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.
Magic Road
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, won't you bless my soul on this magic road
Down this magic road you can have anything you want
And leave out things you don't on this magic road
What is this I see? What a mystery
What a time to meet, baby
But don't you ever close your eyes on this magic road
On this magic road you can even drive my car
You can even be a superstar on this magic road
What is this I see? Oh my, my, my, my
What a mystery, what a time to meet
On this magic road, on this magic road
On this magic road
You can even drive my car, oh
You can even be a suitor or lawyer
Just know who, we know who you are
What is this I see? What a mystery
Sure to find life's ecstasy
On this magic road nothing's impossible
You can depend on me, keep saying
On this magic, magic, road, yeah
On this magic road, if you turn on and off the bulb
On this magic road, on this magic road
You can have a big bank account
(On this magic road)
You can see the old they're comin' here
Hey watch out, watch out for the little man in the corner
On this magic road
You can be anything that you wanna be
But hey, hey, watch out for the little man
(On this magic road)
They don't have what you have
Watch out for the poor man
They don't have what what you're having
You got a bigger house and a Mercedes, big brother
(On this magic road)
But you hanging around in a Volkswagen
(On this magic road)
On this magic road
Remember what's happening, agony
Slavery, agony trauma with [Incomprehensible]
(On this magic road)
See the little children, yeah, yeah, yeah
(On this magic road)
The lyrics to Al Green's "Magic Road" express the overwhelming feeling of excitement and wonder one experiences when embarking on a journey towards an unknown destination. The singer in the song feels like they are about to "lose control" as they embark on this magical road, which promises that anything is possible. The road is described as having the power to fulfill desires, while also allowing one to leave out the things they don't want. The singer is thrilled by what they see and are amazed by the many possibilities that lie ahead.
As the song continues, the singer urges the listener to keep their eyes open and never close them, as they travel down this mysterious road. The lyrics also suggest that the road is reserved for those who are willing to take risks and pursue their dreams. The singer reassures the listener that anything they could possibly imagine is achievable through the magic of this wondrous road. The song speaks of driving cars or even being celebrities, but reminds the listener to watch out for the "little man" and not neglect those who may not have the same opportunities as themselves. In the end, the song inspires listeners to chase after their dreams and take advantage of every opportunity on this magic road.
Line by Line Meaning
On this magic road I'm about to lose control
I am on a journey that feels almost out of my control
Oh, won't you bless my soul on this magic road
I hope that something or someone will bring me good fortune on my journey
Down this magic road you can have anything you want
This is a journey where all your desires can be fulfilled
And leave out things you don't on this magic road
You can be selective about what you want and don't want on this journey
What is this I see? What a mystery
I am seeing something I do not understand
What a time to meet, baby
This is a fortuitous time to meet someone new
On this magic road smile is the down side
The only downside of this journey is that you will be smiling so much your cheeks might hurt
But don't you ever close your eyes on this magic road
You must not miss a single moment of this journey, so keep your eyes open at all times
On this magic road you can even drive my car
You can do things you could never do normally, like drive someone else's car
You can even be a superstar on this magic road
You can achieve levels of success you never thought possible
Oh my, my, my, my
This is so surprising or thrilling
On this magic road, on this magic road
This journey is truly magical and special
You can even be a suitor or lawyer
You can become something completely new and different on this journey
Just know who, we know who you are
Be true to yourself, and remember who you really are
Sure to find life's ecstasy
This journey is guaranteed to bring immense joy and happiness
On this magic road nothing's impossible
This is a journey where anything is possible
You can depend on me, keep saying
I will always be here for you and support you
On this magic, magic, road, yeah
This journey is pure magic
On this magic road, if you turn on and off the bulb
Even something as simple as turning a light on or off can be magical on this journey
You can have a big bank account
You can become wealthy beyond your wildest dreams on this journey
You can see the old they're comin' here
This journey is open to everyone, regardless of age
Hey watch out, watch out for the little man in the corner
Be careful of those who might try to take advantage of you or trick you on this journey
You can be anything that you wanna be
This journey allows you to become whoever you want to be
But hey, hey, watch out for the little man
Again, be careful of those who would try to deceive you on this journey
They don't have what you have
Others may not have what you do on this journey
Watch out for the poor man
Be mindful of the struggles that others might face, especially those who are less fortunate
You got a bigger house and a Mercedes, big brother
You might have more possessions than others on this journey
But you hanging around in a Volkswagen
But be careful about boasting or showing off those possessions
Remember what's happening, agony
Remember that there is still suffering and struggle in the world, even on this journey
Slavery, agony trauma with [Incomprehensible]
There are deep wounds and scars from the past that still impact people on this journey today
See the little children, yeah, yeah, yeah
Be mindful of the children and the future that we are creating for them on this journey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL L. GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jameshunter5637
One of the most Unique Artists of All Time!!!
@angrybusdriver5656
Wow!!! Thought I've heard all of. Al greens material but this blew my mind never heard this one before
@WillBMusicEnt
“You can have anything you want”
@mocancer8485
Love it..sing Master Green
@Lilith963
Wonderful
@Shelovtonio
Beyonce
@florence.begobego5088
Dr in