"You Left the Water Running" is a soul music song written by Dan Penn, Rick Hall and Oscar Franks.
Ten years later, Marsh was mailed a promo copy of "You Left the Water Running" by Redding on Stone Records (the flipside was an instrumental called "The Otis Jam", which was produced by John Fred, of "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)" fame).
Atlantic Records released "You Left the Water Running" for the first time legally on the compilation album The Otis Redding Story in 1987.
The song has been recorded by many other artists, including Wilson Pickett, Don Varner (1967), Billy Young, Maurice & Mac, Armazing Rhythm Aces, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Bobby Hatfield, James & Bobby Purify, Ken Boothe ( who cut a Rocksteady version ) and Huey Lewis and the News (on Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994)), Billy Price & The Keystone Rhythm Band (1980).
The title is referenced in the last line sung by Alex Chilton at the end of The Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby" ("You left the water running now") which was another composition co-written by Penn.