Ole Man Trouble

"Ole Man Trouble"
Song by Otis Redding from the album Otis Blue
Released	August 15, 1965
Format	7" single
A-side	"Respect"
Recorded	Stax Studios, Memphis, Tennessee: July 1965
Genre	Soul
Length	2:25
Label	Volt/Atco V-128
Writer	Otis Redding
Producer	Steve Cropper
Otis Blue track listing
"Ole Man Trouble" "Respect" "A Change Is Gonna Come" "Down in the Valley" "I've Been Loving You Too Long" "Shake" "My Girl" "Wonderful World" "Rock Me Baby" "Satisfaction" "You Don't Miss Your Water"

"Ole Man Trouble" is a song written by Otis Redding and the first track from his 1965 album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul. It was released as the B-side to his hit single "Respect", the second track from Otis Blue. The song is a sign of Redding's emerging mature and reflective side that was to culminate in his posthumous single "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay". "Ole Man Trouble" was also released on Redding's posthumous album The Dock of the Bay.

As the "Dock of the Bay" represents a search for a place to settle down and find peace or a home, an "Ole Man" is used as a personification for the trouble that can find a person after they have already endured it for some part of their life.

“

Ole man trouble Go find you someone else to pick on I live my life now you see Ole man trouble Please stay away from me, now Oh I look like I'm down in my luck Please send faith to help pick me up I've lived this way so many years Ole man trouble Please wash away all my fears

”

Crafted as a blues song with a classic soul melody set to country overtones, "Ole Man Trouble" helped Redding capture the growing white blues/soul market. The song was covered by a group called Hills Barbata Ethridge on their album L.A. Getaway in 1971, and by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Chart history

Year	Chart	Position
1965	Black Singles Chart	#4
1965	Pop Singles Chart	#35
1965	Italian Singles Chart	#60

External links

• Song review at Allmusic.com