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 Feel Good
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the wings of a prayer
Their hopes are fading well I know He can be
Everything for You gotta say what I feel
And you know it sure feels good
To know that He is there for me
I know that He loves me
I gotta peace of mind that you can't deny
When He turned my life around
Oh I can promise it ain't no lie
He sent me here just to testify
Oh how He saved me it sure feels good
Another day, another way people are dying
But I know there are those
That can stop this crying
You can say waht you will
I won't stop moving
Tell me this, tell me that
Don't plan on losing
'Cause this thing sure feels good
Tell you He loves me oh that He moves me
Sure feels good i gotta love that's divine
That you can't find
Unless your hand is wrapped up in mine
Oh I got a feeling each and every day
This walk gets only sweeter day by day
Oh how He saved me it sure feels mighty good
Haven't you heard
Don't you know, don't you know
Wait a minute, wait a minute wait a minute
Won't you stop a while
There may be something here
That can make you smile if it feels good
The way it's supposed to feel
Then you should know that this love is real
Oh how He loves me it sure feels good
Got a peace of mind that I can't deny
Turned my life around
I can promise, it ain't no lie
He sent me here just to testify
Oh how He loves me it sure feels good
In "I Feel Good," Al Green sings about his personal relationship with God and how it has transformed his life. The song's upbeat tempo and soulful vocals create a joyful atmosphere that celebrates the joy and peace that come with knowing God. Green acknowledges that many people are struggling and losing hope but reminds listeners that God is there to guide them if they just reach out to him.
Green's lyrics reveal his deep faith and gratitude for God's love and mercy. He acknowledges that his life was once filled with pain and suffering, but by turning to God, he found peace and salvation. The song is a testament to the power of faith and the transformative effect it can have on one's life.
The lyrics also suggest that Green sees it as his duty to spread the word of God to others. He urges listeners to stop and take notice, reminding them that God's love is real and available to all who seek it. The message is one of hope and universal love, encouraging everyone to embrace the power of faith and turn towards God in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Over here, over there people are waiting
People all around us are waiting for something to happen in their lives
On the wings of a prayer
They are relying on prayer to help them through their struggles
Their hopes are fading well I know He can be
Even when hope is fading, there is still a belief in a higher power who can help
Everything for You gotta say what I feel
It's important to express your true feelings and beliefs
And you know it sure feels good
Expressing these feelings and beliefs can bring a sense of satisfaction and relief
To know that He is there for me
Belief in a higher power can bring comfort and a feeling of support
I know that He loves me
There is a strong belief in a higher power's love and support
I know that He saved me it sure feels good
There is a belief that a higher power has saved and protected the individual, which brings a sense of gratitude and relief
I gotta peace of mind that you can't deny
Belief in a higher power has given the individual a sense of calm and tranquility that cannot be denied
When He turned my life around
Belief in a higher power has helped to turn their life around in a positive direction
Oh I can promise it ain't no lie
The belief in a higher power's impact on their life is sincere and genuine
He sent me here just to testify
There is a belief that their purpose is to share their positive experience and thoughts about a higher power with others
Another day, another way people are dying
The world can be a dangerous and unpredictable place
But I know there are those
Despite the dangers, there are people who can help and make a positive impact
That can stop this crying
These individuals have the power to stop sadness and grief
You can say waht you will
Others may have differing opinions or beliefs
I won't stop moving
Despite differing opinions, the individual will continue to believe in a higher power and their impact on their life
Tell me this, tell me that
Others may try to convince or dissuade the individual from their beliefs
Don't plan on losing
Despite opposition, the individual will not give up their beliefs
'Cause this thing sure feels good
Belief in a higher power brings a positive feeling that is worth holding on to
Tell you He loves me oh that He moves me
Belief in a higher power's love and influence is strong and apparent
Sure feels good i gotta love that's divine
The individual feels a strong, spiritual love that is hard to describe
That you can't find
This type of love is unique and hard to come by
Unless your hand is wrapped up in mine
The spiritual love can be shared and experienced together
Oh I got a feeling each and every day
The belief in a higher power brings a positive feeling every single day
This walk gets only sweeter day by day
As time goes on, belief and faith in a higher power continue to bring positivity and happiness
Haven't you heard
The individual wants to share their positive experience and beliefs with others
Don't you know, don't you know
The individual hopes to educate others on the positive aspects of their beliefs
Wait a minute, wait a minute wait a minute
Pause and take a moment to listen and understand
Won't you stop a while
The individual invites others to take a break and listen to their words
There may be something here
The individual believes that their words and beliefs may have value and meaning
That can make you smile if it feels good
The individual hopes that their positive message will bring happiness and positivity to others
The way it's supposed to feel
The belief in a higher power's love and influence brings a sense of fulfillment and positivity that feels right
Then you should know that this love is real
Belief in a higher power's love is real and can bring a sense of happiness and meaning to life
Got a peace of mind that I can't deny
Belief in a higher power brings a sense of tranquility and calm that is hard to ignore
Turned my life around
Belief in a higher power has positively impacted the individual's life
I can promise, it ain't no lie
The individual's belief in the positive impact of a higher power is sincere and genuine
He sent me here just to testify
The individual believes that their purpose is to share their positive experience and beliefs with others
Oh how He loves me it sure feels good
The individual feels a strong and positive love from a higher power that is hard to describe but brings a sense of positivity and happiness
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL GREEN, ANGIE ALAN EBENSBERGER, DAVID EBENSBERGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@QuaabQueb
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Me
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@markblee3972
And me!
@nacerdjabbari657
another one