Song by Song: "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" Quiz

Answer: Steve Cropper

Nicknamed "The Colonel," Steve Cropper was a producer for Stax records and a guitarist for Booker T. & the M.G.'s. As a member of the Stax records house band, he backed numerous musicians in recordings, including Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, and Johnnie Taylor. Later, he became a member of the Blues Brothers Band.

Answer: True

The song was released in January of 1968. Just a few days after completing the song with Steve Cooper, Otis Redding died in a private plane crash on Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin. Rolling Stone magazine reports, "While divers searched for Redding's body, Cropper kept his mind busy by mixing 'Dock of the Bay.' On December 11th, 1967, the plane was pulled out of the lake, with Redding's body still strapped into the co-pilot's seat." The song was the first posthumously released song to top the charts in the United States.

Answer: Harmonica

The song incorporates whistling and the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Steve Cropper played guitar, while Donald Dunn was on bass guitar and Otis Redding provided vocals. Harmonica was not incorporated into the song.

Answer: the ships / the tide

"Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time."

The song peaked at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and at number 3 on the New Zealand singles chart. In Canada, it reached number 7.

Answer: Two

The song won in the categories of Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1969 Grammy Awards. This was the first year Best R&B Song became a category at the Grammy Awards.

Answer: Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar released his single in 1979. Steve Cropper played guitar on his version, and members of the band Boston provided backup vocals. Sammy Hagar's version peaked at 65 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Georgia

"I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
'Cause I've had nothin' to live for
It look like nothin's gonna come my way
So I'm just gon' sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time."

Otis Redding began writing "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" while sitting on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California. He was on tour with the Bar-Kays at the time. He later completed the song in Memphis, Tennessee.

Answer: Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton released a cover of the song in 1987 with "Call My Name" on the B-Side. His version hit number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100. Zelma Redding was quoted in Jet magazine as saying the version "brought tears to my eyes."

Answer: my bones

"Sittin' here restin' my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
Two thousand miles, I roam
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm just gon' sit, at the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh yeah
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time."

The song was initially released as a single from the album of the same name with "Sweet Lorene" on the B-Side. The album hit number four on the US Billboard Top LPs chart.

Answer: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

The song was also covered by Garth Brooks for a 2013 compilation album titled "Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences." The song has been covered by artists ranging from Bob Dylan, Sam & Dave, and Glen Campbell to Pearl Jam, T. Rex, and Dennis Brown.