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.
Give It Everything
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What about the things you want?
What about the things you need,
Versus the things you don't have?
You should have
All of this world's desires.
All of this world's entire
Bounty and, beautiful love.
[Chorus]
The stars and the moon,
And the birds soar real soon.
You should have
All the things that you need.
Give it everything.
All the world to bring.
If you believe in something,
You got to give it everything.
Love,
There's no time to waste.
There's no life to take.
Believers don't have to make haste.
Oh, no, but "I love you,"
Are more than just some sweet words.
"I love you,"
Are the sweetest words I ever heard.
One thing about I can't explain.
That you are the world to me.
When you're sure you love me,
Show you love tenderly.
[Chorus]
Why should settle for second best,
When you haven't tasted all the rest?
Listen to me,
Listen to my request.
You should have all the things you want,
The things you need.
All of the things your mind can conceive.
[Chorus]
In Al Green's song "Give It Everything," the lyrics address the idea of love and what one should have in life. The beginning of the song asks the question "what about the things you want" and "what about the things you need versus the things you don't have?" The lyrics suggest that the listener should have all of the desires in the world and all of the beauty and love that comes along with it. The chorus sings about the stars and the moon and encourages the listener to give everything they have to the things they believe in.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of not wasting time and not taking life for granted. The lyrics state that "believers don't have to make haste," meaning that those who have faith don't have to rush through life. The phrase "I love you" is described as the sweetest words the singer has ever heard, highlighting the importance of love in the song. The verse ends with the line "when you're sure you love me, show you love tenderly," encouraging the listener to express their love in a genuine and caring way.
The final verse suggests that one should not settle for second best in life and that they should have all the things they want and need. The lyrics state that the listener should not settle until they have tasted all the rest and that they should listen to the singer's request to have everything their mind can conceive. The chorus repeats the idea that one should give everything they have to the things they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Love,
Addressed to the listener as a term of affection and endearment.
What about the things you want?
Asking the listener to consider their desires and aspirations.
What about the things you need,
Encouraging the listener to prioritize their necessities over their wants.
Versus the things you don't have?
Highlighting the importance of being grateful for what they have instead of focusing on what they lack.
You should have
Asserting that the listener deserves to have certain things in life.
All of this world's desires.
Referring to worldly possessions and riches.
All of this world's entire
Emphasis on the vast amount of material wealth in the world.
Bounty and, beautiful love.
Suggesting that love is also a valuable treasure.
[Chorus]
Repeating the notion that the listener should have all that they need in life and give it everything they've got.
The stars and the moon,
Describing the grandeur of the natural world.
And the birds soar real soon.
Symbolizing the freedom and joy that can be found in nature.
If you believe in something,
Encouraging the listener to follow their passions and convictions.
You got to give it everything.
Exhorting the listener to pursue their dreams with their whole heart and soul.
Love,
Continuing the address to the listener as a beloved person.
There's no time to waste.
Urging the listener not to procrastinate but to seize the moment.
There's no life to take.
Alluding to the fragility of life and the urgency to live it to the fullest.
Believers don't have to make haste.
Implies that those who have faith and trust in themselves can take their time to achieve their goals.
Oh, no, but "I love you,"
Highlighting the importance of expressing love and affection to others.
Are more than just some sweet words.
Saying that "I love you" should be spoken with sincerity and meaning.
"I love you,"
Repeating the phrase mentioned earlier to emphasize its importance.
Are the sweetest words I ever heard.
Expressing the power and beauty of those three simple words.
One thing about I can't explain.
Introducing a mysterious and unexplainable element to the lyrics.
That you are the world to me.
Revealing the depth of the singer's feelings for the listener.
When you're sure you love me,
Asking the listener to confirm their feelings for the singer.
Show you love tenderly.
Asking for affection from the listener in a gentle and loving manner.
[Chorus]
Repeating the idea of having all the things one needs and pursuing one's goals with full effort.
Why should settle for second best,
Asking why the listener should compromise on their desires and ambitions.
When you haven't tasted all the rest?
Suggesting that the listener should explore all their options before settling for less.
Listen to me,
Asking the listener to pay attention to the singer's words and advice.
Listen to my request.
Making a plea to the listener to consider what he is saying.
You should have all the things you want,
Reinforcing the idea that the listener should pursue their desires.
The things you need.
Re-emphasizing the importance of fulfilling one's necessities.
All of the things your mind can conceive.
Invoking the listener's imagination to dream big and pursue their passions.
[Chorus]
Repeating the central message of the song to have all that one needs and to pursue one's goals to the fullest.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN, DAVID STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
anthony mcdougall
WOW what a voice, timeless clasic, brings a smile to your face everytime :)
javajala1
This song is just soooo good!
Michelle Scott
Great song ! Love dancing to this song!!
Nezreen Dent
Lovely song.
Elmer Yauri
Lo mejor!!!..
TheUneventfulSundae
this is so good
Marigold Carter
If you love somebody give it everything ~ why settle for second best🌹💖
dunja57
<3
Yonggary AKA Reptilian
one part of me wants to puke, the other wants to dance.
Amy Mills
That's hilarious, sorry but it made me chuckle. I dont want to puke but am skipping to another song now, yuk!