That’s How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Soul of Devotion
Lyrics
I’d go with love most everywhere
I’ll be the moon when the sun goes down
Just to let you know that I’m still around
That’s how strong my love is, whoa
That’s how strong my love is
That’s how strong my love is, baby, baby
That’s how strong my love is
I’ll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears
And you can go swimming when you’re here
And I’ll be the rainbow after the tears are gone
Wrap you in my colors and keep you warm
That’s how strong my love is, darling
That’s how strong my love is, baby
That’s how strong my love is, whoa
That’s how strong my love is
I’ll be the ocean so deep and wide
And catch the tears whenever you cry
I’ll be the breeze after the storm is gone
To dry your eyes and love you warm
That’s how strong my love is, baby
That’s how strong my love is
That’s how strong my love is, darling
That’s how strong my love is, again now
That’s how strong my love is, so deep in
Well, that’s how strong my love is
So much love, yes so much love, whoa
Yes so much love, yes so much love
Anything that I can do, I’ll be good for you
Any kind of love you want, I’ll be with you
In the pantheon of soul music, Otis Redding stands as a colossus—a beacon of heartfelt emotion and vocal prowess. Among his treasure trove of hits, ‘That’s How Strong My Love Is’ emerges as an anthem of love’s immeasurable strength. The song, draped in Redding’s soul-stirring cadences, is more than a mere expression of romantic devotion; it is a testament to the enduring power of love through metaphor and music.
While many have swayed to its melody or been stirred by its lyrics, few have paused to dissect the profound layers embedded within this classic track. As we delve deeper into its lyrics, we uncover the essence of a love that defies boundaries, a love that stands as both guardian and guiding light, a love painted in the cosmic and the natural—an eternal force to be reckoned with.
A Celestial Oath of Everlasting Presence
The song opens with a promise that transcends earthly bounds: ‘If I was the sun way up there / I’d go with love most everywhere.’ Redding commits his omnipresence, likening his love to the all-encompassing warmth of the sun, an ever-vigilant watchman in the heavens. This celestial vow continues as the song’s protagonist claims the role of the moon, accompanying his beloved even when the brightness of day gives way to the vulnerability of night.
The solar and lunar imagery evoke a sense of perpetual guardianship and constancy in love’s domain. The lyrics here dismiss the conventional restrictions of time, creating a love that is both infinite and inexhaustible—a luminous force that remains undimmed regardless of the world’s rotations.
From Deep Despair to the Colors of Comfort
Redding’s verses are laden with naturalistic symbols that depict love as a refuge in times of emotional torrents: ‘I’ll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears / And you can go swimming when you’re here.’ The artist positions himself as a weeping willow, a tree often associated with sorrow, yet he offers comfort to his loved one by inviting them to find solace amidst his own sadness.
This sacrificial motif is amplified as he pledges to morph into a rainbow—a beacon of hope and serenity after a storm. Redding suggests that not only does he endure the tempest of pain to protect his beloved, but also transforms its aftermath into an embrace of prismatic warmth.
Exploring the Depths of a Watery Love
The ocean is another monumental element that Redding incorporates into his lyricism: ‘I’ll be the ocean so deep and wide / And catch the tears whenever you cry.’ The vastness of the ocean becomes synonymous with the depth of his love, willing to contain and cradle the sorrows of his partner.
Moreover, the oceanic expanse conveys the idea of boundlessness; there is no shoreline to which his commitment can be confined. Love, in Otis Redding’s realm, is an all-encompassing, all-absorbing element that willingly bears the weight of its beloved’s emotional tribulations.
The ‘Breeze’ After the ‘Storm’: A Promise of Reassurance
Redding’s lyrics affirm not only his love’s intensity but also its role as a source of recovery and peace. Following the water motif, he presents himself as the cooling, calming breeze after the storm—’To dry your eyes and love you warm.’ It’s a reassurance that no matter the ferocity of life’s setbacks, his love remains a force of solace and renewal.
The symbolism here is evocative, as the elemental sequence from storm, to tears, to the breeze illustrates a cycle of hardship, release, and soothing restoration. Redding’s love is not only strong but also gentle and nurturing, embodying the delicate balance between strength and tenderness in the face of adversity.
The Hidden Sonic Tapestry of Unyielding Devotion
Beneath the lyrics, the sonic landscape of ‘That’s How Strong My Love Is’ lays the foundation of timelessness. The instrumentation, unobtrusive yet profound, serves as a canvas for Redding’s vocal delivery—each note, each pause, each crescendo drawing the listener deeper into the heart of the ballad.
What might be concealed in the song’s melody and harmonies is the underlying message: love as an unwavering commitment. Redding’s voice itself becomes an instrument of reassurance, defiant in its resolution, soft in its embrace. And through the song’s gentle undulations, we are subtly reminded that sometimes songs are not just sung; they are lived and they are breathed, carrying with them the weight and beauty of our deepest human connections.
