Reverend Albert Green (born April 13 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas) is an … Read Full Bio ↴Reverend Albert Green (born April 13 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas) is an American Grammy award winning soul and gospel singer who enjoyed great popularity in the 70s with hit singles such as "Let's Stay Together", Tired of Being Alone", and "You Oughta Be With Me". Green has boasted a voice capable of both fluid high streams of sugar and deep south growls and rasps. He has sold over 20 million records worldwide, and he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, being referred to as "one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music."

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.

Feels Like Christmas
Al Green Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It feels like summer
I can hear the music playin'
I hear the drummer
I can hear the children playin'
Snow will fall
The snow will fall
Snowfall

Sounds like laughter
A happy song in the days
What are we after?
I can hear the master say
Someone will call
Someone will call
Someone will call

Oh oh
Feels like winter
Oh happy song today
In time, I can hear the master say
Snow will fall
Ah snow will fall, yea
Yea, the snow will fall

Snow, snow, snow, snow, will fall
Snow, snow, beautiful snow
Wonderful, cold snow that glow
Snow

Oh wonderful
That looks like endless snow, snow
Oh snow, snow
Makes me happy just to say snow
Beautiful, wonderful, marvelous
Wonderful snow, snow
Oh, beautiful, wonderful, oh marvelous
Snow, snow, yea

Meanwhile think about it think, I think I have the fever
Beautiful clean wonderful snow

Overall Meaning

In Al Green's song "Feels Like Summer," the lyrics describe the feeling of joy and happiness that comes with summer. The opening lyrics are "It feels like summer, I can hear the music playin'," which sets the tone for the entire song. Al Green sings about hearing the sound of children playing and a drummer drumming, which adds to the overall feeling of excitement and happiness that comes with summertime.

As the song progresses, the lyrics take a turn towards the winter season. The line "Snow will fall" is repeated several times throughout the song, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the passing of time. The mention of winter and snow adds a layer of depth to the song, and makes it more complex than a simple celebration of summer.

Overall, the lyrics to "Feels Like Summer" are open to interpretation. One could read them as a straightforward celebration of summertime, or one could see them as a metaphor for the passing of time and the cyclical nature of life.

Line by Line Meaning

It feels like summer
The atmosphere is warm and lively, reminiscent of the season of summer.

I can hear the music playin'
The sounds of music are audible and present in the environment.

I hear the drummer
The beat of the drums is audible, playing in the background of the music.

I can hear the children playin'
The sounds of children playing are audible, signifying a joyful and playful environment.

Snow will fall
The change of season is imminent, winter is approaching and snowfall will occur.

The snow will fall
The occurrence of snowfall is inevitable and certain.

Sounds like laughter
The sounds audible are reminiscent of happy laughter and joyful moments.

A happy song in the days
The atmosphere is one of happiness and positivity, reflected in the music and the environment.

What are we after?
What is the ultimate goal and purpose in life, beyond the present moment?

I can hear the master say
An authoritative voice can be heard, offering guidance and wisdom.

Someone will call
A call or message will be received from someone particular, perhaps with an important message or news.

Oh oh
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm.

Feels like winter
The atmosphere and environment is changing, and winter is approaching, bringing cold and snow.

Oh happy song today
Despite the changes in the environment, the music and joyfulness continues.

In time, I can hear the master say
With patience and over time, more guidance and wisdom will be given by the authoritative voice heard previously.

Snow will fall
The cycle of winter and snowfall continues and repeats.

Ah snow will fall, yea
Confirmation that snowfall will occur shortly.

Yea, the snow will fall
Reiteration that snowfall is inevitable and certain.

Snow, snow, snow, snow, will fall
The gradual buildup and anticipation of snowfall.

Snow, snow, beautiful snow
Appreciation for the beauty and wonders of snowfall.

Wonderful, cold snow that glow
Further appreciation for the beauty and unique qualities of snowfall.

Snow
A simple repetition of the word 'snow' highlighting the key theme and focus of the song.

Oh wonderful
An expression of appreciation for the wonderful qualities of snowfall.

That looks like endless snow, snow
The buildup and intensity of snowfall may make it seem endless and never-ending.

Oh snow, snow
A continued appreciation and focus on the beauty of snow.

Makes me happy just to say snow
A connection and attachment to the beauty and joy of snowfall.

Beautiful, wonderful, marvelous
A string of descriptive adjectives expressing the awe and appreciation for snowfall.

Wonderful snow, snow
Further appreciation and emphasis on the beauty of snow.

Oh, beautiful, wonderful, oh marvelous
Repetition and emphasis on the qualities of snowfall.

Snow, snow, yea
A continued repetition of the word 'snow' as a celebration and appreciation of the theme of the song.

Meanwhile think about it think, I think I have the fever
A shift in focus, to thinking about something different, but still enjoying the joy and excitement of the moment.

Beautiful clean wonderful snow
A final repetition and emphasis on the beauty and purity of snowfall.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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