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.
L-O-V-E
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then I decided that I would write it all about love
And it appeared to me
That you wasn't happy
And that's for sure, positively
That's what the world is made of
So give me more L-O-V-E, love
Love is a walk down Main street (oh love)
Love is an apple that is so sweet (love)
Love is something that can't be beat (love)
L-O-V-E is strange to me, Oh
I can't explain this feeling
Can't you see that salvation is freeing
It's all in the heavens, can't you see
You can always depend on me
To give you love
Love is a flower in my soul (oh love)
Love is a story that just can't be told (love)
Can't you feel it burning more and more (love)
Stop and look at the big wheel roll
I can't explain this feeling
Can't you see that salvation is freeing
I would give my life for the glory
Just to be able to tell the story
About love
I didn't mean to make you mad
A sweet story, I thought I had
But maybe time will bring us together
And I can be such a happy fella
About love
Love is something that is so divine (oh love)
Love is a feeling that's a friend of mine (love)
It can't be measured by no sign (love)
In your heart or even in your mind
About love, Love is as bright as the morning sun
In this song, Al Green talks about his desire to write a song about someone he loves, but decides to write about love itself instead. He observes that the person he is singing to is not happy, and he thinks that love could be the solution to that problem. He believes that love is the foundation on which the world is built, and he craves more of it. For him, love is a simple walk down Main Street or biting into a sweet apple. However, he admits that he can't fully understand what love is, and finds it strange. But this doesn't stop him from realizing that love is something everyone needs, and that he is prepared to give it endlessly.
The verse "Love is a flower in my soul, love is a story that just can't be told, can't you feel it burning more and more" reinforces the idea that love is an indescribable feeling that burns within us. Green further emphasizes salvation that comes from love, which is freeing, and he is willing to give his all for it. He concludes the song by hoping that time will bring him and his lover together, so that he can experience the happiness of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I started to write this song about you
At first, I wanted to write a song dedicated to you.
And then I decided that I would write it all about love
But then I realized that love itself deserved to be the subject of the song.
And it appeared to me
It became evident to me.
That you wasn't happy
That you weren't content or satisfied with something.
And that's for sure, positively
Without a doubt or any uncertainty.
That's what the world is made of
Love is the fundamental essence of the world.
So give me more L-O-V-E, love
Expressing a desire for more love.
Love is a walk down Main street (oh love)
Love can be found in the simplest of moments.
Love is an apple that is so sweet (love)
Love can bring sweetness to life.
Love is something that can't be beat (love)
Love is undefeated and unbeatable.
L-O-V-E is strange to me, Oh
Admitting that love can be complicated and difficult to understand.
I can't explain this feeling
Describing the inability to put into words the emotions associated with love.
Can't you see that salvation is freeing
Suggesting that love can be liberating and bring salvation.
It's all in the heavens, can't you see
Love is a celestial and divine force.
You can always depend on me
A promise to always provide love and support.
To give you love
Expressing the intention to give one's love to another.
Love is a flower in my soul (oh love)
Comparing love to a beautiful, blossoming flower.
Love is a story that just can't be told (love)
Love is an indescribable experience that can only be felt and not fully explained.
Can't you feel it burning more and more (love)
Indicating that love can intensify and grow over time.
Stop and look at the big wheel roll
Encouraging one to pause and appreciate the magnificence of life.
I would give my life for the glory
Expressing the depth of love and one's willingness to make sacrifices for another.
Just to be able to tell the story
Highlighting the importance and beauty of sharing one's experiences of love.
About love
Reiterating that love is at the heart of the song and important to discuss.
I didn't mean to make you mad
Apologizing for any negative emotions the song may have caused.
A sweet story, I thought I had
Explaining that the song was meant to be a sweet story about love.
But maybe time will bring us together
Expressing hope that the relationship between the singer and the listener can be strengthened with time.
And I can be such a happy fella
Suggesting that love can bring happiness and joy to one's life.
Love is something that is so divine (oh love)
Describing love as something that is sacred and heavenly.
Love is a feeling that's a friend of mine (love)
Viewing love as a friendly and positive presence in one's life.
It can't be measured by no sign (love)
Emphasizing that love is immeasurable using any metric or sign.
In your heart or even in your mind
Asserting that love can exist in one's heart and mind simultaneously.
About love
Once again highlighting the importance of discussing and contemplating love.
Love is as bright as the morning sun
Comparing love to the radiance and warmth of the sun rising in the morning.
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: AUSTIN N GREEN, RODNEY PRICE, MICHAEL GREENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AngelNoriega1
I started to write this song about you
And then I decided that I would write it all about love
And it appeared to me
That you wasn't happy
And that's for sure, positively
That's what the world is made of
So give me more L-O-V-E, love
Love is a walk down Main street (oh love)
Love is an apple that is so sweet (love)
Love is something that can't be beat (love)
L-O-V-E is strange to me, Oh
I can't explain this feeling
Can't you see that salvation is freeing
It's all in the heavens, can't you see
You can always depend on me
To give you love
Love is a flower in my soul (oh love)
Love is a story that just can't be told (love)
Can't you feel it burning more and more (love)
Stop and look at the big wheel roll
I can't explain this feeling
Can't you see that salvation is freeing
I would give my life for the glory
Just to be able to tell the story
About love
I didn't mean to make you mad
A sweet story, I thought I had
But maybe time will bring us together
And I can be such a happy fella
About love
Love is something that is so divine (oh love)
Love is a feeling that's a friend of mine (love)
It can't be measured by no sign (love)
In your heart or even in your mind
About love, Love is as bright as the morning sun
@rickey9918
About love
I didn't mean to make you mad
A sweet story, I thought I had
But maybe time will bring us together
And I can be such a happy fella
About love
Love is something that is so divine (oh love)
Love is a feeling that's a friend of mine (love)
It can't be measured by no sign (love)
In your heart or even in your mind
About love, Love is as bright as the morning sun
@rktinc
I don't care what anyone says Al Green has made some of the best music of all time.
@andrewjwheelerjr3908
So true and your right he is inspirationaly beautiful in respect of wholesome soulful sweetness god bless him for it too .
@youngbeavzcomedy
Coaster Nolimits hes bad ass fuck i been high had sex and acted a fool to a al green song #algreenmakestheworldabetterplace
@monicabella7894
The best soul singer, sorry Marvin!
@ceciliawells1099
Yes!❤
@mehmeh5517
I totally agree! And anyone who doesn’t agree with your comment should not be trusted
@sondrasmith2691
Still listening to this enormous talent in 2021! Anyone else with me? The man has Soul!!
@mariaallen3707
I was a Teenager when I 1st heard this song, I’m 62 now , and here I am still digging it ...Al Green the best .
@christinawheeler3123
I am 65 and had all of his albums and his gospel songs also. This guy is singing about my lord and savior Jesus christ HALLELUJAH been born again since age 32. When I was in the world I couldn't relate to this song,Jesus is the one that can give u real love, all other is fake even sometimes from your own children that come from your womb.he said I'll never leave u nor forsake u and he mean it,humans cant say that to one another ever
@roxieturner4638
Me too!