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.
Winter Wonderland
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away, is the bluebird
Here to stay, is a new bird
He sings a love song, as we go along
In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say are you married? We'll say "No man
But you can do the job when you're in town."
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream, by the fire
To face unafraid, the plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman
Until the other kids come knock him down
When it's cold, ain't it thrilling
When your nose, gets to chilling
We'll frolic and play, the eskimo way
Walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland
Al Green's Winter Wonderland is a cover of the classic Christmas song, originally written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934. The song describes the joys of being out in the snow during the holiday season. The opening lines, "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening" evokes a festive mood and sets the stage for the rest of the song. It paints a picture of a winter wonderland that is full of joy and love.
The second verse introduces a new character - a "new bird" who sings a love song as they walk in the winter wonderland. This suggests a romantic setting, and the winter imagery creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere.
The third verse adds more to the winter wonderland setting, as they build a snowman in the meadow, pretending that it is the Parson Brown. This verse adds a touch of humor to the otherwise romantic and cozy mood of the song.
Overall, Al Green's version of Winter Wonderland captures the magic and wonder of the holiday season, with a mix of winter imagery and romantic tones.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
The sound of sleigh bells is ringing, can you hear it?
In the lane, snow is glistening
There is snow covering the road and it looks like it's sparkling.
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
The scenery is so stunning that it's making us feel happy and joyful.
Walking in a winter wonderland
We are taking a walk in a beautiful winter wonderland.
Gone away, is the bluebird
The bluebird has left and is no longer visible.
Here to stay, is a new bird
But a new bird has arrived and is here to stay longer.
He sings a love song, as we go along
The new bird is singing a love song as we continue on our walk.
Walking in a winter wonderland
We are still walking in the beautiful winter wonderland.
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We have the opportunity to build a snowman in the meadow.
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
We can pretend that the snowman is Parson Brown, as a game.
He'll say are you married? We'll say "No man
We will pretend that the snowman asks if we are married and we will answer no.
But you can do the job when you're in town."
The snowman is offering to do the job of marrying us when he is in town, as part of the game.
Later on, we'll conspire
Later on, we will plan secretly.
As we dream, by the fire
While we are dreaming by the fire.
To face unafraid, the plans that we've made
We will face the plans that we made without any fear.
Walking in a winter wonderland
We are still walking in the beautiful winter wonderland.
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We still have the chance to build another snowman in the meadow.
And pretend that he's a circus clown
This time, we can pretend the snowman is a circus clown.
We'll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman
We will have lots of fun with the snowman as part of this game.
Until the other kids come knock him down
Unfortunately, other kids will come along and knock the snowman down.
When it's cold, ain't it thrilling
The cold weather is very exciting and makes us feel alive.
When your nose, gets to chilling
Even when our noses get cold, it still feels thrilling.
We'll frolic and play, the eskimo way
We will have fun and play in the manner of Eskimos, enjoyably and uninhibitedly.
Walking in a winter wonderland
We will still continue to walk and explore the beautiful winter wonderland.
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mary Roberts
LOVING THIS..no one can make songs come Alive like Rev. Al Green!!!
Carolyn R Jones
Oh what memories πβ£
Kaleb Faulkner
Legendary
YoungClifC
π₯π₯
Mircea PAZ
why so many dislikes? :/
Michael Nix Jr. Family Members
Mikey's Christmas Oldies But Goodies πππ ππ―β
cathy thomas
Alright now!ππππππππ