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.
Everything's Gonna' Be Alright
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything's gonna be alright
Get down stay up all night now
Let's do this one more time
Everything will be alright alright
Bring it in bring it in what? bring in the verse
Listen up 'cause there ain't nothing funny
I want to lil house where my band can live
'Cause were tired of moving every other weekend
I want to go to a party where they got no guns
I want to rock with my band I want to have a lil fun
Where thugs and punks
And any other type
Can sing this song and we sing it all night, sing it
Everything's gonna be alright now
Everything's gonna be alright
Get down stay up all night now
Let's do this one more time
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright alright
All I want to do is kick the welfare
All I want to do is get my share
All I want to do is kick the welfare
All I want to do is get my share
And I don't want to run for the president
I just want an honest way to pay my rent
And I'm tired of the man always shuttin us down
Tired of my old man 'cause he's never around
And I'm tired of eating off of other peoples plates
And I don't look important so their tellin me to wait
Police records said I wouldn't exist
I want to know the meaning of a Christmas list
Said all I want to do is kick the welfare
All I want to do is get my share
All I want to do is make something from nothing
It's GC baby and were workin with something
Everything's gonna be alright now
Everything's gonna be alright
Get down stay up all night now
Let's do it one more time
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright alright
We'll be self made millionaires
These lives we'll lead without a car
And we'll see
What we'll be
Everything's gonna be alright now
Everybody say ah yea that's right
Everything's gonna be alright now
Everybody sing it one more time
Everything will be alright alright
Everything will be alright
Get down stay up all night now
Let's do this one more time
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright alright
We'll see you there when we get there
We'll see you there when we get there
On the video
Or the radio
In the magazines
On the movie screens
The lyrics of Al Green's song "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" offer a commentary on the struggles that marginalized people face in society. The song begins by asserting that everything is going to be alright, encouraging the listener to stay positive in the midst of difficult circumstances. However, the second verse reveals the singer's desires for a better life: a hot girl, a little money, a house for his band, and the ability to party without fear of violence.
The final verse speaks to even deeper issues within the singer's life, including poverty, absent fathers, police oppression, and a lack of opportunity. Despite the challenges, the singer remains hopeful and optimistic, believing that he can achieve success and happiness through his own efforts. The message of the song is one of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, encouraging listeners to hold onto hope and keep moving forward.
Overall, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" serves as a powerful anthem for anyone struggling to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything's gonna be alright now
There is no need to worry; things will be just fine from now on.
Everything's gonna be alright
There is optimism about the future and a belief that things will turn out alright.
Get down stay up all night now
Let's have a good time and create memories that will last forever.
Let's do this one more time
Let's savor the moment and make the most of it, as this may be the last time we can do it.
Everything will be alright alright
There is no doubt that everything will be just fine, and that we should all be optimistic.
Bring it in bring it in what? bring in the verse
Let's get serious and start singing the song right now.
Listen up 'cause there ain't nothing funny
Pay attention, because I am talking about something serious and important.
I want to hot girl and a lil bit of money
I want someone attractive to be with and just enough money to live comfortably.
I want to lil house where my band can live
I want a small house in which my bandmates and I can live because we're tired of constantly moving.
'Cause were tired of moving every other weekend
We are exhausted from constantly having to pack up and relocate every so often.
I want to go to a party where they got no guns
I want to attend a fun gathering where weapons are not present.
I want to rock with my band I want to have a lil fun
I want to make music and have a good time with my friends.
Where thugs and punks
It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, anyone can enjoy this song.
And any other type
This song is for everyone; it doesn't matter if you don't fit into a particular category.
Can sing this song and we sing it all night, sing it
We can all enjoy this song and sing it for hours without getting tired.
All I want to do is kick the welfare
I want to be self-sufficient and not rely on government assistance for support.
All I want to do is get my share
I just want my fair portion of the proverbial pie.
And I don't want to run for the president
I have no desire to become a political leader or pursue a career in politics.
I just want an honest way to pay my rent
All I want is a reliable and ethical means of ensuring that my housing costs are covered.
And I'm tired of the man always shuttin us down
I'm sick of people in positions of power consistently blocking our progress.
Tired of my old man 'cause he's never around
I'm disappointed because my father isn't present in my life.
And I'm tired of eating off of other peoples plates
I'm tired of depending on others to provide food, both metaphorically and literally.
And I don't look important so their tellin me to wait
Because I'm not deemed significant or influential, I'm being made to wait for opportunities.
Police records said I wouldn't exist
I'm referring to the discriminatory practice of profiling, which can cost certain people opportunities and freedom.
I want to know the meaning of a Christmas list
I want to understand what it truly means to have a list of things I want for Christmas.
All I want to do is make something from nothing
All I want is the ability to make good things happen without requiring existing resources.
It's GC baby and were workin with something
It's a great feeling to be able to create something worthwhile out of limited resources.
We'll be self made millionaires
We'll earn our way to the top, without the help of anyone else.
These lives we'll lead without a car
We'll be able to live our lives independently without needing a car.
And we'll see
We'll experience new things and new people and enjoy it.
What we'll be
Our future is filled with endless possibilities, and we can't wait to see what it holds for us.
Everybody say ah yea that's right
Everyone is feeling good and is in agreement that things are going to be okay.
We'll see you there when we get there
Come along for the ride, and we'll meet up when we arrive.
On the video
Our music will be featured on the screen and will be watched all over the world.
Or the radio
Our music will also be played on the radio and heard by millions.
In the magazines
We'll be featured in various publications and will be famous worldwide.
On the movie screens
Our creativity and music will also be displayed on the big screen and will be enjoyed by many.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN WEST, RUSTON SAMUEL KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyquanclark6047
I used to play this homeless walking the streets overnight and now I got my own place and almost a car
Thank you God for everything you do for us
@jameshannah6052
Love God Love yourself that God in you!Keep your head up!
@KingJames-iu1rg
Thank you FATHER GOD &my personal LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST ALL LOVE
@TJ-wy2ns
Progress.. respect
@ewoodiemathis6309
AMEN, AMEN! THANK YOU GOD.
@Chosen1Ras
How is your journey going Brother? I pray that Everything is alright with you ☝🏽✊🏽🙏🏾
@LONEWOLF..314-S-T-L
" DONT LET THIS WORLD MISLEAD YOU " ... THAT PART 📖💯👍🏾🗝️🙏🏾
@naomirivera5851
🔥
@anitakos1375
Powerful lyrics and encouraging song! Thank you Jesus!! Our Saviour forever! Amen ✝️🙏💜
@abullard8409
This song bought back beautiful memories of my childhood. Thank u Yeshua for your gift of salvation