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.
Let’s Get Married
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wasting my time for you
And I'm not too crazy
About the idea
Of having nothing to do
I'm tired of playing around
A girl in every town, oh
And stop fooling around
(Let's get married)
I've got to stop fooling around
(Let's get married)
Stop fooling around
(Let's get married)
You don't believe me
But I want to stop fooling around
(Let's get married)
Let me say
I didn't mean to say
All the things I said
Oh no
The way I felt in my heart
It came out that way
Let me tell you one thing
Don't wanna say anything
To drive you away
Let's get married today
(Let's get married)
Hey, hey, hey
(Let's get married)
(Let's get married)
All right, gonna get married
(Let's get married)
Let's get married today
Might as well
Might as well
'Cause take you
In my arms and hold you
Take you in my arms
And squeeze you
And take you in my arms
And love you every night
Just make everything
All right, all right
I wanna soothe you, baby
Let me soothe you, baby
I can soothe you, baby
I can, I can wipe all your tears away
Uh huh, wipe all your tears away
Wipe all your tears away
Wipe all your tears away
Hey, hey, hey, hey
You can't know me
You don't believe me
Ow, ow, ow
Ow, ow, ow, ow
Get married today
I found out, I, I don't love nobody anyway
In Al Green's song "Let's Get Married," the singer is expressing his desire to settle down and commit to a long-term relationship with his partner. He admits that he's been wasting his time fooling around with women in every town and that he's not too excited about having nothing to do. Green is tired of playing the field and wants to start a new chapter in his life with his lover.
He admits that he may have said things in the past that he didn't mean, but he wants to assure his partner that he's serious about taking their relationship to the next level. He wants to avoid saying or doing anything that might drive her away and reiterates his desire to elope immediately.
The singer believes that he and his partner are meant to be together and that they should get married. He believes that they can make everything right and soothe each other with their love. Green sings about holding his partner in his arms, wiping away her tears, and loving her every night. He believes that they are a perfect match, and he doesn't love anyone else anyway.
Fact 1: Al Green wrote the song with producer Willie Mitchell and guitarist Teenie Hodges.
Fact 2: "Let's Get Married" was released on Al Green's 1973 album "Livin' for You."
Fact 3: The song was a Top 20 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #14.
Fact 4: "Let's Get Married" reached #5 on the US R&B chart.
Fact 5: The song was covered by Jagged Edge in 2000, and their version reached #11 on the US Hot 100 chart.
Fact 6: The song was also covered by country duo The Mavericks in 2003.
Fact 7: The song has been sampled or interpolated in several songs by artists, including Mary J. Blige, Ludacris, and Lil Wayne.
Fact 8: In 2020, Al Green collaborated with legendary pianist Chick Corea on a new version of "Let's Get Married."
Fact 9: The song has been used in films and TV shows, including the movie Moonlight and the TV series Better Things.
Fact 10: "Let's Get Married" is considered one of Al Green's most romantic and iconic songs.
Chords (Key of D)
Intro: Dmaj7, Em7, A7, Dmaj7
Verse: Dmaj7, Em7, A7, Dmaj7
Chorus: Gmaj7, Dmaj7, Em7, A7
Bridge: Dmaj7, Em7, A7, Dmaj7, Gmaj7, A7, Dmaj7
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting here
I am currently idle and unproductive.
Wasting my time for you
I am devoting my energy and effort solely to you.
And I'm not too crazy
I am not particularly enthusiastic.
About the idea
The concept of being unoccupied is undesirable.
Of having nothing to do
Being idle and lacking purpose is unappealing.
I'm tired of playing around
I am no longer interested in fooling around and playing games.
A girl in every town, oh
I have been promiscuous and had many romantic encounters in different locations.
I wanna settle down
I desire to be in a committed and stable relationship.
And stop fooling around
I want to cease engaging in immature and frivolous behavior.
(Let's get married)
I propose that we enter into wedlock.
I've got to stop fooling around
I must put an end to my childish and irresponsible ways.
(Let's get married)
I suggest that we make a lifelong commitment to each other.
You don't believe me
You are skeptical of my sincerity and intentions.
But I want to stop fooling around
However, I genuinely want to mature and be in a serious relationship.
(Let's get married)
I persist in my proposal that we enter into wedlock.
Let me say
Allow me to express myself.
I didn't mean to say
I did not intend to state.
All the things I said
The sentiments I conveyed in the past were unintended.
Oh no
I regret my actions and words.
The way I felt in my heart
My true emotions emerged involuntarily.
It came out that way
My disposition was inadvertently displayed.
Let me tell you one thing
Allow me to impart one crucial bit of information.
Don't wanna say anything
I do not want to utter anything hurtful or counterproductive.
To drive you away
I aim to avoid behaviors or statements that may alienate you.
Let's get married today
I reiterate my proposal to enter into matrimony.
(Hey, hey, hey)
An expression of excitement and joy.
(All right, gonna get married)
I assure you that we will wed.
Might as well
It is reasonable to do so.
Take you
Hold you and cherish you.
In my arms and hold you
Embrace and support you.
Take you in my arms
Hold you closely and lovingly.
And squeeze you
Embrace you tightly and affectionately.
And take you in my arms
Include you in my loving embrace.
And love you every night
I vow to express my affection for you every evening.
Just make everything
To create a utopian existence.
All right, all right
An expression of positive affirmation.
I wanna soothe you, baby
I desire to comfort you and alleviate stress.
Let me soothe you, baby
Allow me to provide succor and reassurance.
I can soothe you, baby
I have the skills to ameliorate your emotional distress.
I can, I can wipe all your tears away
I am capable of comforting you and eradicating your negative feelings.
(Uh huh, wipe all your tears away)
An expression of agreement, reiterating the ability to alleviate tears.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
An expression of excitement.
You can't know me
You do not fully comprehend my true nature and intentions.
Ow, ow, ow
An expression of excitement and approval.
Get married today
Let us wed as soon as possible.
I found out, I, I don't love nobody anyway
I realized that I do not have feelings for anyone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MzBettyK
I’m on an Al Green marathon tonight. There aren’t any bad songs. Each has a message. Love this. ❤️
@Swoop2565
Me too 😂😂…I go on one about every 90 days …OMG!! ❤👍🏿
@stephanienunez4398
There all bad ass songs nobody like
Al Green he’s bad!!!
Everybody who Knoz watz Up Knoz he’s tha Man!!
@nicolejohnson806
Yasss me too 🥰🥰🥰🥰
@dejournelson
Y'all don't no real music real game 🎯
@lovelyleshayokay7862
When Al break it down and say “Let me say, I didn’t mean to say all the things I said, the way I felt in my heart it came out that way”, I sing so loud and soft at the same time,! ❤️ His music is in my DNA 🧬
@georgebeamon368
That's what I'm Talking about
@lovelyleshayokay7862
@@georgebeamon368 yes this is real music 🎶!
@jjsky3003
Wow! My favorite part, I repeat it continuously. Super sensual, and sincere vocals on that part.❤
@lovelyleshayokay7862
@@jjsky3003 So sensual like my heart is in it♥️🥰