Try a Little Tenderness

• By: Otis Redding
• Album: The Dictionary Of Soul

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
weary /ˈwɪəri/ B2	adjective - feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion.
tenderness /ˈtendərnəs/ B2	noun - gentleness and kindness.
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A1	verb - staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or event.
anticipating /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪŋ/ B2	verb - look forward to; expect or predict.
possess /pəˈzes/ B2	verb - have as belonging to one; own.
grief /ɡriːf/ B2	noun - intense sorrow, especially caused by someone's death.
care /keər/ A2	noun - the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
soft /sɒft/ A2	adjective - easy to mold, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch.
gentle /ˈdʒentl/ B1	adjective - having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character.
bear /beər/ B1	verb - endure an ordeal or difficulty.
regret /rɪˈɡret/ B1	verb - feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that one has done or failed to do).
happiness /ˈhæpinəs/ A2	noun - the state of being happy.
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to grasp, carry, or support with one's hands.
squeeze /skwiːz/ B1	verb - firmly press (something soft or yielding), typically with one's fingers.
tease /tiːz/ B1	verb - make fun of or attempt to provoke (a person or animal) in a playful way.
bruise /bruːz/ B2	verb - inflict a bruise on (someone or something).
advice /ədˈvaɪs/ B1	noun - guidance or recommendations offered concerning prudent future action.

Grammar:

• And young girls they do get wearied

  ➔ Emphatic 'do'

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "do" is used before the main verb "get" to add emphasis. It highlights the fact that young girls *really do* get tired.

• Wearing that same old shaggy dress

  ➔ Gerund phrase as an adjective

  ➔ "Wearing that same old shaggy dress" describes the state of the girls. "Wearing" is a gerund, and the whole phrase modifies "girls".

• Just anticipating For things that she'll never possess

  ➔ Relative clause with future tense ('she'll')

  ➔ "That she'll never possess" is a relative clause modifying "things". It describes the things that the girl will *never* have. The future tense is formed with 'will' (contracted to 'll').

• But while she's there waiting, without them

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time introduced by 'while'

  ➔ "While she's there waiting, without them" is an adverbial clause modifying the main clause (implied: try a little tenderness). It indicates the time during which the tenderness should be shown. 'While' introduces the time period.

• She has her grief and care

  ➔ Use of possessive adjective 'her'

  ➔ The possessive adjective "her" indicates that the grief and care belong to the subject, "she".

• But the soft words, they are spoke so gentle

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement and passive voice ('are spoke')

  ➔ While grammatically incorrect in standard English, the phrase "are spoke" attempts to use the passive voice. It implies "the soft words are spoken so gently". Subject is plural (words) , verb 'are' agrees with it. Note: 'spoken' is the correct past participle

• It makes it easier, easier to bear, yeah

  ➔ Comparative adjective 'easier' and infinitive of purpose 'to bear'

  ➔ "Easier" is the comparative form of "easy", indicating a greater degree of ease. "To bear" is an infinitive used to express the purpose, explaining why it is easier.

• Hold her where you want her

  ➔ Subordinate clause with 'where'

  ➔ "Where you want her" is a subordinate clause, functioning as an adverbial modifier specifying the location of holding the girl. "Where" introduces the clause indicating place.