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.
Perfect To Me
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my love for you keeps on and on and on
You're perfect to me, no matter whatever seems
You're everything that's on my mind
And I did love you, one hundred years or more
You're everything that I love so
My devotion to you, more than you can stand
Listen here, you know I love you, oh, how I love you
You're all that's on my mind, listen here
But oh, how I adore you, I'll go the last mile for you
You're in changing times
You're perfect to me, more than my eyes can see
You know something, you're the only thing
That's on, on my mind
As long as I live, I'll have love to give
I don't just get that now, I'll always be 'round
I'll always be 'round, closer 'round here
You're perfect to me
I don't care what anybody else see, no, no
You the only thing that's on my mind
I love you, baby, I'd walk the floor at night
Holding my arms tight, baby, now they don't feel better than this
I don't live no better than you, I love you, baby
I don't like fuss it's creatin'
It's all I gotta say, it's all I gotta say
All I gotta say, I love you, baby
It's all I gotta say, somebody understand here
I said something and it's all I gotta say
In this song, Al Green expresses his eternal love for his partner, emphasizing that she is perfect to him regardless of what others may think. He declares that his love for her continues to grow and that he will always be there for her. Green is extremely devoted to his partner and is willing to go the extra mile to show her how much he loves her. He reaffirms his love for her repeatedly throughout the song, highlighting how she is always on his mind and how he will always be around for her.
The lyrics of "Perfect to Me" are a testament to the enduring nature of love. Green's love for his partner is so strong that he believes it can outlast any obstacle or challenge that may come their way. He is completely dedicated to her and is willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy. The song is a beautiful declaration of love that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who listens to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Another year has come and gone
Despite the passage of time, my love for you remains constant
But my love for you keeps on and on and on
My love for you is never-ending
You're perfect to me, no matter whatever seems
No matter what happens, you will always be perfect in my eyes
You're everything that's on my mind
You are always on my mind, occupying my thoughts
And I did love you, one hundred years or more
I have loved you for what feels like an eternity
You're everything that I love so
You possess all the qualities that I love and cherish
My devotion to you, more than you can stand
My love and commitment to you is more than you can handle
And I, I, I believe in loving the whole morning
I believe in loving you all day, every day
Listen here, you know I love you, oh, how I love you
I want to emphasize how much I truly love you
You're all that's on my mind, listen here
You are my main focus and thought at all times
But oh, how I adore you, I'll go the last mile for you
I deeply cherish you and am willing to do anything for you
You're in changing times
Even though times may be changing, my love and devotion to you remain steadfast
You're perfect to me, more than my eyes can see
You are beyond perfect in my eyes, and my love for you extends beyond what I can physically see
You know something, you're the only thing
You hold the most important place in my heart and thoughts
That's on, on my mind
You are constantly on my mind
As long as I live, I'll have love to give
My love for you will never diminish over time
I don't just get that now, I'll always be 'round
I will always be here, unconditionally loving you
I'll always be 'round, closer 'round here
I will always be nearby and available for you
You're perfect to me
You are everything I could ever want or need in a partner
I don't care what anybody else see, no, no
Other people's opinions do not matter to me, as long as I love you
You the only thing that's on my mind
My thoughts and love are solely focused on you
I love you, baby, I'd walk the floor at night
I love you so much that I would stay up all night worrying and thinking about you
Holding my arms tight, baby, now they don't feel better than this
There is no better feeling than holding you in my arms
I don't live no better than you, I love you, baby
My life would not be better without you in it, and I love you deeply
I don't like fuss it's creatin'
I do not like any drama or conflict that could harm our relationship
It's all I gotta say, it's all I gotta say
I have said all I need to say, my love for you is simple and straightforward
All I gotta say, I love you, baby
My love for you is all-encompassing and complete
It's all I gotta say, somebody understand here
I hope that you can truly understand and appreciate the depth of my love for you
I said something and it's all I gotta say
I have expressed my feelings fully and completely, and there is nothing more to say
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL GREEN, WILLIE MITCHELL, WILLIE LAWRENCE MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roberta un Black
All of his music was and is about God. That's why he is so blessed, love you Pastor Al Green.
Claudio Sousa De Oliveira
linda canção! !!!
brenda williams
I love Al, there will never be another soul performer like him. He,s perfect to me(his voice) The only man I know that is perfect is God. But my husband is perfect for me, and I thank God for him. Three men that's perfect in different ways! And they all come together in my life in special ways to make my world complete!!!!
Maurice Conyers
Al Green is one of my favorite singers I grew up listening to him!!!
Dannita Miller
I love this song.... Thanks for posting it! I can't stop listening to it.
James Littleton
PERFECTLY sung, PERFECT music, and to those 50 IMPERFECT people whom dismiss this PERFECT song, it's time get your hearing check
DaReoCharmer
MAN this kind of music really hits my soul
Rita Clark
Al Green songs are still the greatest including his gospel songs
Tommy Boyd
I must say I'm not really in El green fan but this song was ..perfect to me.
JOHN Gaye
Perfect wedding song thank you Pastor Al Green