Songwriter: Otis Redding Steve Cropper Smokey Robinson

[Verse 1]
Huh, I can't turn you loose, now, girl
If I do I'm gonna lose my pride
Honey, I can't never turn you loose now, now
If I do I'm gonna lose my life, life, life
I can't turn you loose to nobody, now
Huh, 'cause I love you baby, yes I do, now

[Pre Chorus]
Ooh, baby, hip-shakin' mama, I told ya
Honey, I'm in love with-a only you
Honey baby, duh, do it, baby, why doncha?
I'm gonna give you everything that you wanna

[Chorus]
I gotta, gotta, gotta
Keep on-a, rockin', baby
Never, never gonna turn you loose, now
Keep on, keep on-a, holdin' on
Got to, got to, got ah, ooh

[Verse 2]
I can't turn you loose, huh, babe
I'm in love now with the prettiest thing
Ooh, I-I never, never turn you loose now
Huh, because sweet love she bring me
I said I can't turn you loose to nobody
Baby, I love you, baby, yes I do

[Pre Chorus]
Ooh, baby, hip-shakin' mama, I love ya
Huh, I'm in love with-a only you
Honest, baby, do it, baby, why doncha?
And I'm gonna give you ev'rything that you wanna

[Chorus]
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Huh, huh, keep, keep on holdin' on
Huh, huh, never gonna turn you loose, yeah
Never gonna lose it, baby
Huh, huh, yeah, babe, huh
Hey, ooh, ya, yeah

[Verse 3]
I can't, ah turn you loose
Never, ever, never gonna turn you loose
I'm gonna keep holdin' on, turn you loose?
Gonna keep a grip on ya
I can't turn you loose
Let me bring it home

[Pre Chorus]
And I'd love to hold ya than to turn you loose
Never gonna turn
Got to keep a hold
Hold on to me, baby

[Outro]
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Keep-a, keep-a grovin'
We got to get home

Otis Redding

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. His singing style influenced many other soul artists of the 1960s. During his lifetime, his recordings were produced by Stax Records, based in Memphis, Tennessee, and exemplify the sound of Stax.

On December 9, 1967, Redding performed on Cleveland musical variety TV show Upbeat. He played back to back performances that night at Leo’s Casino. The next day, Otis and his band were scheduled to play at the Factory nightclub in Madison, Wisconsin. At the time, Redding and his band had been traveling between performances in his Beechcraft Model 18. On a foggy and frigid December 10, 1967, the aircraft pilot radioed to land at Traux Field in Madison. Shortly after, the airplane crashed into Lake Monona, only 4 miles from the airstrip. The crash claimed 7 of the 8 lives on board, trumpet player Ben Cauley being the only survivor. Otis Redding was 26 years old at the time of the crash.