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.
Look What You Done For Me '72
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to keep you free,
To do the things that you want to do,
The joy in life is loving you,
But now the day has come,
To let you know where I'm coming from,
The best of my years will go to you,
But these things don't come overnight,
Lovin' you baby, I think I'm right.
Let me say before I forget,
Lovin' you baby, it's where it's at yeah
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Ya baby, you set my heart free,
Oh but I feel, yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel yeah
Sometimes I want to leave, but then I say,
It wouldn't make sense at all,
Anyway, forgive me baby,
If I do wrong,
I haven't been a true man for so long,
But let me say before I forget,
Lovin' you baby, it's where it's at, yeah
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Ya baby, you set my heart free,
Baby, do you want to, do the thing that you oughta,
You've been very good for me,
And that's a fact, I say,
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Ya yeah you set my heart free, yeh
Oh, no matter,
What you done for me,
I got the feelin' that it's gonna,
Ya, look what you done for me
Baby, baby, you set my heart free
In Al Green's song "Look What You Done For Me", the singer expresses his love and commitment towards his significant other. He urges his partner to pursue their passions and dreams, promising to support and encourage them. Green acknowledges that it takes effort and time to build a strong relationship and that he is willing to make sacrifices for the one he loves.
Green sings that his best years will go towards his partner, emphasizing that his love for them is genuine and deep. He recognizes that he has not been the best partner in the past but promises to do better. The lyrics of the song convey a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the positive impact the partner has had on Green's life. He acknowledges that she has set his heart free and praises her for her many positive qualities.
Overall, the song is a beautiful homage to a loving and supportive relationship. It speaks to the importance of mutual love and respect, as well as the value of pursuing one's dreams and passions. Green's soulful voice brings depth and emotion to the lyrics, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that you're here with me,
Now that you are by my side,
I want to keep you free,
I want to give you the freedom to do things on your own,
To do the things that you want to do,
To pursue your own interests,
The joy in life is loving you,
Loving you brings immense happiness in my life,
But now the day has come,
But it's high time I tell you,
To let you know where I'm coming from,
To communicate my feelings and intentions,
The best of my years will go to you,
I will dedicate the best years of my life to you,
It's the only thing that I can do,
It's the only thing worthy of my life,
But these things don't come overnight,
I know this won't happen overnight,
Lovin' you baby, I think I'm right.
I am confident that loving you is the right decision,
Let me say before I forget,
Before I forget, I want to tell you,
Lovin' you baby, it's where it's at yeah
Loving you, my dear, is what my life is all about
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Darling, look at the positive impact you have made on my life,
Ya baby, you set my heart free,
Sweetheart, you have freed my heart from all the negativity and sorrow,
Oh but I feel, yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel yeah
I feel so much positive energy within me,
Sometimes I want to leave, but then I say,
I face moments of doubt, but then I tell myself,
It wouldn't make sense at all,
Leaving you doesn't make any sense,
Anyway, forgive me baby,
If I ever make any mistake, please forgive me my love,
If I do wrong,
If I ever make a mistake,
I haven't been a true man for so long,
I have not been loyal for quite some time,
Baby, do you want to, do the thing that you oughta,
My darling, do you want to do what is necessary,
You've been very good for me,
You have been incredibly supportive of me,
And that's a fact, I say,
That's the undeniable truth, my love,
Oh, no matter,
Regardless of what happens,
What you done for me,
What you have done for me,
I got the feelin' that it's gonna,
I have a strong feeling that things will
Ya, look what you done for me
Things will remain wonderful between us,
Baby, baby, you set my heart free
My dear, you have brought joy and happiness into my life by freeing my heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RIC EISERLING, ROBERT N GREENE, RONNIE DARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeanne von Euw
Nothing. I mean nothing today comes close to this performance. Real passion, real talent. His band is awesome too!
reverend kemp
THE AUDIENCE IS MESMERIZED AND CAPTIVATING BY AL'S GROOVE AND PERSON-PERFORMANCE...THANKING YOUR LADY IS JUST PRICELESS...SIMPLY THE BEST!
lisa houston
What a beautiful sound from a handsome man!
Madame DivaLoach
Heard this growing up...but never saw him live. What an incredible, performance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally unrehearsed, AL gives way to his "Church Roots" in this classic, extraordinaire!!!!! LOooOooVvVVViiiiTTTTT!!! (Thanks, Mom!!!)
steven pendergrast
It's performances like this , that makes him a legend if you dought ,give me a artist today .That can perform their track live no lipsinscinking and captive the crowd !!!!!!!!!! Always love share the music .
jacquiblu2
NOBODY does it like Al Green.
Paulette Holman
Al Green's music and performances were so good, children, all generations could attend his concerts together.
Minelli Radney
soulful man indeed. that's a real song with real thinking ability
Cookies & Cream
May 2,2021,
Can't know one do it like the Rev.Al Green.When he feel what he's singing out it pour over into the audience.
I just Love it.....the spirit 🙌
Donna N.
I can'r believe it!!!! I'm so in love this man