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.
Change Is Gonna Come
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh just like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to see my brother
And I say him to help me please
And he just winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Al Green's rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a soulful and poignant expression of the civil rights movement. The opening lines, "I was born by the river in a little tent, oh just like that river I've been running ever since," serve as a metaphor for how the African American community has been continually on the move, seeking safe spaces and fair treatment. The next line, "It's been a long time coming," implies the struggle for equality has been an ongoing battle, and there's still much work to be done.
Later in the song, Al Green sings "It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die, 'cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky." These lines highlight the fear and exhaustion experienced by the African American community in their quest for equal treatment. Additionally, the lyrics, "I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keeps telling me, 'Don't hang around,'" illustrate the pervasive racism that forced even the most innocent activities, such as watching a movie, to be undertaken cautiously.
When Green sings, "Then I go to see my brother and I say him to help me please, and he just winds up knockin' me, back down on my knees," we can interpret this as a plea for allies within the African American community. It's a call for them to recognize the struggle their brothers and sisters in the community are going through and to offer support.
Overall, "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Al Green speaks to the longing for a more just and equal society, and how the journey toward that goal has been filled with obstacles, setbacks, and fear. Still, the song advocates for hope and perseverance, knowing that change will eventually come.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born by the river in a little tent
I come from humble roots and was not born with privilege
Oh just like that river I've been running ever since
Throughout my life, I've encountered hardships that have forced me to keep moving forward
It's been a long time coming
I've been waiting a long time for change to occur in my life and in the world
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Despite the difficulties I've faced, I have hope that things will improve in the future
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
My life has been a struggle, but the possibility of the unknown afterlife scares me
'Cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
I am uncertain about what happens after death
It's been a long, a long time coming
The changes that I've been waiting for have taken a very long time to happen
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Despite the length of time it has taken, I have faith that change will eventually come
I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Even in seemingly fun activities, I face discrimination and threats to my safety
It's been a long, a long time coming
The changes I seek have been long delayed
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Despite the obstacles I face, I still believe that my desired outcome will eventually materialize
Then I go to see my brother
I seek help from my loved ones in times of need
And I say him to help me please
I plead with him for assistance
And he just winds up knockin' me
Unfortunately, instead of helping, he brings me down further
Back down on my knees
I am forced to submit to the challenges I face once again
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
I have faced moments where I was close to giving up altogether
But now I think I'm able to carry on
Now, I feel like I have the strength to persevere
It's been a long, been a long time coming
The changes I desire have been very slow in coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Despite the adversity, I still believe in the possibility of a better future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tracyjames1870
2023 and I still love Al Green, it's timeless and beautiful 😍
@coryburns9161
I agree with you 100%
@JamesRahming
Right ❤
@lsad705
Still can't match Sam Cooke.
@patbrockie3868
@@lsad705this man is a genre unto himself. Like Sam Cooke, his version is unique.
@gustavoavilan5407
2024. Me too
@stargazer4022
Al Green took that song and owned it, he took us th church, to the river baptized everybody, and gave God the glory. You did Sam Cooke proud sir.. 👏 👏 👏 👏 ❤
@markhembree2360
Amen.
@Chocolate-tc9vi
You better know it!❤
@patriciawilson155
Al Green did justice to Sam Cooke. Much respect ! ❤❤❤