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.
Put It on Paper
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's the way it is with me
I'm in love with one man
And I know he's feelin' me, oh yes, he is
Things are gettin' kinda serious
When there's no one else around
I ain't into shackin' up
Gotta put it on paper
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
(You know I do)
There's only one thing I want you to do
(Put it on)
Put it on paper
(Put it on, what you waitin' on)
(Put it on, what you waitin' on)
(Waitin' on you, waitin' on you)
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
(It's not that I don't love you)
There's only one thing I want you to do
(Would you do it?)
Put it on paper
(Put it on paper)
(Put it on, what you waitin' on?)
(Put it on, what you waitin' on?)
Whoa
Now-now-now I'm an old school brother
Don't want my business in the street, no, no
What I have for this woman
Is very serious to me
She's so real
Don't wanna bring no shame
I feel so good about her
I wanna change your name
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
(You know I love you)
There's only one thing I want you to do
(All I wanna do is)
Put it on paper
(You gotta put it on paper)
Waitin' on you, waitin' on you
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
There's only one thing I want you to do
Put it on paper
(I want you to put it on paper)
(Put it on, put it on, oh)
I've fallen so deeply in love
This I can't deny, yeah
If I'm gonna share my love
I wanna do it, do it right
But wait a minute, wait a minute
I wanna respect you
And love you every, every night
The only way I can do that now and feel good
Is to make you my wife
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
There's only one thing I want you to do
(Lets put it on)
Put it on paper
(Do it, do it, do it)
(Lets get married today)
(Come on)
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
(It's not that I don't love you)
There's only one thing I want you to do
(You know I need you)
Put it on paper
(Said you gotta put it on paper)
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
There's only one thing I want you to do
(Only way I love you)
Put it on paper
(Put it on paper)
Put it on paper
(I'm hooked on you)
Sign your name
(Put it on paper)
Show me with the paper
Show
Theres only one thing I want you to do
(Give me the ring)
(I'll give it to you, babe)
All you gotta put in on paper
(Oh)
(Ah, ah, ah)
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know that I do
There's only one thing I want you to do
Put it on paper
(Show me, show me, show me)
Put it on paper
The lyrics of Al Green's "Put It On Paper" talk about a commitment to a relationship and making it official by putting it in writing. The singer is "old-fashioned" and does not believe in casual relationships, which is why they want the person they love to sign on the paper to make it more serious. The singer is in love with someone and feels that they reciprocate the same feelings. They are also clear about not wanting to live together outside the marriage, which means they want things to be formal and legal before they take things any further. The lyrics also suggest that it is essential for the couple to keep their relationship private and away from prying eyes.
The song's lyrics highlight the importance of making a real commitment in one's romantic relationships, and it encourages people to understand that it's not just about love but also about putting a mark on the relationship. Both parties involved should be willing to take the responsibility that comes with a serious relationship. Therefore, the singer wants their loved one to put everything on paper, including their promises and their commitment.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Put It On Paper" are a testament to the singer's desire to build a committed, serious relationship. They encourage their partner to take the next step, to make their love official by putting it all down in writing.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a little old fashion
I have traditional values and beliefs
That's the way it is with me
My personality and outlook are rooted in my traditional values
I'm in love with one man
I am exclusively devoted to one man
And I know he's feelin' me, oh yes, he is
I am confident that the man I love reciprocates my feelings
Things are gettin' kinda serious
Our relationship is becoming more intense and meaningful
When there's no one else around
When we are alone together
I ain't into shackin' up
I am not interested in living together outside of marriage
So we gotta lock it down
We need to commit to each other and get married
Gotta put it on paper
We need to formalize our commitment to each other in a legal document
It's not that I don't love you
I love you very much
'Cause you know that I do
I believe you are aware of how deeply I love you
There's only one thing I want you to do
I have only one request for you
Put it on paper
We need to make our commitment official by getting married and signing legal documents
Now-now-now I'm an old school brother
I have an old-fashioned and traditional approach to love and relationships
Don't want my business in the street, no, no
I don't want our personal life and relationship to be the subject of gossip or public scrutiny
What I have for this woman
The love I have for this woman
Is very serious to me
My love for her is of great importance and significance to me
She's so real
She is genuine and sincere
Don't wanna bring no shame
I don't want to do anything that would bring shame or dishonor to her
I feel so good about her
I have positive and strong feelings about her
I wanna change your name
I want to marry her and give her my last name
I've fallen so deeply in love
I am deeply and passionately in love
This I can't deny, yeah
I can't deny the intensity and depth of my feelings
If I'm gonna share my love
If I am going to express my love to someone else
I wanna do it, do it right
I want to do it in a proper and correct manner
I wanna respect you
I value and respect you as a person
And love you every, every night
I want to show you love and affection every night
The only way I can do that now and feel good
In order for me to feel good about loving and respecting you
Is to make you my wife
I need to marry you
Put it on paper
We need to make our commitment official by getting married and signing legal documents
Sign your name
We need to sign the legal documents to make our commitment official
Show me with the paper
Our love and commitment will be demonstrated through the signing of legal documents
Theres only one thing I want you to do
I have only one request for you
All you gotta put in on paper
All you need to do is sign the legal documents to make our commitment official
Give me the ring
Propose to me by offering me an engagement ring
I'll give it to you, babe
I will accept your proposal
Show me, show me, show me
Demonstrate your love and commitment to me
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lesbianworld6659
I'm still listening in 2020🙌💪💕 💃 Who with me Real old school music 💯💯
@sheilahall7294
Me too
@sylviajohnson3967
This is what true music is
@castishe40
I'm with ya in 2021!
@Lulcedmusic
2021 im on it
@hamideverett7999
INDEED SO AM I 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯😍😍😍😍😍
@stellagore8313
My husband and I put it on paper 45 years ago and this song still give me the thrills when I hear this song, he is gone now for one month and I miss him so much. Sincerely Mrs.Gore
@kazliketheidead-b8531
Stella Gore
I am So sorry Stella for your loss, no words can really convey..but it's a Blessing you're not hiding away. Instead you're embracing music that means something special to you & your loved one. guess what girl! One step
One day at a Time.
@fredericktillman2493
80
@motherdear3733
There is no other pain like this.