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.
Tired of Being Alone (Single V
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so tired of on-my-own
Won't you help me girl
Just as soon as you can?
People say that I've found a way
To make you say that you love me
Hey baby, you didn't go for that
That I wanna come back
Show me where it's at, baby
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so tired of on-my-own
Won't you help me girl
Soon as you can
I guess you know that I, uh, I love you so
Even though you don't want me no more
Hey hey hey hey, I'm cryin' tears
All through the years
I'll tell ya like it is
Honey, love me if you will
Yeah baby
Tired of being alone here by myself, now
I tell ya, I'm tired baby
I'm tired of being all wrapped up late at night
In my dreams, nobody but you, baby
Sometime I wonder
If you love me like you say you do
You see baby, I-I-I been thinkin' about it, yeah
I been, I been wantin' to get next to you baby
Ya see, sometimes I hold my arms, I say mmmm hmmm hmmm
Yeah baby
Meeting you has proven to me
To be my greatest dream, yeah
Tired, baby
Yeah, you don't know what I'm talkin' about
Sometimes late at night I get to wonderin' about you baby
Oh baby, baby
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so tired of being alone
The lyrics of Al Green’s “Tired of Being Alone” represent a plea for companionship that is grounded in the pain of loneliness. The singer of the song is tired of being by himself and wants someone to help him feel wanted again. The repetition of the line “I’m so tired of being alone” emphasizes the deep despair and longing the singer feels.
The line “People say that I’ve found a way to make you say that you love me” hints at the singer’s past attempts to win the love of someone who has rejected him. He acknowledges that these attempts have failed and that the other person didn’t go for the act.
The singer expresses his love for the other person and cries tears even though he knows he is no longer wanted. The phrase “Honey, love me if you will” shows that he is still hoping for a chance to be loved.
Overall, the song presents a poignant portrayal of the pain of loneliness and the desire for connection. It speaks to those who have felt alone and rejected, and shows that even in the depths of despair, there is always hope for love and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so tired of being alone
I feel exhausted from being by myself and crave companionship
I'm so tired of on-my-own
I'm fatigued from always being on my own and yearn for someone to be with
Won't you help me girl
Can you please assist me, young lady?
Just as soon as you can?
Can you offer your help to me soon?
People say that I've found a way
I've heard that some people believe I've discovered a method...
To make you say that you love me
...to persuade you to tell me you love me
Hey baby, you didn't go for that
Unfortunately, my dear, you were not receptive to it
It's a natural fact
It's an undeniable truth
That I wanna come back
I want to return to be with you
Show me where it's at, baby
Can you guide me to where you are, darling?
I guess you know that I, uh, I love you so
I'm sure you already know that I love you deeply
Even though you don't want me no more
Despite your lack of desire for me
Hey hey hey hey, I'm cryin' tears
I am shedding tears, hey hey hey
All through the years
For many years, this has been the case
I'll tell ya like it is
I'll be honest with you
Honey, love me if you will
Dearest, if you're willing, please love me
Yeah baby
Yes, my darling
Tired of being alone here by myself, now
I'm exhausted from being on my own and need someone to be with
I tell ya, I'm tired baby
I'm informing you that I'm feeling drained, my dear
I'm tired of being all wrapped up late at night
I'm exhausted from being consumed with thoughts of you late at night
In my dreams, nobody but you, baby
In my dreams, I only see you, darling
Sometime I wonder
Sometimes I ponder
If you love me like you say you do
I am curious if you truly love me as you claim
You see baby, I-I-I been thinkin' about it, yeah
You see, my dear, I've been contemplating it a lot lately
I been, I been wantin' to get next to you baby
I've been yearning to be close to you
Ya see, sometimes I hold my arms, I say mmmm hmmm hmmm
Sometimes, I wrap my arms around myself and murmur to myself
Meeting you has proven to me
Getting to know you has illustrated to me
To be my greatest dream, yeah
That being with you is my greatest desire, oh yeah
Yeah, you don't know what I'm talkin' about
You don't comprehend what I'm saying
Sometimes late at night I get to wonderin' about you baby
Occasionally, late at night, I start to think about you, my dear
Oh baby, baby
Oh, darling, my dear
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so drained from being by myself
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm exhausted from being on my own
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm worn out from being by myself
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marinakress5079
I'm so tired of being alone,
I'm so tired of on my own,
Won't you help me, girl,
Just as soon as you can.
People say that I've found a way,
To make you say,
That you love me.
But baby,
You didn't go for that,
Ha, it's a natural fact,
That I want to come back,
Show me where it's at, baby.
I'm so tired of being alone,
I'm so tired of on my own,
Won't you help me, girl,
Soon as you can.
I guess you know that I, uh,
I love you so,
Even though,
You don't want me no more,
Hey, hey, hey, hey I'm cryin' tears,
Through the years,
I tell you like it is,
Honey, love me if you can.
Ya baby,
Tired of being alone here by myself, now
I tell ya, I'm tired baby,
I'm tired of being all wrapped up late at night,
In my dreams, nobody but you, baby.
Sometimes I wonder,
If you love me like…
@ochalamustapha4418
Who else is listening here in 2024?
@jeremiahkortz7449
Oh yeah. We are listening.
@ashleyhinojosa2377
We’re here!! ❤
@hoffmeistertv
ever since 1974! <3
@fergo3763
i am!!!!!
@TimT-ey3hp
Still here 🤗
@williambeale5369
Who here because they’re so tired of being alone?
@jrmetmoi
William Beale not me I'm an introvert but I love Al Green's songs
@TheCornishCockney
i can relate.I'm a stranger in my own home,getting the hell out when this is all over.
@jesse-xm2kl
amen