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 Is This Feeling
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, baby, oh baby
Is one of the things I can't explain to you
And that's how I feel about you
You kissin' me a thousand times
Slowly drivin' me out of my mind, oh ho, baby, yeah
I'm really crazy 'bout the way you can be, my baby, yeahWhy can't you be that way to satisfy me, ooh baby, oh yeah
You go out late at night, that you do
Knowin' thing with you and me ain't right, no
My love, love, love, my love, love
Baby, baby, somebody need to help me now, yeah
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, baby, yeah, say
I'm yours, I'm yours, baby, yeah
I'm yours, I'm yours to keep, babe
Crazy 'bout the way you can be, yes I am
Hey baby, hey baby, yeah
Why can't you be that way to satisfy me, baby, yeah
I'm yours, I'm yours, yours to keep, baby, yeah
I got to say, your love me it's somethin'
To put me on my feet, baby
I have to, I have to keep on sayin', yeah
My love, love, love, baby
Won't you, babe
Hey, let me come on into your love, baby
Oh ho, all you got to do hold me tender, love me long
Hey baby, yeah I wanna know, I got to know
What is this feelin'?
What is this feelin'?
The lyrics to Al Green's song, What Is This Feeling, express the confusion and intensity of love. The singer cannot explain the strong emotional feeling he has for his lover, and he is almost driven to madness by the way she kisses him. He is crazy about her, but cannot understand why she doesn't reciprocate his feelings the way he wants her to. She goes out at night, knowing that it is wrong, but he cannot resist her alluring qualities. The chorus repeats the line "My love, love, love, baby" as if the singer is begging for something from his lover.
The song conveys the intense emotions of love, confusion, and desire. The singer is in love with his lover, but can't fathom why she doesn't feel the same way. He wants to be with her, but knows that their relationship isn't quite right. The repeated "My love, love, love, baby" expresses that he needs her love to survive.
Overall, What Is This Feeling is a soulful and emotive song about the challenges and confusions of love.
Line by Line Meaning
What is this feelin' I have in my heart for you?
I am experiencing an emotion that I can't describe towards you.
Ah, baby, oh baby
An affectionate way of addressing the person.
Is one of the things I can't explain to you
I am unable to put this feeling into words.
And that's how I feel about you
That is the extent of my emotions for you.
You kissin' me a thousand times
Your repeated kisses are having a significant effect on me.
Slowly drivin' me out of my mind, oh ho, baby, yeah
Your kisses are causing me to become overwhelmed with passion for you.
I'm really crazy 'bout the way you can be, my baby, yeah
I admire and am infatuated with your personality.
Why can't you be that way to satisfy me, ooh baby, oh yeah
I crave for you to fully reciprocate my feelings and desires.
You go out late at night, that you do
You have a habit of going out late at night.
Knowin' thing with you and me ain't right, no
It is clear to me that our relationship is not appropriate or acceptable to others.
My love, love, love, my love, love
An affectionate expression of love towards the person.
Baby, baby, somebody need to help me now, yeah
I am feeling overwhelmed and need assistance with my emotions towards you.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, baby, yeah, say
Love is all I feel for you, my baby.
I'm yours, I'm yours, baby, yeah
I belong to you and am committed to you.
I'm yours, I'm yours to keep, babe
I am dedicated to you and our relationship.
Crazy 'bout the way you can be, yes I am
I am enamored with your unique personality and quirks.
Hey baby, hey baby, yeah
An affectionate way of addressing the person.
Why can't you be that way to satisfy me, baby, yeah
I desire for you to fully reciprocate my feelings and desires.
I'm yours, I'm yours, yours to keep, baby, yeah
I am devoted to you and our relationship.
I got to say, your love me it's somethin'
I am appreciative of your love and its impact on me.
To put me on my feet, baby
Your love gives me strength and support.
I have to, I have to keep on sayin', yeah
I must continue to express my love for you.
My love, love, love, baby
An affectionate expression of love towards the person.
Won't you, babe
I am making a request for your attention and affection.
Hey, let me come on into your love, baby
I am asking to be allowed within the person's heart and affection.
Oh ho, all you got to do hold me tender, love me long
I desire to be embraced tenderly and loved for a long time.
Hey baby, yeah I wanna know, I got to know
I am expressing a strong need to understand the person's feelings for me.
What is this feelin'?
I am desperately seeking an explanation for the strong emotions I feel towards you.
What is this feelin'?
I am struggling to understand and define the strong emotions I have for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL L. GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sheilapalmer224
You go
@nancyconyers5802
The good old days.
@sheilapalmer224
I feel you
@sheilapalmer224
You are so sosososo gifted
@juliemcalister2557
Yes he is a saucy kind of man! I love his kindness 👍💜💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
@sheilapalmer224
You are the man
@RubyBlount-su2wx
The legendary Al Green was my Momma’s favorite Male R&B Entertainer l have so many vivid memories of listening to his music in the living room, cookouts, holidays sometime it’s the way the sun is shining that’s reminds me of My Momma Rip Mom8/26/2006
@sheilapalmer224
I am a fan of your s
@auntieshelle3355
I was brought up on Mr. Al Green from his albums, 8-track, n 45 I still jam his music with my kids n their friends. over 50+ years. His music will never die in my world will always be alive in my era
@hopediamond4real
I’m back in 1972 with my Panasonic cassette player and my Columbia House 12 for a Penny collection of Al Green tapes😀