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 It Shine
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But somewhere in your mind
You're always right on time
Yeah, won't you let it shine?
I'm so glad that I'm free, yeah
Lord above would have blessed it on me
I don't mind, won't you let it shine?
Well, I know the words to say
Gimme my daily bread, yeah
I never close my eyes, no
Always sleep, they're wise yeah
Now I know that you're fooling me
Can't take life so seriously
Broke my heart one hundred times
Now I want to let it shine, shine, yeah
Eh, I know a star that shine
Is somewhere in your eyes
You're always right on time, yeah
Yeah, won't you let it shine?
I know that you're fooling me
Can't take life so seriously
Broke my heart one hundred times
Now I want to let it shine, shine, shine, yeah, yeah
Sanctify feelings, let it shine
Tales all my in my mind, yeah
Take me forth and let it shine, yeah
Take me forth and let it shine
In Al Green's "Let It Shine," the songwriter is urging his listener not to suppress their inner light. He believes that everyone has a star that shines within them, but sometimes this star is buried deep within our minds. Green wants his listener to let their light shine fearlessly, even if they have been hurt before. He acknowledges that one can't take life too seriously and that heartbreak is a part of the human experience, but he implores the listener to not let past pain overshadow their present happiness. The repeated phrase "let it shine" serves as a sort of mantra, a reminder of the message of the song.
Green's soulful delivery helps drive home the importance of this message. His raw, emotive voice lends an urgency to the lyrics. The imagery of the "star that shines" sparks the imagination and evokes a sense of wonder. It is a reminder that we are all unique and have something valuable to share with the world. Green's message is ultimately one of hope and empowerment, encouraging listeners to embrace their true selves and all that they have to offer.
Overall, "Let It Shine" is a powerful call to action. It urges us to let go of our fears and doubts and shine brightly, illuminating the world around us with our individuality and brilliance.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a star that shines
There is something special about you that shines like a star
But somewhere in your mind
You doubt yourself or are not fully aware of your potential
You're always right on time
You have a purpose and destiny that you are fulfilling
Yeah, won't you let it shine?
Embrace your talent and let it be seen by others
I'm so glad that I'm free, yeah
I feel liberated and content with my life
Lord above would have blessed it on me
I believe my success and happiness is a result of divine intervention
I don't mind, won't you let it shine?
It doesn't bother me if others know about my success and talent
Please be kind and let it shine, shine, shine
I hope others will appreciate and encourage me to showcase my abilities
Well, I know the words to say
I am confident in expressing myself
Gimme my daily bread, yeah
I am asking for my basic needs to be met
I never close my eyes, no
I am always watchful and alert
Always sleep, they're wise yeah
Even when I'm resting, my mind is active and gaining insight
Now I know that you're fooling me
I have realized that someone I trusted is deceiving me
Can't take life so seriously
I need to lighten up and not let life's challenges bring me down
Broke my heart one hundred times
I have been hurt and disappointed many times
Now I want to let it shine, shine, yeah
Despite the pain, I am ready to move on and show the world my talent and potential
Eh, I know a star that shine
I am confident that I have something special to offer the world
Is somewhere in your eyes
You have the same potential, and I see it in you
Yeah, won't you let it shine?
I encourage you to embrace your talent and let it be seen by others
Sanctify feelings, let it shine
Purify your heart and let your talent be a reflection of your good nature
Tales all my in my mind, yeah
I have many thoughts and ideas in my head waiting to be shared
Take me forth and let it shine, yeah
I am ready to face the world and let my talent and potential be seen
Take me forth and let it shine
I am determined to make the most of my abilities and share them with others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN, MABON HODGES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roberta un Black
Let your light shine Al. Jesus is the light and he's always shining on you. AMEN.
Roberta un Black
Thank you for your ❤ I'll never break it. Ro. God bless.
SunRyse
Shine shine shine 🇺🇲🎷🎹🎶😁🕊️
DAVID MATTHEWS
Why pollute a beautiful uplifting song by dragging Jesus into it ?