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 a Little Love in Your Heart
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put a little love in your heart
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by, and still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know, we won't let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see, wait and see
Take a good look around and if you're lookin' down
Put a little love in your heart, yeah
I hope when you decide kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see
Put a little love in your heart
I said now put a little love in your heart
Put a little love in your heart
Put a little love in your heart
Put a little love in your heart
Put a little love in your heart
(Put a little love in your heart)
(Put a little love in your heart)
(Put a little love in your heart)
A little bit of love, a little bit of love
(Put a little love in your heart)
A little little little bit of love in your heart yeah
(Put a little love in your heart)
A little bit of love, a little bit of love
(Put a little love in your heart)
A great big face of love in your heart
(Put a little love in your heart)
(Put a little love in your heart)
(Put a little love in your heart)
(Put a little love in your heart)
Al Green’s “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” is a powerful song about the importance of spreading kindness and love in the world. The lyrics urge listeners to think of their fellow man and lend a helping hand, as well as to put aside hateful feelings and to sow love instead. The song showcases how even small acts of kindness can have a positive impact on the world, from comforting crying children to helping those in need.
The song possesses a universal and timeless message that encourages individuals to embrace empathy and compassion, reminding us that we are all interconnected and have a responsibility to do our part in creating a better world. It serves as a call to action for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or class, to come together in a spirit of kindness and generosity. The chorus of the song is particularly memorable and inspiring, featuring the lyrics “And the world will be a better place / And the world will be a better place for you and me / You just wait and see.”
Line by Line Meaning
Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand
Be mindful of other people's needs and offer assistance where possible
Put a little love in your heart
Infuse your actions with kindness and compassion
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate
The world needs more love and it's important to act fast
And the world will be a better place
Showing love and kindness will have a positive impact on society
And the world will be a better place for you and me
Everyone benefits from a world filled with more love
You just wait and see
Positive change takes time, but it will come
Another day goes by, and still the children cry
There is still much sadness and suffering in the world
If you want the world to know, we won't let hatred grow
It's important to spread the message of love and stand up against hatred
Take a good look around and if you're lookin' down
Observe your surroundings and notice the people in need
I hope when you decide kindness will be your guide
Choosing to show love and kindness is a powerful decision
Put a little love in your heart, yeah
Reinforcing the message of love and kindness
A little bit of love, a little bit of love
Emphasizing the importance of even small acts of love
A little little little bit of love in your heart yeah
Even the tiniest bit of love has the power to make a difference
A great big face of love in your heart
Allowing yourself to fully embrace and embody love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1stand2ndtimearound67
Annie Lennox and Al Green who would have imagine such a pair? Great DUET!!!
@shutterbug_713
And I love THIS version of the song BETTER than any other!
@JKTube
+1st And 2nd Time Around: Well, given the love a lot of British musicians have shown for American blues/soul/R&B, it shouldn't be that surprising.
@1stand2ndtimearound67
@@JKTube I'm amaze when different type of voices and musical background get together and make magic.
@paultreadaway102
Unlikely like many a Duet found it perfect magic in all shapes and sizes pulled it off
@curtis866
Why doesn't this get played on the radio at Christmas time . ? It's really lovely and pure class
@dabs4807
U can say that again
@stacywragg8927
So lovely, human race should be like this always,
@djpeekay25
good point!
@aichohvee
It does tho. Where I live anyway.