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.
Oh
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman, I don't believe you, you're not the truth
No one can look as good as you
Pretty woman, won't you pardon me?
Pretty woman, I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman, that you look lovely as can be
[Chorus]
Pretty woman, stop while
Pretty woman, talk awhile
Pretty woman, give your smile to me
Pretty woman, hey hey
Pretty woman, look my way
Pretty woman, give your smile to me
Cause I need you, I'll treat you right
Come to me baby, be mine tonight
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics to Al Green's song "Oh" are about a man who is captivated by a beautiful woman he sees walking down the street. He can't believe his eyes and questions whether she could possibly be real. As he approaches her, he asks for her forgiveness for staring and acknowledges that she looks stunning. He wonders if she's lonely like he is and proceeds to ask her to stop and talk to him. He pleads for her attention and asks for her smile. In the end, he confesses his desire to be with her and vows to treat her well if she agrees to be with him.
The song speaks to the universal appeal of beauty and attraction. The man in the song is completely mesmerized by the woman's appearance and is drawn to her in a way that he can't resist. He sees her as a perfect match for him and is willing to do whatever it takes to win her over.
The chorus is especially catchy, with its repeated call for the pretty woman to stop, talk, and give her smile to the singer. It's a testament to the power of a smile to brighten someone's day and to the importance of making a connection with others.
Overall, "Oh" is a classic love song that captures the thrill of attraction and the hope of finding love. Its simple lyrics and catchy melody make it a timeless favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty woman, walking down the street
I saw a beautiful woman walking down the street
Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet
She's the type of woman I find attractive and want to meet
Pretty woman, I don't believe you, you're not the truth
I can't believe someone can look this good, it's almost unreal
No one can look as good as you
You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen
Pretty woman, won't you pardon me?
Excuse me, beautiful lady
Pretty woman, I couldn't help but see
I couldn't resist looking at you
Pretty woman, that you look lovely as can be
You look absolutely stunning
Now are you lonely just like me?
Are you also feeling alone and looking for someone to connect with?
Pretty woman, stop while
Please stop for a moment
Pretty woman, talk awhile
Can we have a conversation
Pretty woman, give your smile to me
Please share your beautiful smile with me
Pretty woman, hey hey
Hey there beautiful
Pretty woman, look my way
Please turn your attention towards me
Cause I need you, I'll treat you right
I want you in my life and will treat you well
Come to me baby, be mine tonight
Can you come to me tonight and be my partner
Pretty woman, give your smile to me
Please share your beautiful smile with me
Chorus
Repeating the desire to have the woman's attention and affection
Lyrics © Barbara Orbison Music Company, Orbi-Lee Music, R-Key Darkus, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bill Dees, Roy Orbison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cangdynamightydozatv3962
Mi Padre turnt Me onto
Mr. Al Green...
Back in 1994.
I was 10 Anoz.
Flippin in The 92 Cavalier,
My Poppz Drunk-
Fallin Asleep.
As I'm J.A.M.ing,
Juz Goin Straight Down tha HighWay-
I'm wondering, When PapaRoo Gon Wake Up...
Well, I'd wake Him Up, after 10-15 Minutes of Trying...
He'd Wake Up.
He'd Say...
Where We At!?!?
Boi, Boi, Boi...
My Dad taught Me How to Drive/Cruise at 9 Years Old.
I Luv You, Dad.
J.A.M.on!
@TheRealForrestGeorge
I.. (my my my my)
I can turn a gray sky blue (you see)
I can make it rain when I want it to
I can build a castle from a single grain of sand (you see)
I can make a ship sail on dry land (children, yeah)
Unhappy am I with all the powers that I possess
Girl, you're the key to my happiness
And I...
(Can't get next to you, babe)
Oh Lord
(Can't get next to you)
I've been trying a long time
(Can't get next to you, babe)
(Can't get next to you)
I don't know what to do
(Let me say)
I.. (my my my my my)
I can fly like the bird in the sky
I can buy anything that money can buy
I can turn a river into a raging fire
I can live forever if I so desire
Unhappy am I with all the powers that I possess
Girl, you're the key, 'cause
(Can't get next to you, babe)
Baby
(Can't get next to you)
I've been trying a long time
(Can't get next to you, babe)
(Can't get next to you)
(Let me tell you that)
I can turn back the hands of time
(You better believe I can... you see)
I can make the seasons change
Just by waving my hand (let me say)
I can change anything from old to new (girl)
All the things I want to do the most (you see)
I'm unable to do
Unimportant are all these things
That I'm trying to do here today day
Girl, you see, I...
(Can't get next to you, babe)
I've been trying a long time
(Can't get next to you)
Somebody oughta help me
(Can't get next to you, babe)
Let me, let me go
(Can't get next to you)
Let me!
Lord, I've been working on it, baby
I've been thinking about it
You see, I've been trying to call you all day long
But, you see, I don't have your phone number, honey
I've been thinking about you baby, something awful
Sometime I feel like I want to moan about it
And I just don't know what to say
And I say..
@djmeekyoutube
I wonder how the Tempations felt when they heard how Al Green took this track, breaded it in cornmeal, and dropped it down in some hot grease? 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@marcustrice3246
They ate it up and asked for seconds and thirds. Lol
@john111257
@@marcustrice3246 you bloody usa, dont understand
@marcustrice3246
@@john111257 Whatever homie! 😒😒
@robertaunblack4887
They said he got next to us.
@sereneamani1713
@@john111257What?????
@arturogonzalez6066
...!IT'S JUST TOO TOGETHER...
LOVE THEM FUNK BLUES...THE BAND IS A SUNDAE AND AL IS THE CHERRY ON TOP...IT ALL SOUNDS SWEET!!!...
@autumnsmom1117
AL put the stank🦨 on this cut. 💞🎶🎼🎵
@chriscaruthers4268
This is the great music from the neighborhood. Jack Yates over here. Much Love to yours.
@gaylenefoster9463
The Temptations could not get next to Al Green ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️