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.
Funny How Time Slips Away
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How am I doin'? Well, I guess that I'm doin' fine
It's been so long now but it seems now it was only yesterday
It ain't it funny how time slips away
How's your new love I hope that he's doin' fine
I heard you told him that you'd love him till the end of time
What if I remember that's the same thing that you told me it was lonely yes
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time just slips away
I gotta go now
I guess I'll see you somewhere around
You don't know, you'll never know, we don't know, you can't know when
I'll be back in town
Maybe tomorrow, please remember
What I told you, told you, that entire time you're gonna pay
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time slips away
Oh, what I want you to do is just remember, just remember, what I told you
And time, time, you're gonna pay
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time just slips away
One day I want you to do
Just remember, remember, what I told you
And time, time
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time just slipped away
It's the same thing, same thing, that you told me
It seems like just the other day
It ain't it funny, funny, funny how time just slips away
It's a funny thing about the time
It's funny baby, how time slips away
The lyrics of Al Green's song "Funny How Time Slips Away" is a reflection on how time moves quickly, and how we can lose touch with friends, former lovers, and family. The song starts with the singer greeting a former love who he hasn't seen or spoken to in a long time. He asks how she is doing and lets her know that he's doing fine, despite the length of time since they last saw each other. However, he notes that the time lapse between them seems like only yesterday, an "ain't it funny" statement about the passage of time.
The singer goes on to inquire about his former love's new partner and if he's doing well. He recalls that she told him the same thing about their love lasting until the end of time, but now she's saying it to someone else. The repetition of the phrase "funny, funny, funny how time just slips away" emphasizes how quickly time marches on and how people's loyalties and promises can shift over time. The singer concludes by reminding his former love that she will remember what he told her and that time will come for her to pay the price for reneging on their love.
The song is a vibrant illustration of how time moves on and how promises and relationships can change over time. It's an ode to the love that slips away, the regrets of the past and the inevitability of change. The introverted emotion of the singer and the subtle backing of the instruments offer a perfect match for the song's reflective lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello there my it's been a long time
I haven't seen you in a while.
How am I doin'? Well, I guess that I'm doin' fine
I'm doing alright, thanks for asking.
It's been so long now but it seems now it was only yesterday
Even though it's been a while, it feels like it wasn't that long ago.
It ain't it funny how time slips away
It's strange how quickly time passes.
How's your new love I hope that he's doin' fine
I hope your new partner is doing well.
I heard you told him that you'd love him till the end of time
I heard you made a similar promise to your new partner that you made to me.
What if I remember that's the same thing that you told me it was lonely yes
I remember that you said the same thing to me when you were feeling lonely.
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time just slips away
It's not humorous how quickly time passes and things change.
I gotta go now
I need to leave now.
I guess I'll see you somewhere around
Maybe we'll bump into each other somewhere.
You don't know, you'll never know, we don't know, you can't know when
We can't predict when we'll see each other again, if ever.
I'll be back in town
I'll return to this town at some point.
Maybe tomorrow, please remember
I might come back tomorrow, please don't forget.
What I told you, told you, that entire time you're gonna pay
Remember what I said to you, it will have consequences in the future.
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time slips away
It's not amusing how quickly time passes and brings unforeseen results.
Oh, what I want you to do is just remember, just remember, what I told you
I want you to keep what I've said in your thoughts.
And time, time, you're gonna pay
These words will have an impact on you in due time.
One day I want you to do
At some point in the future I want you to complete this request.
Just remember, remember, what I told you
Keep what I've said in your memory.
And time, time
The passage of time.
It ain't funny, funny, funny how time just slipped away
It's not comical how time suddenly disappeared.
It's the same thing, same thing, that you told me
You told me something similar before.
It seems like just the other day
It feels like it happened recently.
It ain't it funny, funny, funny how time just slips away
It's strange how quickly and unexpectedly time passes.
It's a funny thing about the time
Time can be unpredictable and surprising.
It's funny baby, how time slips away
It's amusing, but also sad, how quickly time passes and things change.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amouralove9857
STILL LISTENING BEAUTIFUL SOULFUL VOICE (2023)
@jmitchell3530
February 2024.
@ebonythechocolatebeauty5013
My Brother Told me about this Song when my Mother Passed Away Jan,23,2022.
I’ve been listening to It every Since,
@barrywright8557
🙏
@lildebbie997
In Memphis, listening to AL Green at 6:25 a.m. before I walk into work.
This I'll start playing his music more often, right before work.
It helps calm your soul before facing the day.
@henryclemons9769
by any means necessary
@austinhart3604
Ain’t that the truth
@jacobdominguez8221
Have to say, Al Green, can sing any song and make it a hit. Love me some Rev Al.
@user-vo8io8fh7z
❤im a 55 yr old Caucasian woman that loves me some AL Green
@janiceburford4949
I've been in love with Al Green's music since I was 12 years old. I'm now and a few weeks from turning 64... love his music 🙏🏿❤️🤗🥰