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.
Change Your Mind
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You turn and walk away
And love is like a stranger
Who is running out of things to say
Move me over slowly
Softly close the door
You say that you need nothing
But this empty bed is begging for more
Oh! If I could only change your mind
Then we would find love begin
(Change your mind)
If I could only change your mind
Our love would never end
The minutes move like soldiers creeping
Through the night
And oh, my heart lies wounded
As love is fighting to survive
(my love is on the line)
The lyrics to Al Jarreau's song "Change Your Mind" tell a story of heartbreak and longing. The song is addressed to someone who has already decided to end a relationship and walk away. The singer is pleading with this person to reconsider, to give love another chance, to see that their love could be something special if they just change their mind.
The first verse sets the scene of someone leaving and the loneliness that follows. The singer is left alone with an empty bed and a sense of desperation. The second verse describes the slow passage of time as the singer waits for a change of heart. The use of the metaphor of "minutes move like soldiers creeping" adds to the feeling of being stuck in a moment that won't end.
The chorus expresses the hope that things could be different if only the other person would change their mind. The repetition of "if I could only change your mind" emphasizes the importance of this one action - the possibility that everything could turn around if the other person would just see things differently. The final line, "our love would never end," is the ultimate aspiration, suggesting that the singer believes in a love that is timeless and lasting.
Overall, the lyrics to "Change Your Mind" are about the power of choice in relationships. The song acknowledges the difficulty of convincing someone to stay, but it also suggests that love is worth fighting for, and that a change of heart can make all the difference.
Line by Line Meaning
So you say it's over
You're claiming that our relationship has come to an end
You turn and walk away
You're leaving without a second thought or glance back at me
And love is like a stranger
Our love has become unknown and distant, like a stranger on the street
Who is running out of things to say
We're struggling to communicate and express our love for each other
Move me over slowly
Gently, gradually push me away or out of your life
Softly close the door
Quietly and gently shut the door to our relationship
You say that you need nothing
You claim that you want nothing from me or this relationship
But this empty bed is begging for more
The emptiness of this bed is a reminder of the love and intimacy we once shared
Oh! If I could only change your mind
I wish I could persuade you to give our relationship another chance
Then we would find love begin
If you changed your mind, we could rediscover the love we once had
(Change your mind)
I'm urging you to reconsider and change your stance
If I could only change your mind
I wish I could make you see the potential for our love to thrive
Our love would never end
If you were willing to give us another chance, we could have a love that would last forever
The minutes move like soldiers creeping
Time seems to drag on slowly and painfully, like a never-ending war
Through the night
During the dark and lonely hours of the night
And oh, my heart lies wounded
My heart is hurting and broken because of our failed relationship
As love is fighting to survive
Even though our love is struggling to stay alive, I'm still fighting for it
(my love is on the line)
My love for you is at stake, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save our relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLEE WILLIS, THOMAS CANNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind