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.
Turn Off the Lights
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight I'm in a romantic mood, yeah
Let's take a shower, shower together, yeah
I'll wash your body and you'll wash mine, yeah
Rub me down in some hot oils, baby, yeah
And I'll do the same thing to you
Girl, I want to give you a special treat, you're so sweet
Turn off the lights and let's get cozy
See, you're the only one in the world that I need
I want to love you, love you all over, yeah
Over and over and over and over and over
And over and over and over again
Whisper sweet words of love in your ear
Show you I much I missed you, missed you, my dear
Turn 'em off and come to me
Tonight, I'm in a sexy mood, baby
And light a candle
Girl, there's something that I-I want to do to you,
I want to do, I want to do to you, baby
Would you mind if I asked you to
Would you rub me down
Would you rub me down in some, in some burnin' hot oils, baby, yeah
I swear I can do the same thing, the same thing to you, baby
Turn 'em off and let's get cozy
I want to give you a special treat, you've been so sweet
Turn 'em off and come closer
You're the only one in this whole wide world that I'd ever need
Turn 'em off and light a candle
You see, there's somethin' I, somethin' I,
Somethin' I, somethin' I
Somethin' I want to do to you, baby
I'm lyin' here waitin', my dear
You can get what you want any time you want it
I'm lyin' here waitin', my dear
Come get what you need, give me what I need
Tell me what you want to do (There's somethin' I)
Tell me what you want to do, babe
(There's somethin' I, somethin' I want to do to you, baby)
Tell me what you want to do (Yeah)
Tell me what you want to do, babe (Yes)
Tell me what you want to do (I've got somethin' in my mind)
Tell me what you want to do, babe
(Somethin' that I've been wantin' to do all the time, yeah, yes
Tell me what you want to do (I want to give you a special treat)
Tell me what you want to do, babe ('Cause you've been so sweet, yeah, yes)
(Anything that you want, anything that you need, I got it, I got it)
Tell me what you want to do (I can do it)
Tell me what you want to do, babe (I'm willin')
Tell me what you want to do
Tell me what you want to do, babe (I'm willin' to try)
Al Green's "Turn Off the Lights" is a smooth, romantic love ballad that encourages intimacy and closeness between two people. The singer is inviting his special someone to turn off the lights, light a candle, and join him for a romantic evening filled with showering together, washing each other's bodies, and rubbing each other down with hot oils. He wants to love her all over and whisper sweet nothings in her ear to show her how much he's missed her.
Through this song, Al Green expresses his desire to be physically and emotionally close to his partner. The lyrics demonstrate that the singer wants to be fully present and attentive to his lover's needs and desires. By suggesting that they turn off the lights and light a candle, he's creating an intimate and private atmosphere that allows them to focus entirely on each other without any distractions. The repeated refrain of "tell me what you want to do" further emphasizes the importance of communication in building a loving and fulfilling relationship.
Overall, "Turn Off the Lights" is a sensual and romantic song that celebrates the beauty and pleasure of love and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn off the lights and light a candle
I am feeling romantic tonight, let's create a cozy atmosphere by turning off the lights and lighting a candle.
Let's take a shower, shower together, yeah
Let's have a shower together and attend to each other's cleanliness.
I'll wash your body and you'll wash mine, yeah
We will take turns washing and cleansing each other's body.
Rub me down in some hot oils, baby, yeah
I want to be massaged with warm oils to relax and unwind.
And I'll do the same thing to you
I will reciprocate the massage and deliver the same relaxation to you, my love.
Just turn off the lights, come to me
Turn off all external distractions and come close to me, let's enjoy each other's presence.
Girl, I want to give you a special treat, you're so sweet
I want to show you how much I care for you by giving you a special treat. You deserve it because you are so sweet to me.
Turn off the lights and let's get cozy
Dimming the lights and cuddling together will make us feel comfortable and connected.
See, you're the only one in the world that I need
Out of all the people in the world, you are the only one that I need in my life. You complete me.
I want to love you, love you all over, yeah
I want to express my love for you by showing affection all over your body.
Over and over and over and over and over
And over and over and over again
I want to show you love repeatedly and continuously, without getting tired or bored.
Whisper sweet words of love in your ear
I want to make you feel loved and cherished by whispering sweet words of love and affection in your ear.
Show you I much I missed you, missed you, my dear
I want to show you how much I missed you, dear, and how much you mean to me.
Would you mind if I asked you to
Would you rub me down
May I ask you to massage me with warm oils? It would be greatly appreciated.
Turn 'em off and let's get cozy
Turn off the external stimulants and let's snuggle up and feel comfortable.
You're the only one in this whole wide world that I'd ever need
Out of everyone in the world, you are the only one that I need and want in my life.
You see, there's somethin' I, somethin' I,
Somethin' I, somethin' I
Somethin' I want to do to you, baby
There's something special I want to do to you, and I am eager to express it now, my love.
I'm lyin' here waitin', my dear
You can get what you want any time you want it
I am eagerly waiting here for you, my dear, and you can ask for anything that you desire right now.
Come get what you need, give me what I need
Let us give and receive what each other needs, and fulfill our desires and wants.
Tell me what you want to do (There's somethin' I)
Communicate with me and tell me what you desire or want to do, my love.
Tell me what you want to do, babe (Yes)
Please verbalize what you want, my love. I am here to listen and satisfy.
Tell me what you want to do (I want to give you a special treat)
I am eager to know what you want, so I can give you a special treat that you deserve.
Tell me what you want to do, babe ('Cause you've been so sweet, yeah, yes)
You have been so sweet to me, and I want to return that sweetness. Please let me know how.
(Anything that you want, anything that you need, I got it, I got it)
Whatever you ask, whatever you need, I have it and I am here to provide for you.
Tell me what you want to do (I can do it)
I assure you that I am capable of satisfying any desire that you have. Please communicate it to me.
Tell me what you want to do, babe (I'm willin')
I am willing and eagerly waiting to hear what you want, so I can give it to you, my love.
Tell me what you want to do
Tell me what you want to do, babe (I'm willin' to try)
Please tell me what you want or desire. I am open and willing to explore new pleasures and try new things with you, my love.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christianguitierrez3753
Cleveland Brown brought me here !!!! Just glad they lucky to be alive ππΎ !!!!!
@non-procollecting609
Me too, haha ππ
@rruntznallthezaa3117
Sweaaaaa
@CeeCee81682
Sammmmmmeeeeeeee πππ
@Queenlibra22
The cartoon show?
@christianguitierrez3753
@@Queenlibra22 no, the animated show
@alioucisse1548
TURN THEM OFF! Only Teddy can be aggressive and romantic at the same time. ππΏ ππΏ ππΏ
@soulsister1976
π..aggressive
@2GunRock
@@soulsister1976 All men can and women CRAVE IT. Most men just don't know it. Teddy knew it. π
@MasoodDirks
Lekker