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.
Be With Me Jesus
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I must breathe my last breath inside
Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
Oh Lord, my friends have gathered 'round
They're watching me slowly, slowly sinking down
Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
When I'm a leave my earthly home
Friends standing around, tear in the eyes
They know that I am about to die
But I'm not worried, I'm not afraid
I know you do, Jesus, just what You say
[?]
You be with me Lord, day and night
I'm not afraid, I said I'm dying, don't leave me now
Oh Lord, I know you'll stand by me
When I'm in trouble, when I'm in misery
And Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
Oh oh Lord, I know You'll stand by Your word
Whenever I call You, I know You have already heard
Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
Now Lord, I said farewell, fare thee well
Fare thee well to my friends down here
I got loved ones waiting for me up there
Oh Lord, others are waiting for me
What a reunion, I know that will be
Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
The song "Be With Me Jesus" by Al Green is a solemn prayer of an individual who is facing death. The lyrics speak of the inevitability of dying and the hope of being with Jesus in the afterlife. The first stanza acknowledges that the singer's time on earth is coming to an end and that he or she needs Jesus to be present as they take their final breath. The second stanza acknowledges the presence of friends who are watching the singer's slow decline as they are about to die. Despite this, the singer remains unafraid as they know that Jesus will follow through on his promises to be with them in their dying hour.
The song culminates in the third stanza, where the singer bids farewell to their loved ones and expresses anticipation for a reunion with those who have already passed into the afterlife. The singer's faith in Jesus throughout the song is palpable, with mentions of His presence during the day and night and being there when the singer is in trouble. The song ends with the singer's final plea to "stay with me, Lord" during their dying hour, expressing the ultimate hope for a peaceful passing into the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord, the time is growing nigh
I am aware that the time for me to die is approaching soon, Lord.
When I must breathe my last breath inside
My final moments on earth are close, and soon I will take my last breath, Lord.
Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
Please remain with me through my final hour, Lord.
Oh Lord, my friends have gathered 'round
My loved ones are near me, and they are watching me slowly, slowly sinking down, Lord.
They're watching me slowly, slowly sinking down
My friends and family members are aware that my health is gradually deteriorating, and they are witnessing my last moments, Lord.
Now Lord, now Lord, now Jesus time have come
The time has come for me to depart from this world and meet You, Lord and Jesus.
When I'm a leave my earthly home
I will be departing from my physical body and leaving this world, Lord.
Friends standing around, tear in the eyes
My loved ones are standing around me with tears in their eyes, Lord.
They know that I am about to die
My family and friends are aware that I am about to pass away, Lord.
But I'm not worried, I'm not afraid
I am not anxious or afraid because I trust in You, Jesus, and I know that You will take care of me, Lord.
I know you do, Jesus, just what You say
I have faith in Your words, Jesus, and I believe that You will keep Your promises, Lord.
You be with me Lord, day and night
Please stay with me, Lord, all the time, day and night, especially during my final hours.
I'm not afraid, I said I'm dying, don't leave me now
Although I am approaching death, I am not afraid, and I am asking You not to leave me, Lord.
Oh Lord, I know you'll stand by me
I trust that You will be there for me regardless of what happens, Lord.
When I'm in trouble, when I'm in misery
Whenever I am in pain or difficulties, I trust that You will be there to help me, Lord.
And Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
Please be with me and comfort me during my final moments, Lord.
Oh oh Lord, I know You'll stand by Your word
I believe that You will keep Your word, Lord.
Whenever I call You, I know You have already heard
I know that You have already heard me whenever I call upon You, Lord.
Now Lord, I said farewell, fare thee well
I am bidding farewell to everyone down here on earth, Lord.
Fare thee well to my friends down here
I am bidding farewell to my friends here on earth, Lord.
I got loved ones waiting for me up there
I know that I have loved ones waiting for me in heaven, Lord.
Oh Lord, others are waiting for me
I am looking forward to reuniting with other loved ones who have passed away before me in heaven, Lord.
What a reunion, I know that will be
I am excited about the reunion that will take place with my loved ones in heaven, Lord.
Lord, in my dying hour, stay with me, Lord
I am reiterating my plea for You to be with me and comfort me during my final moments, Lord.
Contributed by Claire C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.