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.
Talk To Me
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darling, I love the things you say
Talk to me, baby, talk to me
In your own sweet gentle way
Let me hear, baby, tell me dear
Tell me you love me so
Talk to me now, baby, talk to me
The many ways you speak of love
I heard it all before
And it sounds so good, so good, so good
Please play the part that I know
While I am so glad you were to mine
Oh, talk to me, baby
Darling, I love the things you say
Ooh, I, I, I love you, baby
Talk to me, baby
Darling, I love the things you say
Oh, talk to me, my baby, talk to me
In your own sweet gentle way
Baby, baby
Say something good to me
Baby, just
talk to me
The lyrics of Al Green’s song ‘Talk to Me’ are a beautiful portrayal of someone pleading with their lover to open up to them, to share their thoughts and feelings, and to communicate with them. The song’s simple yet emotional lyrics communicate the desire to hear the beloved’s voice, the need to know they are loved, and the importance of keeping up the lines of communication.
The singer notes that he has heard it all before, but he still finds the words "so good, so good, so good" and hopes that his beloved will continue to express their love in their own unique way. He sings of being glad that they are together and emphasis the importance of communication to maintain the relationship.
The repeated phrase "talk to me, baby" emphasizes the urgency of this communication to the singer. The use of "baby" creates an intimate and emotional connection between the two of them, making the listener identify the tenderness they share.
Overall, the song ‘Talk to Me’ highlights the importance of communication in a relationship, especially when it comes to expressing love and maintaining a strong connection between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk to me, talk to me
I want you to communicate with me, let's hold a conversation
Darling, I love the things you say
I appreciate and adore the words that come out of your mouth
Talk to me, baby, talk to me
Please converse with me, my significant other
In your own sweet gentle way
Speak with me in the kind, considerate way that you normally do
Let me hear, baby, tell me dear
Tell me what's on your mind, what you're feeling
Tell me you love me so
Express your love for me outright, declare it for me to hear
Talk to me now, baby, talk to me
Conversate with me in this moment, my darling
Tell me why, I got to know
Please explain to me the reasons behind your thoughts and feelings, I am curious
The many ways you speak of love
I have heard different interpretations and expressions of love from you
I heard it all before
I am familiar with what you are saying
And it sounds so good, so good, so good
I enjoy and appreciate listening to your words
Please play the part that I know
Act in the way that I am familiar with, show me consistency
While I am so glad you were to mine
I am grateful that you are in my life
Oh, talk to me, baby
Please converse with me, my beloved
Ooh, I, I, I love you, baby
I love you very much, sweetheart
Say something good to me
Speak positively and high-regardingly to me
Baby, just talk to me, talk to me
My dear one, please hold a conversation with me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOE SENECA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jojamful
Isn't it amazing how Al Green can take ANYBODY's song and make it his own??!! Thanks, wigwambam!
Meredith Thomas
I want the world to hear this song.
olenkaabril
This was my first cassette, my dad bought it for me.
olenkaabril
Just a great music! Thanks for sharing it!
monica bella
Hearing this 1. time. Glad to get your channel. Love Al
Roberta un Black
Al talk to me, sing to me in your own sweet gentle way.
Susan Burch
I love this song oxox reminds me of one of my best friends laura brooks love you girl oxox
que1973
i havent heard this in yrs
carolyn gordin
SHOOTING BUSH BYE