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.
I
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My goal is to be the one you're dreaming of
I wanna be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
Trust me and I'll never let you down
Let me be with you through all your hard times
I wanna be around when the ?
It'll be me and you, I can see our position
You've been there to solve all of my problems
You've been there to help me solve them
I don't know what, I don't know what you do to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Could I be the one?
Trust me with your dreams, I'll make them all come true
For the rest of my life, I'll be grateful to you
Time will pass, our love will last
I'll spend my life cherishing you
Let me be the one
Let me be the one in your life at the end of the rainbow
Let me be the one
Let me be the one that you love so
Late at night, the time is right
I wanna be the one you just think is out of sight
Let me be the one
Let me be the one, let you be the girl
Let me be the one
Let me be, let me be the one at the end of the rainbow
Oh, I'll never, never, never, let you done
Let me be the one, let me be the one
Oh, talk to me girl, let me be the one, be the one, oh yeah
At the end of the rainbow, I'll never, never, never let you down
Let me be the one, let me be the one
In the song โCould I Be The One?โ by Al Green, the singer is expressing his desire and willingness to be the love of someoneโs life. He questions whether he is the person they are thinking of and dreaming of, and assures them that he wants to be the pot of gold at the end of their rainbow. He promises to be trustworthy, to be there for them during times of hardship, and to cherish them for the rest of his life if they choose him.
Green also acknowledges the role that the person he is addressing has played in his own life, thanking them for being there to solve his problems and offering his commitment in return. He sings of the passage of time and the longevity of their love, and asks for the chance to be the one they love at the end of the rainbow.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of vulnerability and emotional openness, as Green puts himself out there in the hopes of finding true love. The lyrics are romantic and earnest, representing a style of soul music that Green helped to define in the 1970s.
Line by Line Meaning
Could I be the one that you're thinking of
I aspire to be the person who occupies your thoughts.
My goal is to be the one you're dreaming of
I desire to be the person that visits you in your dreams.
I wanna be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
I wish to bring you great joy and fill your life with riches.
Trust me and I'll never let you down
Believe in me and I will always be faithful and reliable.
Let me be with you through all your hard times
Allow me to be by your side during periods of adversity.
I wanna be around when the ?
I hope to remain present in your life for an indefinite amount of time.
It'll be me and you, I can see our position
Our relationship will be unbreakable, and I can envision a life for us together.
Can't you see our love shinning through?
Our affection for one another is apparent and radiates from us.
You've been there to solve all of my problems
You have been a dependable helper in resolving any challenges that have come my way.
You've been there to help me solve them
You have provided invaluable assistance in overcoming any obstacles I face.
I don't know what, I don't know what you do to me
I am unsure of the effect that you have on me, but it is profound and significant.
Could I be the one?
Is it possible that I am the one you have been searching for?
Trust me with your dreams, I'll make them all come true
Put your faith in me and I will do everything in my power to bring your aspirations to fruition.
For the rest of my life, I'll be grateful to you
I will remain forever thankful and appreciative for the love and companionship you provide me.
Time will pass, our love will last
Even as we age and the years go by, our bond will remain strong and enduring.
I'll spend my life cherishing you
I will devote my existence to valuing and treasuring the love we share.
Let me be the one in your life at the end of the rainbow
Allow me to occupy the most precious place in your heart and bring you the ultimate happiness.
Let me be the one that you love so
Let me be the person that you cherish and hold most dear.
Late at night, the time is right
During the peaceful hours of the night, a sense of intimacy and romance is particularly appropriate.
I wanna be the one you just think is out of sight
I strive to be the person who continually surprises and amazes you in ways that you never expected or perceived.
Let me be, let me be the one at the end of the rainbow
Give me the opportunity to be the one who fulfills all of your deepest wishes and dreams.
Oh, I'll never, never, never, let you done
I will never disappoint, abandon, or hurt you for as long as I live.
Oh, talk to me girl, let me be the one, be the one, oh yeah
Please communicate with me and let me be the person who you confide in and trust the most.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN, ANN MITCHELL, WILLIE MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@erithecure2123
Let's stay together
I, I'm I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
'Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Let me say that since, baby, since we've been together
Ooh, loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue
Oh baby
Let's, let's stay together ('gether)
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad
Why, somebody, why people break up?
Oh, then turn around and make up
I just can't see
You'd never do that to me (would you, baby?)
Just being around you is all I see
Here's what I want us do
Let's, we oughta stay together ('gether)
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Come on
Let's, woo (let's stay together) let's stay together
Loving you whether, whether times are good or bad
@mariak6470
Since I was a little girl I said this would be my first dance song at my wedding. Well, today it finally happened. It's one of the greatest love songs ever made.
@marielongoria6714
Maria K: That's awesome! Glad you made it come true! This song brings back a beautiful memory for me, too. God bless your new marriage.
@jazzyred8759
Congrats!!
@juliewaite1864
I have said the same , but still not married lol
@davinastanton3865
Congratulations Maria and your new husband.
You made it come true. โค๐น๐
@TamariaSue
Congratulations!
@pacomontoya3616
I remember my mom used to play his album all the time when i was growing up she would grab us and dance with us..i miss you mom R.I.P
@jacquelinesmith9450
Same reason Im here, mommy loved Al Green. I miss you mommy, May our mothers rest in heavenly peace.
@transtibialog9248
Same man ๐ miss you mommy. My heart has never been the same.
Sorry for everyone's loss. May our mom's rest in peace forever ๐๐พ
@nickmanhensem7603
Sweet memorie