Growing up, when you hear oldies they’re easy to take foregranted. The other day I heard Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” and I realized that the song isn’t just about chillin on a dock in SF….it’s about loneliness.
I think its use in the movie “Short Circuit” is what ruined my perception of the song as a child. Regardless, hearing the song again was like finding a crisp dollar bill in your pocket. Even though I heard it hundreds of times, it was like I really heard it for the first time. For what it’s worth, another older song I absolutely love is Smokey Robinson’s “Tracks of my Tears”.
There have been some great remakes of each of these songs. I recommend the following:
- Dock of the bay with Justin Nozuka
- Tracks of my Tears with Boyz II Men
It’s always interesting to hear modern re-interpretations of the original classics.
Sittin’ in the morning sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes
watching the ships roll in
and then I watch them roll away again, yeah
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
watching the tide roll away
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
wasting time
I left my home in Georgia
headed for the Frisco Bay
because I’ve had nothin’ to live for
and look like nothin’s gonna come my way
So I’m just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
watchin’ the tide roll away
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
wasting time
Looks 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
Sitting here resting my bones
And this loneliness won’t leave me alone
It’s 2,000 miles I’ve roamed
Just to make this dock my home now
I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
watchin’ the tide roll away
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
wasting time
