(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay was written by Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper. The song was inspired while Redding was sitting on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California, in August 1967, reflecting on his life on the road. It became a poignant reflection of his life, as Redding died in a plane crash in December 1967, making this song one of his final recordings. It was released posthumously in January 1968.