otis redding sitting by the dock of the bay

Those ports are nestled farther down the bay’s shores, somewhat out of reach from all of the Pacific Ocean’s weather. Redding would have been able to see The Frisco Bay’s countless freighters and ferry boats “roll in” and “roll away again” because of the vigorous activity from both the Port of Oakland and the Port of San Francisco. Sausalito is positioned at the opening of the San Francisco Bay. It’s heavily presumed that Otis was watching the ships roll in and roll away again while sitting on Bill Graham’s houseboat. I mean, seriously, who the Hell would sing:

Specifically, for “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Cropper & Redding threw the Frisco Bay reference in the second verse to reinforce geography and probably give it a little ism. For as much as folks talk about, “hippies” and “peace & love” out here, San Franciscans need to lighten the Hell up. I’ve gotten a good scolding for making the reference. That said, I love calling the San Francisco Bay ‘Frisco Bay as much as San Franciscans hate to hear it. Sometimes, “SF,” and if you live here long enough, “Fog City.” Any other reference and the natives will figure out new ways to peak their upturned noses even higher at you for suggesting something so abhorrent. That said, it’s never “Frisco” or “San Fran” either when referencing the posh city. Sometimes, when referencing the area around the bay, folks will say “San Francisco Bay Area” or “San Francisco East Bay Area,” but never anything else. This might be the only time in history that San Francisco Bay is referred to as The ‘Frisco Bay because no self-respecting San Franciscan ever refers to the San Francisco Bay by any other name than its actual name or, simply, The Bay. Willow Bay in Frisco, Texas: A bay you can never sail your boat upon.Frisco Bay, Colorado : A place Otis has never been – if my research is correct.A San Francisco Bay nickname: A nickname San Franciscans would never use.Well, there are two popular references to “The Frisco Bay,” and a third I found off-hand: From the Department of Unexpected Questions, I found this while researching where Otis Redding wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay:”

Otis redding sitting by the dock of the bay