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.
Livin’ for You
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'll keep on livin' for you, baby,
There's nothing else to do, babe,
But spend my life holding you and lovin' you
Oh,
If I ask you more than one million times to forgive me,
You think of a reason why,
Walk out and say goodbye away from me
Oh,
I'm tired of the bright ideas about leavin' me,
When you know you're not goin' nowhere,
But here with me,
Here with me,
Let me tell you a thing,
Stop and think of just how good I've been to you baby, please
I'm causin' no trouble for you baby,
This story just can't be true, baby,
(Just can't be true)
How can I convince you, baby,
But just tell you the truth
I'm livin' for you, givin' for you, waitin' for you,
(Lemme tell you what I'm doin')
I'm layin' for you, prayin' for you, workin' for you,
(Livin' my life, I tell you that)
I'm livin' for you, givin' for you, givin' for you,
Layin' for you, prayin' for you, workin' for you,
(Everything I do I still)
Do with you (something to) do with you
Do with you
That's why I keep on saying, livin' for you
The lyrics of Al Green's song "Livin' for You" convey a message of devotion and love. The song is a soulful expression of how the singer is willing to do anything for his lover. The opening lines, "I guess there's no good reason for livin', but I'll keep on livin' for you, baby; there's nothing else to do, babe, but spend my life holding you and lovin' you," indicate that the singer's life has no purpose other than being wrapped in the arms of his lover.
The lyrics go on to say that the singer has made mistakes and asked for forgiveness, but he fears that his lover may leave him. He pleads with her not to make him cry, walk out and say goodbye. The lines "I'm causin' no trouble for you, baby, this story just can't be true, baby; how can I convince you, baby, but just tell you the truth" indicate that the singer is willing to make amends and wishes to prove his love towards his partner.
The chorus of the song is repetitive and the most crucial part of the song, with the lyrics "I'm livin' for you, givin' for you, waitin' for you, layin' for you, praying for you, and working for you." These lyrics show that the singer is willing to do anything for his lover and that his life's purpose is to keep her happy.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess there's no good reason, for livin',
There might not be a reason to live, but because of you, I keep on living.
But I'll keep on livin' for you, baby,
I keep living because of my love for you.
There's nothing else to do, babe,
My world revolves around you, and there is nothing else I'd like to do.
But spend my life holding you and lovin' you
The purpose of my life is to hold and love you unconditionally.
If I ask you more than one million times to forgive me,
If I ask you for forgiveness countless times,
You think of a reason why,
If you think of any reason why you should not forgive me,
That you should make me cry (don't make me cry)
Please do not make me cry by walking out of my life.
Walk out and say goodbye away from me
Leaving me and saying goodbye would hurt me deeply.
I'm tired of the bright ideas about leavin' me,
I am sick of hearing you talk about leaving me.
When you know you're not goin' nowhere,
You know very well that there is nowhere else you'd rather be other than with me.
But here with me,
You are happiest and belong here with me.
Here with me,
Your place is here with me.
Let me tell you a thing,
Please listen to me carefully.
Stop and think of just how good I've been to you baby, please
Reflect on how well I have treated and taken care of you, please.
I'm causin' no trouble for you baby,
I am not giving you any problems, my love.
This story just can't be true, baby, (Just can't be true)
These rumors spreading about me cannot be true, my love. (They just can't be true)
How can I convince you, baby,
What can I do to convince you, my love,
But just tell you the truth
Other than being truthful and honest about my feelings for you.
I'm livin' for you, givin' for you, waitin' for you,
My life revolves around doing everything for you, waiting for you, and giving you my all.
(Lemme tell you what I'm doin')
(Let me tell you everything that I am doing)
I'm layin' for you, prayin' for you, workin' for you,
I am always praying, working, and laying everything down for you.
(Livin' my life, I tell you that)
(I assure you that I am living my life)
I'm livin' for you, givin' for you, givin' for you,
All that I am doing has everything to do with giving my all to you.
Layin' for you, prayin' for you, workin' for you,
Everything I do, I do it just for you.
(Everything I do I still)
(Even if it means doing everything in my power)
Do with you (something to) do with you
It still has something to do with you, my love.
Do with you
Everything is tangled in with you.
That's why I keep on saying, livin' for you
That is why I will always say that I am living for you, as every part of me is with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL GREEN, WILLIE MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DeAnna D. Wright
This song means a lot to me. This was my late fiancee's theme song to me. He really LIVED FOR ME. HE WORKED FOR ME.I miss you Frankie. I haven't been the same since The Lord took you. R.I.P. BABY.
Greg Anderson
God bless you.
Ms December Love Angel
This song reminds me of my mom and family back in Texas
Shelia Davis
Love his songs
Larry Scott
This man was a master at ballads.
504mrbig
My aunt used to play this song all night , now I found myself playing it over and over
ARKANAS STATE LINE ROBINSONS
The master of soul singing he makes you feel the music just listen.
Major Simpson
Listening to this in 2019. Al Green is truly gifted.
Brachellie Joshua
My Mom passed away 4 years ago and this song reminds me of her, she is the one that exposed mye and my siblings to ALL genres of music. But this song and other Al Green songs reminds me of her playing this on an 8 track which many don't know about. This song is for you Mom miss and Love you!❤😪
horsluva0758
Al Green... what else can you say... that voice.. soulful...amazing...