(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.
Sittin' in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come Watching the ships roll in Then I'll watch 'em roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Watching the tide roll away Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time
I left my home in Georgia Headed for the 'Frisco Bay I have nothing to live for Look like nothin's gonna come my way
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay Watching the tide roll away Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time
Look like, nothing'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 resting my bones And this loneliness won't leave me alone It's two thousand miles I roam Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay Watching the tide roll away Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time