Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” Songfacts and Lyrics

Aretha’s “Respect” was recorded Valentine’s Day in 1967 at Atlantic Studios in New York City. She actually started recording the album in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, but a fight between her then-husband and FAME Studio owner cut the session short and she finished recording in New York.

But to keep that swampy Muscle Shoals sound, they flew up the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section from FAME Studios in Alabama to back her.

The song was actually a sort of response to Otis Redding’s 1965 song “Respect”, with a similar cadence, but different words that made the song an instant classic of female empowerment. Otis joked on tour that she took the song from him. She famously spelled out the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, and this song popularized the phrase “sock it to me”, which Aretha coined.

The song’s famous saxophone solo, courtesy of King Curtis, was actually a bridge that Aretha “borrowed” from a Sam & Dave track recorded the previous night.

It has been covered by Ike & Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Dexys Midnight Runners and many others. Rolling Stone ranked “it”Respect” #1 on its 2021 list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Here are the song’s words:

What you want, baby, I got it
What you need, do you know I got it?

All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you get home
(Just a little bit) hey, baby
(Just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister
(Just a little bit)

I ain’t gon’ do you wrong while you’re gone
Ain’t gon’ do you wrong ’cause I don’t wanna

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)

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

yeah, baby
(Just a, just a, just a, just a) when you get home
(Just a little bit) yeah
(Just a little bit)

Ooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey
And guess what? So is my money
All I want you to do for me, is give it to me when you get home

yeah, baby
(Re, re, re, re) whip it to me
(Respect, just a little bit) when you get home, now
(Just a little bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB, oh

A little respect
(Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe

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)

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

Aretha Franklin “Respect” Official Music Video