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.
10K HI
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can sing a simple song
If you want to name the tune, you're invited
I'm so glad that you're my friend
Did I say I think we'll win
Though the fight is so often one-sided
Can we sing that part again
All about how we will win
And the ribbon in the sky
Is the vision in your eye
Let's get lost in... stay lost and refine
The art of flyin'
[Chorus]
We'll be 10 K high over the mountain
Over the river
We'll be 10 K high trusting our dream
To forever
We'll be 10 K high over the mountain
Over the river
We'll be 10 K high in every dream
Makin' heaven
What a day for breaking through
What a day for seeing you
Do you remember how we said
Nothin's dyin'
And the love of which I sing
Is like the phoenix on the wing
We started, we parted, we found
We're fond of flyin'
[Chorus]
Speaking of warring nations
Talk of broken heart relations
Set me down in revelation's light
So that I might
That I might find a way to tell you true
Miracles redeeming you
[Chorus]
We'll be 10 K high over the mountain
Over the river
We'll be 10 K high trusting our dream
To forever
10 K high
The lyrics of Al Jarreau's song "10K HI" express a message of hope, positivity, and friendship. The opening lines are an invitation for the listener to join in singing a simple song and to name the tune if they wish. Jarreau then expresses gratitude for the listener's friendship, and despite the uncertainty of the journey ahead, Jarreau is convinced that they'll win. The lyrics go on to say that, in the end, nothing is dying, and there's a vision in the listener's eye represented by "the ribbon in the sky." They want to "get lost in... stay lost and refine the art of flying." Here, "flying" can be interpreted as finding and maintaining one's own sense of spirituality or a higher purpose.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We'll be 10K high," which can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is that the phrase refers to being ten thousand feet above ground level, which is symbolic of achieving a higher spiritual plane. Another interpretation is that it's a reference to the heights that can be achieved through dreaming and envisioning the future. The lyrics of the chorus suggest that, despite the obstacles, the listener's dreams are worth trusting and that heaven-on-earth can be achieved through these dreams.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a message of hope, encouragement, and positivity. The lyrics inspire the listener to look beyond the present circumstances and to keep dreaming and flying until they reach new heights.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you like to come along
Do you want to join me on this journey?
We can sing a simple song
We can enjoy the simple things in life and have fun together.
If you want to name the tune, you're invited
If you want to take the lead, I welcome your input.
I'm so glad that you're my friend
I appreciate your friendship and value our bond.
Did I say I think we'll win
Have I expressed my confidence that we will succeed?
Though the fight is so often one-sided
Even though we may face challenges, we will not lose sight of our goals.
Can we sing that part again
Can we relive that moment of triumph?
All about how we will win
All about our belief in ultimate victory.
Gotta know how in the end nothin's dyin'
We need to remember that nothing is truly lost or gone forever.
And the ribbon in the sky
The beautiful image of the sky and clouds symbolize hope and optimism.
Is the vision in your eye
You share my vision and dreams for our shared future.
Let's get lost in... stay lost and refine
Let's focus on our journey and the process of growth and self-discovery.
The art of flyin'
The art of living fully and embracing new adventures.
[Chorus]
Reiterating our shared vision for the future.
We'll be 10 K high over the mountain
We will soar above all obstacles and challenges.
Over the river
We will brave the unknown and take risks.
We'll be 10 K high trusting our dream
We will have faith in our shared vision and trust each other to achieve it.
To forever
We will pursue our dreams relentlessly and without hesitation.
We'll be 10 K high in every dream
Our dreams will lead us to greater heights and new experiences.
Makin' heaven
We will create and live out our own personal paradise.
What a day for breaking through
Today is the perfect day to overcome our personal obstacles.
What a day for seeing you
Today is a day to cherish our time together and strengthen our bond.
Do you remember how we said
Can you recall how we promised to never give up on our dreams?
Nothin's dyin'
Our hope and spirit will never fade away.
And the love of which I sing
The love and connection we share inspires me to sing this song.
Is like the phoenix on the wing
Our love is strong and resilient, like the mystical bird that rises from the ashes.
We started, we parted, we found
We have been through ups and downs, but we always find our way back to each other.
We're fond of flyin'
We love the thrill of taking new risks and soaring to new heights.
Speaking of warring nations
Referring to conflicts and strife among people.
Talk of broken heart relations
Referring to failed relationships and heartbreak.
Set me down in revelation's light
Help me gain clarity and understanding through divine inspiration.
So that I might
Empowering me to overcome my obstacles and achieve my goals.
That I might find a way to tell you true
So that I can communicate my true feelings and intentions to you.
Miracles redeeming you
Believing in the transformative power of divine intervention to heal old wounds.
[Chorus]
Restating our unwavering commitment to our shared vision.
We'll be 10 K high over the mountain
We will rise above every challenge and reach new heights of achievement.
Over the river
We will push ourselves to explore new frontiers and tackle the unknown.
We'll be 10 K high trusting our dream
We will have faith and confidence in our shared goals and aspirations.
To forever
Our commitment to each other and our dreams is eternal.
10 K high
The metaphorical height and depth of our passion, love, and desire for a better future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL JARREAU, PHILIPPE P. SAISSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind