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.
look what you done for m
Al Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to keep you free,
To do the things that you want to do,
The joy in life is loving you,
But now the day has come,
To let you know where I'm coming from,
The best of my years will go to you,
But these things don't come overnight,
Lovin' you baby, I think I'm right.
Let me say before I forget,
Lovin' you baby, it's where it's at yeah
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Ya baby, you set my heart free,
Oh but I feel, yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel yeah
Sometimes I want to leave, but then I say,
It wouldn't make sense at all,
Anyway, forgive me baby,
If I do wrong,
I haven't been a true man for so long,
But let me say before I forget,
Lovin' you baby, it's where it's at, yeah
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Ya baby, you set my heart free,
Baby, do you want to, do the thing that you oughta,
You've been very good for me,
And that's a fact, I say,
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Ya yeah you set my heart free, yeh
Oh, no matter,
What you done for me,
I got the feelin' that it's gonna,
Ya, look what you done for me
Baby, baby, you set my heart free
The song "Look What You Done for Me" by Al Green is a declaration of love and appreciation for a significant other. The singer of the song expresses how much they adore their partner and value their presence in their life. Throughout the song, there is a sense of vulnerability as the singer acknowledges their faults and how much they have grown as a person since their partner came into their life. They also express concern for their partner's independence, wanting to give them freedom while still holding onto their love. Overall, the song's message is that the singer is grateful for their partner's love and presence in their life.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the emotions that the singer is feeling towards their significant other. They express how much they want to cherish them and give them the best that they can offer. The line "The joy in life is loving you" encapsulates the singer's feelings towards their partner in a beautiful way. It shows that they truly appreciate their partner and find happiness in loving them. Additionally, the line "Sometimes I want to leave, but then I say, it wouldn't make sense at all" shows that the singer is aware of the value of their relationship and would never want to jeopardize it.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that you're here with me,
Al Green wants to give his lover the freedom to explore their passions and interests, because their happiness is a crucial part of his joy in life.
I want to keep you free,
Al Green is committed to ensuring that his lover is not held back by their relationship and can pursue their own aspirations.
To do the things that you want to do,
He believes that supporting his lover’s independence and allowing them to pursue their dreams is the key to their happiness.
The joy in life is loving you,
Al Green's lover brings him a tremendous amount of happiness and being with them is one of the greatest joys of his life.
But now the day has come,
Al Green is finally ready to tell his lover how he truly feels.
To let you know where I'm coming from,
He wants to express the depth of his feelings to his lover and where they originate.
The best of my years will go to you,
Al Green plans to spend the rest of his life serving and loving his partner, because they mean everything to him.
It's the only thing that I can do,
Al Green is committed to giving his entire being to his lover and the relationship, because he loves them so much.
But these things don't come overnight,
He knows that this level of commitment does not come easily and has taken a great deal of time and effort.
Lovin' you baby, I think I'm right.
Al Green is certain that his feelings for his lover are true and that dedicating his life to them is the right choice.
Let me say before I forget,
He wants to reinforce the importance of this moment and his commitment to his lover’s happiness.
Lovin' you baby, it's where it's at yeah
Al Green understands that being with his lover and serving them is the true meaning of love and life.
Ya baby, look what you done for me,
Al Green is amazed at the transformative impact that his lover has had on his life.
Ya baby, you set my heart free,
Through their love and support, Al Green’s lover has given him the freedom to be his true self and live his best life.
Oh but I feel, yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel yeah
Al Green is overflowing with emotions and feelings, because of the depth of his love for his partner.
Sometimes I want to leave, but then I say,
Al Green admits to being human and having moments of uncertainty, but ultimately knows that he wants to stay with his lover.
It wouldn't make sense at all,
He realizes that leaving his partner would not bring him the happiness or satisfaction he craves.
Anyway, forgive me baby,
Al Green takes responsibility for any mistakes he may have made in the past and asks for his lover’s forgiveness.
If I do wrong,
He acknowledges that he is not perfect and may make mistakes in the future.
I haven't been a true man for so long,
Al Green recognizes that he has not always been the person he should have been, but is committed to changing that with his love.
Baby, do you want to, do the thing that you oughta,
He encourages his lover to pursue their dreams and do what they believe is right.
You've been very good for me,
Al Green expresses his gratitude for all the ways that his lover has positively impacted his life.
And that's a fact, I say,
He is not just saying this to be polite, but truly means it from the bottom of his heart.
Oh, no matter,
No matter what happens in the future,
What you done for me,
Al Green will never forget or take for granted the ways his lover has changed his life forever.
I got the feelin' that it's gonna,
He has a sense of optimism and hope that their love will continue to grow and strengthen.
Ya, look what you done for me
Through their love, Al Green’s lover has changed his life profoundly.
Baby, baby, you set my heart free
By loving him unconditionally, Al Green’s lover has given him the freedom to be his true self and live life to the fullest.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RIC EISERLING, ROBERT N GREENE, RONNIE DARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elijah Bethea
This is pure soul music sung straight from the heart.
Jackie Guccione
Excellent
Glynis Roberts
Love this song❤
Outcast 1%er
One of my all time favorites. The production, instruments and sound were way before their time!!
R.P. McMurphy
The instruments were before their time? 🤣🤣
James Sydnor
He was killing it .... unstoppable back in the day... 8 track on you
James Russell
That sounds about just right
SOUL MAN
They don't make music like this anymore. What a great classic
curtis dright
@Gerard Cole S.r 9
Brenda Jefferson
I know that's right