he mentions Otis Redding and ‘These Arms of Mine’ as strong influences. So I figured the coincidence meant I had to track down the song pronto.
Listening to it, I realize I’ve heard this many times before. The first few lines, anyway. I don’t know if I’ve ever listened to it all the way through. It’s a very nice song and Redding sings it beautifully.
In my search, I also discovered that he died at just 26 years old in a plane crash. Somehow I made it this far without knowing that. Sad.
They are lonely, lonely and feeling blue
These arms of mine
They are yearning, yearning from wanting you
And if you would let them hold you
Oh, how grateful I will be
These arms of mine
They are burning, burning from wanting you
These arms of mine
They are wanting, wanting to hold you
And if you would let them hold you
Oh, how grateful I will be
Come on, come on baby
Just be my little woman, just be my lover, oh
I need me somebody, somebody to treat me right, oh
I need your woman’s loving arms to hold me tight
And I…I…I need…I need your…I need your tender lips
Meet Me In Montauk 
It’s hard to listen to this and not want to get up and do the stroll (a dance we used to do in the olden days) 🙂
Otis was another one mentioned by Elton John and elvis Costello as a great talent in the late 60’s –apparently his appearance at Monteray, although overshadowed by the mega acts like the Who, received raves. I don’t know much about him either beyond Dock of the Bay (which i think is a great song), but would like to learn more.
Clearly you never saw Dirty Dancing!!!!!
Clearly you never saw Pretty in Pink, either!!! 🙂 Ducky Dale (otherwise known as Jon Cryer) did a great lip sync and dance to “Try a Little Tenderness.” That is the song I think of when I hear the name Otis Redding.
I didn’t know about his early demise, either. That is very sad; he was certainly talented. Today’s is a nice song and certainly a departure from yesterday’s offering. 🙂 It’s all entertaining (and educational).
I love that scene in Pretty in Pink! Thanks for reminding me of it, Kerrie.