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.
Call Me
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call me
Call me
What a beautiful time we had together
Now it's getting late and we must leave each other
Just remember the time we had
And how right I tried to be
Call me
Losing your love, acting foolishly
Go on and take your time
'Cause you're already losing me
Love is a long ways from here
Tell you it's all in the way you feel
If love is real, come to me
Call me
Call me
Call me
Come back home
The best thing I can do is give you your love
That you're goin' away, feeling as free as a dove
If you find you's a long way from home
And if somebody's doin' you wrong
Just call me baby
Come back home
Call me
Call me
(Come back home)
Call me
(Come back home)
Call me
Ain't things goin' right
Yeah it's all in a day's work
Call me
When you call me
You can call me when you're feelin' sad, baby
Ohh yeah
It's all in a day's work
Come back home
The lyrics of Al Jarreau's "Call Me" address a lover who is leaving and suggests that the singer will always be there for them, just a phone call away. The song begins with "call me" repeatedly, indicating that the singer wants to be contacted.
The opening lines of the song, "What a beautiful time we had together / Now it's getting late and we must leave each other" imply that the time for the relationship may have passed or that the circumstances demand the lovers' separation, as if they were cherishing their last moments together. Even the line "It's all in a day's work" can be interpreted as an understanding of life's ebb and flow of relationships, where nothing lasts forever.
The chorus, "Call me, come back home" emphasizes the singer's willingness to be there for the departing lover whenever they need. The song invites the listener or the loved one to "Call me, when you're feeling sad, baby," showcasing the singer's commitment to helping someone in need.
The song aims to express the willingness of the singer to extend himself to be someone's safe haven, to support through the highs and lows of life when everything else seems to be against them. Jarreau employs his unbeatable vocal range and jazzy melody to make the song a more heartfelt and soulful expression of support and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me
The singer asks the listener to call them.
Call me
The singer asks the listener to call them again.
Call me
The singer emphasizes their desire for the listener to call them.
What a beautiful time we had together
The artist reminisces about the good times they shared with the listener.
Now it's getting late and we must leave each other
The artist acknowledges that the time they spent with the listener is ending for now.
Just remember the time we had
The singer urges the listener to remember the good times they shared.
And how right I tried to be
The singer reminds the listener that they always tried to do the right thing.
It's all in a day's work
The artist suggests that doing their best is just part of their job.
Call me
The artist reiterates their desire for the listener to call them.
Losing your love, acting foolishly
The artist acknowledges that they may have lost the listener's love due to their own foolish actions.
Go on and take your time
The singer tells the listener to take time to work through their thoughts and feelings.
'Cause you're already losing me
The artist implies that the listener is already losing their affection.
Love is a long ways from here
The singer suggests that the state of their love is distant or hard to reach.
Tell you it's all in the way you feel
The singer says that the way the listener feels about their relationship is important.
If love is real, come to me
The singer indicates that if the listener truly loves them, they should return to them.
Call me
The artist repeats their desire for the listener to call them.
Call me
The artist repeats their desire for the listener to call them again.
Come back home
The singer specifically requests that the listener return home to them.
The best thing I can do is give you your love
The singer suggests that the best thing they can do for the listener is to let them go and find their own happiness.
That you're goin' away, feeling as free as a dove
The artist acknowledges that the listener is leaving and seeking freedom.
If you find you's a long way from home
The artist offers to help if the listener is far from home or in trouble.
And if somebody's doin' you wrong
The artist suggests that they will seek retribution if someone is hurting the listener.
Just call me baby
The singer reiterates their offer to help the listener if they need it.
(Come back home)
The artist repeats their request for the listener to come back home.
(Come back home)
The singer repeats their request for the listener to come back home again.
Ain't things goin' right
The singer acknowledges that things may not be going well for the listener.
Yeah it's all in a day's work
The singer suggests that helping the listener is just part of their role in life.
Call me
The artist again emphasizes their desire for the listener to call them.
When you call me
The artist suggests that the listener will call them at some point.
You can call me when you're feelin' sad, baby
The singer offers support and encouragement if the listener feels sad.
Ohh yeah
An interjection that emphasizes the singer's intention to support the listener.
It's all in a day's work
The artist reiterates that helping the listener is just part of their job.
Come back home
The artist repeats their request for the listener to return home to them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES JR. MITCHELL, MARVIN L. WILLIS, ARNOLD DARNELL INGRAM, THOMAS RANDOLPH BELL, PHILLIP LEVI HURTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind