What if we all had to take the oath ascribed to Hippocrates? First, do no harm. It would be impossible to achieve, of course—the way this system works, we must keep groping our way forward into the unknown, sometimes with calm and courage, sometimes fearfully throwing punches at the world, puffing ourselves up with self-righteousness, tit-for-tatting. But what will we want to remember in the end? Hurts given and received? Or the ways we mended them, as this song reminds us to do? We could all use a little tenderness. It makes the grief and cares easier to bear.

Otis Redding, "Try a Little Tenderness," 1966. Written by James Campbell, Reginald Connelly & Harry Woods, 1932. More on the history of this song, with links to other performances, here.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to May 31, 2025.

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