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.
Betty Bebop's Song
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just saying
How your song's
Been playing
A pretty pitter patter
It lightly played
The summer rain
Upon my face
Like polka dots and ballerinas
You floated right between us
With gossamer and feathers
You fanned the flames
In (like) portraits caught
In autumn rain
Around and round
Upside-down
Are you just out for air
Or maybe somewhere hiding
Playing 'round the corner
Somewhere I read a line
Just praising
A book and a song
And how the world was brighter
When Betty came along
Around and round
Upside-down
Are you just out for air
Or maybe somewhere hiding
Playing 'round the corner
Somewhere I read a line
Just praising
A book and a song
And how the world was brighter
When Betty came along
This world was brighter
'Cause Betty came along
The song "Betty Bebop's Song" by Al Jarreau is a tribute to a woman named Betty who had a significant impact on the singer's life. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the presence of Betty's music in their life: "I thought I'd drop a line just saying how your song's been playing." The music is described as a "pretty pitter patter" that lightly played upon the face like summer rain. The mention of polka dots and ballerinas suggests a whimsical, carefree energy -- perhaps reflective of Betty's own personality.
The second stanza emphasizes Betty's metaphorical presence in the singer's life. Betty is described as having "floated right between us" with "gossamer and feathers" that fanned the flames. This imagery suggests that Betty brought a lightness and vivacity to those around her. The final lines of the stanza imply that Betty is no longer present, but that her essence is still felt through memories and experiences that are "caught in autumn rain."
The final stanza of the song invokes a sense of nostalgia for Betty's influence. The singer recalls reading "a line" where someone praised both "a book and a song" -- perhaps, like this song, an homage to Betty. The chorus repeats the phrase "around and round, upside-down" suggesting a feeling of disorientation or uncertainty without Betty's presence. The song ends on a bittersweet note, stating that "this world was brighter" because of Betty, even though she is no longer present. Overall, "Betty Bebop's Song" is a whimsical tribute to a person who brought a bright energy to the lives of those around her.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought I'd drop a line
I want to reach out and express my appreciation
Just saying
I'm just informing you
How your song's been playing
I've been playing your song and it's been enjoyable
A pretty pitter patter
It made a serene, light sound
It lightly played the summer rain upon my face
Your song made me feel as if summer rain was falling gently on my face
Like polka dots and ballerinas
Your song was enchanting and whimsical
You floated right between us
Your music created a lovely space between me and the world
With gossamer and feathers you fanned the flames
Your music lifted my spirits and gave me a sense of magic
In (like) portraits caught in autumn rain
Your music evokes a sense of timelessness and beauty
Around and round upside-down
You inhabit a world of wonder and possibility
Are you just out for air or maybe somewhere hiding playing 'round the corner
Your music feels spontaneous and playful
Somewhere I read a line just praising a book and a song
I read something that praised the beauty of a book and song
And how the world was brighter when Betty came along
When you arrived, the world became more vibrant and joyous
This world was brighter 'cause Betty came along
Your presence added color and light to the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL JARREAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind