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(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Ottis Redding

The sound of the sea accompanied by the bass guitar sets a really mellow mood to start the song with. The vocals are laid back and intimate giving the words greater effect.

The guitar is introduced on the second repetition of the chorus. It plays melodic lead lines behind the vocal, allowing the piano to take care of the chord sequence. This use of lead guitar adds a nice sparkle to the sound with plenty of melodic content. Although the guitar is actually playing a definite riff that is repeated throughout the song, the slight variations made by the guitarist give the impression that the lead is improvised. This helps to keep the music elastic, soft and laid back.

The second verse is accompanied by a brass section that adds a new level of interest to the overall sound.

The bridge includes an even use of both lead guitar and brass section. The new chord sequence and vocal melody help to create a space in the middle of the song that stops the listener from becoming bored due to the verse and chorus being melodically very similar.

Lyrically, the bridge allows the singer a new angle to put across the emotion of his unchanging situation, sitting watching the sea. Perhaps it's because of these lyrics that the song has stood the test of time. They take you to a place in your minds eye where you can picture yourself, away from your everyday world, somewhere peaceful. Regardless of the fact the song was written many years ago, lyrics like these will last because they are not relating to passing trends or specific periods of time.

The bridge ends dynamically with a drum fill and instrument 'stabs' which lead into the next verse.

The song ends with a melody whistled by the singer, further enhancing the carefree mood of the song.

What can we learn?

  • Use of sound effects relevant to the lyric subject helps to set a new mood and add an interesting twist to the sound.
  • Introducing the guitar later in the song allows it to take a different, more melodic role.
  • Introducing new instruments such as the brass section as you progress through a song, helps it to build dynamically and keep the listener interested.
  • Using a definite riff or lead phrase but altering it very slightly on each repeat helps to keep consistency but with a more interesting and laid back vibe.
  • Using lyrics that don't relate to specific periods of time or passing trends helps to keep them timeless. If you wrote a song about today's news it probably won't mean much to people in a couple of years time.
  • The bridge not only allows the song to change melodically but it can also allow the singer a new angle or point of view in lyrics.
  • Whistling nearly always sounds out of tune on recordings!

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