"Try a Little Tenderness" - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966)
\"Try a Little Tenderness\" Jimmy Campbell/Reginald Connelly/Harry Woods
Very possibly one of Otis Redding's defining moments on record. Going Top 20 on both the R&B and pop charts, it's also the real breakthrough record to the white rock marketplace that Redding was looking for. The song itself is a bit of a Tin Pan Alley chestnut (dating back to the 1930s, when it was introduced to the public by horn player Ted Lewis). Redding probably first heard it when Sam Cooke cut in on his Live at the Copa album in 1962, but Aretha Franklin also cut it around then. Starting with a down-tempo, soulful melody, the song moves through several melodic changes before culminating into a power and fury that is capped by an absolutely intense modulation on the choruses. It's precisely here that Redding turns to interpreting the song to commanding it. It's positively spellbinding.
Oh she may be weary And young girls they do get wearied Wearing that same old shaggy dress Yeah yeah But when she gets weary Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah Oh my my, huh
You know she's waiting Just anticipating A thing that she'll never Never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah yeah But while she's there waiting And without them Try a little tenderness That's all you gotta do
It's not just sentimental, no no no She has her grief and care Yeah yeah yeah But the soft words They are spoke so gentle, yeah
It makes it easier
Easier to bare, yeah
You won't regret it, no no Young girls they don't forget it Love is their whole happiness, yeah But it's all so easy All you've gotta do is, man Hold her where you want her Squeeze her, don't tease her Never leave her, get to her Just try, try a little tenderness, yeah yeah yeah You got to know how to love her, man Take this advice, man You got to squeeze her Don't tease her, never leave You got to hold her And brother, something else Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah yeah yeah You've got to tenderness, now, uh I tell you, don't lose her, no no You got to love her, tease her Don't leave her Got to try, now now now Try, try a little tenderness, yeah Watch the groove You got to know what to do, man Take this advice You gotta love and squeeze Don't tease my baby Love her, lord...