Lyric
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
Behind The Lyric
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is a classic soul song performed by Otis Redding, which he co-wrote with Steve Cropper. The song was released in 1968, shortly after Redding’s untimely death in a plane crash. It went on to become one of his most famous and enduring hits.
The song is a contemplative ballad about feeling lost and disconnected from the world. In the opening verse, Redding sings about sitting on a dock in San Francisco, watching the ships roll in and out of the harbor. He talks about watching the tide roll away and feeling like he’s wasting time, waiting for something that may never come.
The second verse continues in a similar vein, with Redding describing his sense of isolation and dislocation. He sings about how he left his home in Georgia to find his fortune in California, but instead he finds himself feeling lonely and uncertain.
The chorus of the song is one of its most memorable parts, with Redding repeating the phrase “I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away.” The melody is wistful and melancholy, conveying a sense of longing and nostalgia.
In the final verse of the song, Redding sings about wanting to go home, back to the place where he belongs. He talks about how he wants to be with his friends and family, where he can feel a sense of connection and belonging.
Overall, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is a poignant and introspective song that captures the feeling of being lost and disconnected. Despite its melancholy tone, the song has a timeless quality that continues to resonate with audiences to this day.
