As the son of a vicar, he had his first singing experiences in a church choir. He attended Ripon College, where he also sang non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962. He went on to earn a master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa, and worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco before joining a small jazz club trio headed by George Duke and deciding that he would make professional singing his life in 1968
He appeared in such Los Angeles hot spots as Dino's, the Troubador and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and David Frost, while he expanded his nightclub appearances to include performing at the Improv between the acts of such rising-star comics as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi, among others.
He was spotted by Warner Bros. in 1975 and soon thereafter released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him into international fame and garnered him a German Grammy Award. A second German Grammy would follow with the release of his second album, Glow.
One of Jarreau's most commercially and artistically successful albums is Breakin' Away (1981), which includes the hit song "We're in This Love Together." He wrote and performed the Grammy-nominated theme to the 1980s American television show Moonlighting. Among other things, he is well-known for his scat singing and the ability to perfectly imitate conventional guitar, bass and percussive instrumentation. He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "We are the World" and sang the line, "...and so we all must lend a helping hand."
He has toured and performed with such greats as Joe Sample, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn and Rick Braun. He also performed the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway production of Grease. On March 6, 2001 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
Água De Beber
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need your kiss or I might die
My very life is in your power,
Will I wither and fade or bloom to the sky
"gua de beber camar"
The lyrics to Al Jarreau's song Agua De Beber speak of a passionate love between two people. The first line, "Your love is rain, my heart a flower," sets the tone for the entire song. It suggests that the love between the two individuals is a life-giving force, just as rain is necessary for flowers to thrive. The second line, "I need your kiss or I might die," reinforces this idea by highlighting the intensity of the relationship. The singer is so deeply connected to their partner that they feel they cannot survive without them.
The third line, "My very life is in your power," takes the imagery a step further by suggesting that the singer's lover has complete control over their life. This vulnerability is both scary and exhilarating as the singer wonders whether they will "wither and fade or bloom to the sky." The final line, "Agua de beber camar," is in Portuguese and means "water to drink, friend." This line can be interpreted as a plea for the singer's lover to stay close and be a friend, as well as a lover, to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love is rain, my heart a flower,
Your love is essential to my survival and growth, as water is to a blooming flower.
I need your kiss or I might die
My longing for your affection is so strong that without it, I fear I may cease to exist.
My very life is in your power,
You hold the key to both my physical and emotional well-being, and as such, have the power to uplift or devastate me.
Will I wither and fade or bloom to the sky
Depending on how you treat me, I may either wither away into despair or thrive and soar towards ultimate happiness and fulfillment.
"gua de beber camar"
This recurring phrase in Portuguese, which translates to 'drinking water, friend,' serves as both a call to enjoy the simple pleasures in life and a reminder of the importance of companionship.
Lyrics © VM ENTERPRISES INC, CORCOVADO MUSIC CORPORATION, Tratore
Written by: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind