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.
Keep Me Cryin
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have to say that you
Keep me crying all the time
Well, I tried to play my music
But my music was too loud
Well, I pleased all the people
But I couldn`t please the crowd
And I dropped down on my knees
And said, hey, mama
Won`t you clear my head
Don`t you know they
Keep me crying all the time
They keep me crying all the time
Oh, Lord, don`t you know they
They keep me moaning all the time
They keep me burning all the time
Well, I tried
To run my business
But they said I can`t
Just keep it to myself
Not bothering any man
Just as sure as I try
Cause my tears in my eye
Don`t you know they
Keep me crying all the time
They keep me crying all the time
Friends knocking in my door
They keep me crying
Somebody calling on the phone and
They keep me crying...
The lyrics to Al Green's "Keep Me Cryin'" tell a story of a man who is constantly feeling emotional and overwhelmed due to the actions of others. He explains that no matter what he does, he cannot escape the pain that others are causing him. He mentions that he tried to play his music but it was too loud, and although he pleased some people, he couldn't please everyone. He then drops down on his knees and asks his mother to clear his head, hoping for some relief from the constant crying and moaning that he experiences.
Throughout the song, Green sings about how he tries to run his business and keep to himself, but people come knocking at his door and calling him on the phone, causing him to cry even more. The lyrics suggest that Green is feeling isolated and alone in his suffering. He is unable to control the actions of others, and their actions are keeping him in a constant state of sadness.
While the song may be interpreted in a number of ways, it is generally considered to be a testament to Green's tremendous talent as a songwriter and singer. The emotionally charged lyrics, combined with Green's soulful voice and classic R&B sound, make this song a powerful statement about the struggle of being human.
Overall, "Keep Me Cryin'" is a deeply moving song that speaks to the universal experience of pain and heartache. It is a testament to Green's ability to convey emotion through his music, and it remains a classic example of the power of soulful R&B.
Line by Line Meaning
You keep me crying all the time
I am constantly feeling emotional pain because of you
I have to say that you
I must admit that it is you who is causing my distress
Well, I tried to play my music
I attempted to do something that brings me joy
But my music was too loud
Unfortunately, this activity did not provide the relief I needed
Well, I pleased all the people
I succeeded in making others happy
But I couldn`t please the crowd
However, despite my efforts, I was not able to satisfy everyone
And I dropped down on my knees
I turned to a higher power for help
And said, hey, mama
I beseeched a maternal figure
Won`t you clear my head
Asking for relief from my troubled thoughts
Don`t you know they
Because of their actions
Keep me crying all the time
I am always in a state of emotional pain because of them
They keep me moaning all the time
Their behavior causes me to continually express my sadness
They keep me burning all the time
The way they treat me makes me feel intense emotions of anger and frustration
Well, I tried
I attempted to make progress
To run my business
To manage my life and responsibilities
But they said I can`t
They prevented me from doing so
Just keep it to myself
They want me to suffer in silence
Not bothering any man
I am not causing harm to anyone
Just as sure as I try
Every time I make an effort
Cause my tears in my eye
I am overwhelmed with sadness
Don`t you know they
It is because of their actions
Keep me crying all the time
I am continually in a state of emotional pain because of them
Friends knocking in my door
My friends are coming to check on me
They keep me crying
Unfortunately, even their presence does not alleviate my pain
Somebody calling on the phone and
Someone is trying to reach out to me
They keep me crying...
But even that communication cannot erase my feelings of distress
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: A. GREEN, W. MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carrie Nixon
So many memories. This was the JAM. Al Green sung this song on soul train, and he had those dancers rocking that floor. 💜
james smirk
Love it !!!!
Edward Hackett
This was my mom's favorite song.Shes love her Al green.
Kwame Aboagye
Al Green is my hero.
Al is so classical.
Al is the man.
Veronique Braxton-Angus
love this song
Jarriet Fair
I 💘 this song from al green
T Brinkley
I like all Al greens music
Mo Jackson
Classic Al Green
Rev Charles HODGES Sr.
I loved recording this song with my friend al and HI RHYTHM
QUEEN Boogie
Keep me crying all the time