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.
Pass Me Not
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hear my humble cry
While on others Thou art calling
Do not pass me by
Savior, Savior
Hear my humble cry
While on others Thou are calling
Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief
Kneeling there in deep contrition
Help my unbelief
Trusting only in Thy merit
Would I seek Thy face
Heal my wounded, broken spirit
Save me by Thy grace
VThou the spring of all my comfort
More than life to me
Whom have I on earth beside Thee
Whom in Heav'n but Thee
The lyrics to Al Green's song "Pass Me Not" are a plea to the gentle Savior to not pass the singer by. The lyrics express humility and contrition, as the singer asks for mercy and grace. The phrase "Pass me not, O gentle Savior" is repeated often in the song, serving as a plea to the Lord for attention and guidance.
The singer acknowledges that the Savior may be calling on others, but begs for the Lord to not overlook him. The lyrics "While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by" expresses the singer's acknowledgment that there are others who may also be in need of salvation, but emphasizes the importance of his own salvation.
The singer requests for mercy and relief, and expresses deep contrition in the lyrics "Let me at a throne of mercy, find a sweet relief, kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief". The singer is asking for the Lord's help in healing his wounded and broken spirit, and requesting that the Lord save him by His grace.
Overall, the song "Pass Me Not" is a moving expression of humility, contrition, and faith. It is a plea to the Lord for attention and guidance, and a request for mercy and grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Pass me not, O gentle Savior
Please don't overlook me, kind Savior
Hear my humble cry
Listen to my sincere request
While on others Thou art calling
While you're attending to others
Do not pass me by
Please do not ignore me
Savior, Savior
Dear Savior, dear Savior
Let me at a throne of mercy
Allow me to approach Your throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief
Discover a soothing comfort
Kneeling there in deep contrition
Bowed in sincere remorse
Help my unbelief
Assist me with my wavering faith
Trusting only in Thy merit
Having faith only in Your goodness
Would I seek Thy face
I desire to see Your face
Heal my wounded, broken spirit
Mend my hurt, shattered spirit
Save me by Thy grace
Rescue me with Your grace
Thou the spring of all my comfort
You are the fountain of all my consolation
More than life to me
More important to me than life itself
Whom have I on earth beside Thee
Who do I have on earth besides You
Whom in Heav'n but Thee
Who in Heaven is there but You
Writer(s): George Duke, Lyle Lovett
Contributed by Chloe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tienaellison4729
In 2023 who else still listens to this song besides me?
@srestroncio3619
Always, one of my favorite gospel song, I listen until the last second.
@margosample2769
2024 GOD PROVIDES ππβ₯οΈβ₯οΈπ΅πΆπ΅
@valerieyoung452
In 2024...still listening
@user-xs3gb3py9s
I'm 70 yes old and still feel the Holy Spirit in Al Greens gospel songs
@berthaselmon7342
Short story: I went to see him at a concert in the 197Os in Chicago, βhe was so filled with the Holy Spirit that he only did a few minutes of βLove and Happinessβ and broke down and cried, like a baby while throwing his traditional red roses into the audience. He tried hard to finish the concert. He couldnβt. My partner and I, and half of the audience left. Iβm assuming the concert was cancelled. I would like to know if he remembered it. God was then telling him to Preach the gospel thru his music. After that he became a minister and took a hiatus from secular music. Iβm glad he returned. β€π
@joycerobinson3432
My grandfather open Sundayschool with this song. The song has always been my strength. Thank you Mr. Al Green
@brandiroxanne6321
My Dad always wanted this version played at his funeral. I played this and Rev. Greenβs other Gospel Album Precious Lord at his funeral. β€οΈ
@rayfrench1774
Won't Al Green get you together with his good ol' singing? I enjoy it so much.
@Puddin1ish
YESS!