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.
What Christmas Means to Me
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Candles burning low
Lot's of mistletoe
Lot's of snow and ice
Everywhere we go
Choirs singing carols
Right outside my door
All these things and more, baby
(All these things and more)
That's what Christmas means to me, my love
(Christmas means to me, my love)
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I see your smiling face
Like I never seen before
Even though I love you madly
It seems I love you more
The little cards you give me
Will touch my heart for sure
All these things and more, baby
(All these things and more)
That's what Christmas means to me, my love
(Christmas means to me, my love)
Oh, yeah
I feel like running wild
(Running wild)
As reaches and a little child
Greet you 'neath the mistletoe
I kiss you once and then some more
And wish you a Merry Christmas, baby
(Wish you a Merry Christmas, baby)
And happiness, happiness in the coming year
Oh, yeah
Christmas means to me, my love
(Christmas means to me, my love)
(Christmas means to me, my love)
Let's deck the halls with holly
Sing a silent night
Fill a sheet with angel hair
And pretty, pretty lights
Go to sleep and wake up
Just before daylight
All these things and more, baby
(All these things and more)
That's what Christmas means to me, my love
(Christmas means to me, my love)
Hey, yeah
That's what Christmas means to me, my love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, oh yeah
Merry Christmas, yeah, oh yes
In Al Green's holiday classic "What Christmas Means To Me," the singer expresses his joy and love for the many traditions that make the season special. He describes the physical aspects of the holiday - candles burning low, mistletoe, snow and ice - as well as the sense of community it brings. Everywhere you go, Green sings, choirs are singing carols, and the sound is heard right outside his own door. But beyond the festive cheer is the sentimentality of the season. When he sees his loved one's smiling face, Green feels like he's running wild like a child, and even though he already loved them madly before, he loves them more every Christmas. He cherishes the little cards they give him, knowing they will touch his heart for sure. All of these experiences, and many more, are what Christmas means to him.
The song was originally written by Anna Gordy Gaye and George Gordy, and was first recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967. Al Green's version arrived in 1983 as part of the holiday collection "The Christmas Album." Since then, the joyful and upbeat tune has become a perennial holiday favorite, covered by artists including Hanson, Diana Ross and Paul Young. The song's appeal lies in its catchy melody and singalong chorus, as well as its warm sentiments about the true meaning of Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah
The artist is excited and enthusiastic about Christmas
Candles burning low
The ambiance of a warm and cozy atmosphere, that of burning candles
Lot's of mistletoe
Mistletoe, a plant hung as a Christmas tradition for couples to kiss under
Lot's of snow and ice
The beautiful and scenic view of a winter wonderland
Everywhere we go
Christmas festivities are happening almost everywhere
Choirs singing carols
Groups of singers singing festive and joyful Christmas songs
Right outside my door
Music and festivities of Christmas are accessible even from the comfort of the artist's own home
All these things and more, baby
These delightful things and more are what the artist associates with Christmas
That's what Christmas means to me, my love
The artist is expressing what Christmas means to them, which includes love and all the beautiful traditions
I see your smiling face
The artist is experiencing the joy of seeing their loved one's happy face during Christmastime
Like I never seen before
The excitement of seeing their loved one's happy face in a new way has been reinvigorated through the spirit of Christmas
Even though I love you madly
Although the artist has a deep love for their partner, the love they feel during Christmas is unmatched
It seems I love you more
The joy and happiness of Christmas have amplified the artist's pre-existing love for their partner
The little cards you give me
The sweet and thoughtful Christmas cards their loved one gives them makes them feel loved and special
Will touch my heart for sure
These cards, while small, have a profound impact on the artist's emotions and make them feel loved and appreciated
I feel like running wild
The excitement of Christmas is making the artist feel uninhibited and free
As reaches and a little child
At Christmas, anyone can feel like a child again, free to explore and experience the joy of the season
Greet you 'neath the mistletoe
Kissing under the traditional Christmas plant, mistletoe, is a joyful and loving experience
I kiss you once and then some more
The artist is swept up in the excitement of the season, expressing their love and affection for their partner through multiple kisses
And wish you a Merry Christmas, baby
The artist is expressing their good wishes and love for their partner during the holiday season
And happiness, happiness in the coming year
In addition to Christmas, the artist is also expressing their hopes and wishes for happiness in the future year
Let's deck the halls with holly
Decorating and preparing the home for the holidays is a joyous tradition
Sing a silent night
Singing traditional Christmas songs, such as Silent Night, is a peaceful and calming tradition
Fill a sheet with angel hair
Decorating the home with angel hair, a type of decorative tinsel, is a beautiful and traditional decoration
And pretty, pretty lights
The artist loves the gorgeous Christmas lights that adorn homes and streets
Go to sleep and wake up
The excitement of Christmas makes it hard to rest, as the anticipation is too much to bear
Just before daylight
Even though it's difficult to rest, the artist knows it's important to wake up early to fully experience the festivities of Christmas
Hey, yeah
A joyful interjection expressing the artist's excitement and enthusiasm for the season
Merry Christmas
A traditional and loving Christmas greeting
Merry Christmas, oh yeah
Reiterating the greeting and expressing additional excitement
Merry Christmas, yeah, oh yes
Continuing the Christmas greeting with added enthusiasm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Allen Story, Anna Gaye, George Gordy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Betty Jones
Is there anything Al can't sing. I love this guy. If his name is on it, you can bet its gonna be good music.
Jules La Rose
Al Green can sing the phone book so lovely.
A.F.E
Brother Al thank you so much, when I'm down it's your Christmas songs that saves me. It takes me back to my childhood when possiblity was endless and life was magical. That's what music is supposed to do for people THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAVING ME WITH YOUR GIFT.
Yo Tam-Tam
I was wondering who sang this song. So glad I found it!!!! I knew it was a soul legend. ♥️♥️♥️
Nguyen Hanh
Finally I found him... there are more than 1 song named What Christmas means to me.
tony sherwood
Love it :)
T.R Ferguson
When I was younger Christmas was all about the gifts, as I got older and so many that made Christmas a magic fun time for all are gone, and I memories to look back on. Now good health,good friends, family, faith and peace of mind are my gifts, a Saviour that watches over me. These are my gifts now, and the are daily gift, don't have to wait til December 25th. Today's atmosphere of Christmas shopping and celebrating lack the magic of yester years , thank God for the gift of memories..This song covers it all.
La Princesa De Panama
Listening to this now watching my man prep the crablegs😋..my face Christmas song!🎶🎵🎼🎼
ああ
やっと見つけた！
心が温かくなりますね(*´∀｀)
Gordon Reilly
💎