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“Respect” is a song written and originally recorded by American soul singer Otis Redding. It was released in 1965 as a single from his third album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul and became a crossover hit for Redding.
In 1967, fellow soul singer Aretha Franklin covered and rearranged “Respect,” resulting in a bigger hit and her signature song.
The music in the two versions is significantly different while a few changes in the lyrics resulted in different narratives around the theme of human dignity that have been interpreted as commentaries on traditional gender roles.
Aretha Franklin Respect Music Video
Aretha Franklin Respect Lyrics
[Verse 1]
What you want, baby, I got it
What you need, do you know I got it?
[Chorus]
All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you come home
(Just a little bit) Hey baby
(Just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister
(Just a little bit)
[Verse 2]
I ain’t gonna do you wrong while you’re gone
Ain’t gon’ do you wrong ’cause I don’t wanna
[Chorus]
All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you come home
(Just a little bit) Baby
(Just a little bit) When you get home
(Just a little bit) Yeah
(Just a little bit)
[Verse 3]
I’m about to give you all of my money
And all I’m askin’ in return, honey
Is to give me my propers when you get home
[Refrain]
(Just a, just a, just a, just a) Yeah, baby
(Just a, just a, just a, just a) When you get home
(Just a little bit) Yeah
(Just a little bit)
[Instrumental]
[Verse 4]
Ooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey
And guess what? So is my money
[Chorus 2]
All I want you to do for me, is give it to me when you get home
(Re, re, re, re) Yeah baby
(Re, re, re, re) Whip it to me
(Respect, just a little bit) When you get home, now
(Just a little bit)
[Verse 5]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, take care of T-C-B
[Outro]
(Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect
(Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe
(Just a little bit) A little respect
(Just a little bit) I get tired
(Just a little bit) Keep on tryin’
(Just a little bit) You’re runnin’ out of fools
(Just a little bit) And I ain’t lyin’
(Just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) Start when you come home
(Re, re, re, respect) Or you might walk in
(Just a little bit) And find out I’m gone
(Just a little bit) I gotta have
(Just a little bit) A little respect
(Just a little bit)
What does TCB in R-E-S-P-E-C-T mean?
The most famous lyrical transformation comes toward the end of the song when Franklin spells out her message in no uncertain terms: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.” She spells the word out again, appending the ad-lib, “take care, TCB,” with “TCB” her shorthand for “taking care of business.”
Then Erma and Carolyn follow up with the rapid-fire refrain, “Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me … ”
What is Aretha Franklin’s most famous song?
Her most famous songs include “Respect” (1967), “I Say a Little Prayer” (1968), “Chain of Fools” (1967), and “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” (1973).