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.
Full of Fire
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're my one desire,
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
You can make me cry,
I can dance to the music,
I can sing, all night long
I can play with the band, until you hear my song
See the party lights,
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
Its the reason why,
I can dance with the fire,
Burnin', burnin' low,
I can stay until the party is all over
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
I'm over a twenty one,
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire full of fire)
Life has just begun,
Oh, oh I can dance to the music,
I, I can under, understand
That there must be an upper power that is holding my hand
Dance, dance, dance
Oh I understand,
Young lady, young man, I say I understand,
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
I'm over a twenty one,
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire full of fire)
Life has just begun,
Oh, oh I can dance to the music,
I, I can under, understand
That there must be an upper power that is holding my hand
Dance, dance, dance
Oh I understand,
Young lady, young man, I say I understand,
I can dance dance, dance, dance,
I understand, understand, understand
There's some things that may not know,
But I want the horn to blow,
There's some things that I know,
But I want the horn to blow,
I can dance dance, dance, dance,
I understand, understand, understand
There's some things that may not know,
But I want the horn to blow,
I can dance
Let me say that I can dance
Full of fire, my heart's desire
Full of fire
The lyrics to Al Green's "Full of Fire" depict a confident, energetic person who is ready to dance and have a good time. The repeated phrase "full of fire" emphasizes the enthusiasm and passion that this person possesses. The lyrics suggest that this person is in love with someone who is their "one desire." They are willing to cry for them, but also able to sing and dance all night long. The person is confident in their ability to perform, stating that they can play with the band and perform until everyone hears their song. The mention of an "upper power" holding their hand suggests that the person believes in a force greater than themselves that is guiding their life.
The repeated phrase "full of fire" is used to describe the person's energy and passion for life. This phrase is repeated throughout the song to emphasize this aspect of their personality. The lyrics also suggest that the person is young and just beginning their life journey. The mention of being "over twenty-one" indicates that they are still relatively young with a lot of life ahead of them. Finally, the mention of the horn suggests that they are ready to party and have a good time.
Overall, the song is a celebration of life and passion. The person depicted in the song is full of energy and enthusiasm and is ready to dance and have fun. The repeated phrase "full of fire" emphasizes this aspect of their personality, while the mention of an "upper power" suggests that they believe in something greater than themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
I am passionate and full of energy
You're my one desire,
You are the person I long for the most
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
My passion for you is burning bright
You can make me cry,
Your actions or words can move me to tears
I can dance to the music,
I am able to move rhythmically to the beat
I can sing, all night long
I am capable of singing all night without tiring
I can play with the band, until you hear my song
I can continue playing with the band until I have played the song I planned to play
Cause I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
My passion for music and life is intense
See the party lights,
I see the lights that adorn the party venue
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
I am full of energy and zest
Its the reason why,
That's why I enjoy partying and dancing so much
I can dance with the fire,
I am capable of dancing with a romantic partner with simmering passion
Burnin', burnin' low,
Burning passion for someone or something is decreasing subtly
I can stay until the party is all over
I can keep myself entertained and busy until the party ends
Baby I'm full of fire (full of fire, full of fire)
I am full of life and energy
I'm over a twenty one,
I am no longer a teenager and have crossed the age of 21
Life has just begun,
I feel that I have new opportunities and fresh experiences ahead of me
Oh, oh I can dance to the music,
I am excited and enthusiastic about dancing to the beat of the music
I, I can under, understand
I have the ability to comprehend and appreciate the sound of music
That there must be an upper power that is holding my hand
I believe that there is a spiritual force guiding and supporting me
Dance, dance, dance
I encourage myself and others to dance
Oh I understand,
I comprehend the essence of life and music
Young lady, young man, I say I understand,
I am speaking to those who are younger than me that I understand their feelings
I can dance dance, dance, dance,
I am capable of dancing repeatedly with excitement
Let me say that I can dance
I am emphatically stating that I am capable of dancing
Full of fire, my heart's desire
I am full of passion, and you are the person I long for
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN, MABON HODGES, WILLIE MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@syxxpoppin8830
This is classy and slightly gangster at the same dang time kinda rocky to ⏰😅🎉
@pieroconti219
I am italian🇮🇹, and actually nearly 74 years old, i am proud of myself as in a period of my life (1975- 1978) i had the chance to be a profetional dj. InTuscany🇮🇹 this song was part of 4 hours disco songs by myself played , great Al Green with also tired of being alone, and let's stay together, 👍❤️👏👏📀💽💿😁🇮🇹
@carrienixon6663
That dance floor had to be crowded on this song. Nobody can do it like Al Green.
@seansherrod8725
Damn, Damn, Damn!!! Back in the DAY, THIS was one of those songs that you couldn't WAIT til it HIT the groove that starts at 3:48 to come up...and THEN it was the groove that you NEVER WANTED TO STOP!!! SO...what did we DO...we put the needle BACK to the beginning of the song and grooved ALL OVER AGAIN!!!
@cflo1023
YESSUH!!! That 3:48 and OUT!
@virginiachapmanPenetti
Just the right balance of smooth silk and raw funk. Still sounds as good as it did in '75. But then why wouldn't it, it's AL GREEN !
@robertbrown4335
Come on bring it where my vodka.
@syxxpoppin8830
This outta have 302million views by now 😮. What's wrong with the world 🌍
@dwaynerhodes7311
A Monster!!!😂
@MsCoddyman
I remember when I was a little girl in Memphis, his studio was across the street from our apartments. My sisters and I use to go over there and listen to him record his music. My mother use to work the 2nd shift so she told us to stop going over there but We couldn’t stop listening to him sing so we got a couple spanking for that lol.😂❤