Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. He started performing at age ten in a Forrest City quartet called the Greene Brothers; he dropped the final "E" from his last name years later as a solo artist. They toured extensively in the mid-1950s in the South until the Greenes moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when they began to tour around Michigan. His father kicked him out of the group because he caught Green listening to Jackie Wilson.
In 1967 at the age of 16, Al formed an R&B group, Al Green & the Creations, with several of his high-school friends. Two Creation members, Curtis Rogers and Palmer James, founded their own independent record company, Hot Line Music Journal, and had the group record for the label. By that time, the Creations had been re-named the Soul Mates. The group's first single, "Back Up Train," became a surprise hit, climbing to number five on the R&B charts early in 1968. The Soul Mates attempted to record another hit, but all of their subsequent singles failed to find an audience. In 1969, Al Green met bandleader and Hi Records vice president Willie Mitchell while on tour in Midland, Texas. Impressed with Green's voice, he signed the singer to Hi Records, and began collaborating with Al on his debut album
He was perhaps the ideal complement to the orchestral, syrupy, strong soul production work of Hi Records wizard Willie Mitchell, who also helmed 70s classics for Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, and himself.
On October 18, 1974, Mary Woodson, a woman who was his longtime girlfriend, threw a large pot of sticky boiling grits on him as he was preparing to shower, because he didn't want to get married. She committed suicide in minutes, which deeply affected Green to turn to God and religion. This assault from behind caused third-degree burns on his back, stomach and arm. Deeply shaken, Green continued to reaffirm and grow closer to his deeply held love for God, and became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1976.
Continuing to record R&B, Green saw his sales start to slip and drew mixed reviews from critics. 1977's The Belle Album was critically acclaimed but did not regain his former mass audience. In 1979 Green injured himself falling off the stage while performing in Cincinnati and interpreted this as a message from God. He then concentrated his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing, also appearing in 1982 with Patti Labelle in the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God. According to Glide Magazine, "by the late 70s, he had begun concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music." His first gospel album was The Lord Will Make a Way. From 1981 to 1989 Green recorded a series of gospel recordings, garnering eight "soul gospel performance" Grammys in that period. In 1985, he reunited with Willie Mitchell along with Angelo Earl for He Is the Light, his first album for A&M Records. In 1984, director Robert Mugge released a documentary film, Gospel According to Al Green, including interviews about his life and footage from his church. In 1989, Green released "I Get Joy", again with producer/guitarist Angelo Earl. In 2001, he appeared in the movie and soundtrack of On the Line featuring Lance Bass.
After spending several years exclusively performing gospel, Green began to return to Rhythm & Blues. First, he released a duet with Annie Lennox, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" for Scrooged, a 1988 Bill Murray film. In 1989 Green worked with producer Arthur Baker writing and producing the international hit "The Message Is Love". In 1991 he created the introductory theme song for the short-lived television series Good Sports featuring Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. In 1992, Green recorded again with Baker, the Fine Young Cannibals, and reunited with his former Memphis mix engineer (this time functioning as producer) Terry Manning, to release the album Don't Look Back. His 1994 duet with country music singer Lyle Lovett blended country with R&B, garnering him his ninth Grammy, this time in a pop music category. Green's first secular album in some time was Your Heart's In Good Hands (1995), released to positive reviews but disappointing sales, the same year Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2000, Green published Take Me to the River, a book discussing his career. Green received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
In 2001, Green's live cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" was released on the soundtrack to Will Smith's film Ali (the song plays when Muhammad Ali learns of the death of close friend Malcolm X).
By 2003 Green released a non-religious (secular) album entitled I Can't Stop, his first collaboration with Willie Mitchell since 1985's He is the Light. In March 2005 he issued Everything's OK as the follow-up to I Can't Stop. Green also collaborated with Mitchell on this secular CD.
The title of Al Green's latest album Lay It Down released May, 2008, truly tells it like it is. Conceived as a collaboration between the soul legend and a handful of gifted young admirers from the worlds of contemporary R&B and hip hop, the album is drawn from a series of inspired sessions that yielded the most high-spirited, funky and often lushly romantic songs of Green's latter-day career.
The project features the sophisticated R&B voices of singer-songwriters John Legend, Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae, and it was co-produced with Green by two of hip-hop's most innovative players, drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson from the Roots and keyboardist James Poyser , the go-to guy for high-profile artists ranging from Erykah Badu to Common. Add in Brooklyn's celebrated Dap-King Horns (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse), guitarist Chalmers "Spanky" Alford (Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone) and bassist Adam Blackstone (Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff), among others, and you've got a modern soul-music dream team, fronted by the most expressive voice in the business.
23rd Psalm
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restore'th my soul
And guides my path in righteousness
For His name's sake.
Surely goodness and loving kindness
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever and ever and ever.
Though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
I will not fear, Thou art with me.
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table
Before me in the presence of my enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil
My cup's overflowing
Surely goodness and loving kindness
Shall follow me Al the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever and ever and ever
The lyrics to Al Green's "23rd Psalm" are a powerful reflection on faith and trust in the Lord. The opening lines, "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want," speak to the confidence and abundance that comes from allowing God to guide one's life. The reference to "green pastures" and "still waters" conjures images of peace and tranquility, suggesting that God provides us with everything we need to thrive.
The second stanza touches on the idea of restoration and redemption. The phrase "He restore'th my soul" implies that we are all in need of healing and spiritual renewal from time to time, and that God is there to guide us through those moments of struggle. The idea of following a path of righteousness reflects the importance of doing what's right and staying true to one's values in order to honor God.
The third stanza is perhaps the most well-known part of the Psalm, as it speaks to the fear and uncertainty that can come with mortality. The image of walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" is a poignant reminder of the temporary nature of our lives, and yet the singer remains confident in God's protection and comfort. The reference to the "rod and staff" suggests that God is a protective and supportive presence, while the phrase "Thou preparest a table before me" implies that even in the face of danger or adversity, there is room for abundance and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want
I have faith in God and trust that He will provide me with everything I need.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
God provides me with peaceful surroundings and makes sure I have everything I need to survive.
He leads me beside the still waters.
God takes me to calming places where I can find peace and serenity.
He restore'th my soul
God rejuvenates my spirit when I am feeling low or hopeless.
And guides my path in righteousness
God shows me the right way to go and teaches me how to live a righteous life.
For His name's sake.
All that God does, He does for His own glory and reputation.
Surely goodness and loving kindness
I am certain that God’s kindness and love will be with me.
Shall follow me Al the days of my life.
No matter what happens in my life, God's love and kindness will stay with me.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
I will live with God forever in His kingdom.
Forever and ever and ever.
This will never change or end, it will be eternal.
Though I walk through the valley
Even if I go through hard times and face challenges.
Of the shadow of death
Even if I face death or dangerous situations.
I will not fear, Thou art with me.
I will stay calm and strong because God is with me.
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Even when times are tough, having God's guidance and protection gives me comfort.
Thou preparest a table
God provides me with plenty and abundance.
Before me in the presence of my enemies.
Even when those who wish me harm are around, God blesses me in their presence.
Thou anointest my head with oil
God blesses me and makes me feel important and special.
My cup's overflowing
God has been generous and provided more than enough for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind