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.
Feels Like Heaven
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Feels like heaven to me)
Heaven
(Feels like heaven to me)
Get up in the morning and I see your smiling face
Feels like a dream
I'm wide awake
That's what I'm thinking when I'm loving you
Lay down every evening and your by my side
Staight from above into my life
I pray the lord my love to keep
When we're together I'm in ecstacy
[Chorus]
Girl you take my breath away
And if there was one word to say
What it's like bein' with you
I guess the word heaven, would have to do
And heaven's where I wanna be
In heaven, there is love and peace
And you are all that I need, so plain to see
Just touchin' me, feels like heaven to me
Feels like heaven to me,
Feels like heaven to me
Feels like heaven to me
Feels like heaven to me
Baby, you're an angel,
And your love is so divine
Pure and supreme,
Gets better all the time
Your tender kiss, I can't resist
Never thought nothin' could feel like this
Maybe you could tell me somethin' that I wanna know
Like how d'you get so far from home
A little bit of paradise
That's what I'm seein' shinin' in your eyes
[Chorus]
I can't control the love I feel
(Bg: I can't control the way I feel
Your love's the highest high)
It's the highest high
(Bg: if I could ever change a thing
Don't think I'd even try)
Oh, don't think I would try
(Bg: cause this is pure, it's love divine
And I know that this is real)
'Cause I can see the change in me
By the way that you make me feel
Feels like heaven to me.
Feels like heaven to me.
[Chorus]
Take my breath away
There's just one word to say,
What it's like bein' with you
I guess the word heaven, would have to do
Heaven's where I wanna be
In heaven, there is love and peace
And you are all that I need, it's so plain to see
Just touchin' me, feels like heaven to me
Feels like heaven to me.
Feels like heaven to me
Al Jarreau’s ‘Feels Like Heaven’ is a classic love song that describes the feelings of being with a loved one. The lyrics are very straightforward and easy to understand. The song talks about how the love he feels for his partner is out of this world and can only be described as a heavenly experience. Al Jarreau’s strong vocal performance adds an emotional quality to the lyrics.
The song starts with Al singing about how his partner's smile in the morning makes him feel like he is living in a dream. He expresses his disbelief in feeling so fortunate by implying that his partner is too good to be true. In the second verse, he talks about how he is in ecstasy when he is with his partner. The chorus is a repetition of how being with his partner feels like heaven. The bridge of the song talks about the purity of the love he feels for his partner and how he cannot help but feel that way. There is a sense of joy and admiration present throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven
(Feels like heaven to me)
The feeling of being with his lover is equivalent to being in heaven
Get up in the morning and I see your smiling face
Feels like a dream
I'm wide awake
It's just too good to be true
That's what I'm thinking when I'm loving you
Lay down every evening and your by my side
Staight from above into my life
I pray the lord my love to keep
When we're together I'm in ecstacy
The love between the two feels surreal and too good to be true, with both partners being grateful for each other’s presence
Girl you take my breath away
And if there was one word to say
What it's like bein' with you
I guess the word heaven, would have to do
His lover overwhelms him with her presence, with heaven being the only word that can describe such perfection
And heaven's where I wanna be
In heaven, there is love and peace
And you are all that I need, so plain to see
Just touchin' me, feels like heaven to me
Being with his lover is how he would describe being in heaven, with love and peace being its core elements. For him, she is all he needs, with just touching him evoking feelings of heaven.
Maybe you could tell me somethin' that I wanna know
Like how d'you get so far from home
A little bit of paradise
That's what I'm seein' shinin' in your eyes
He is curious about how his lover became so perfect and finds it heavenly just by looking into her eyes
I can't control the love I feel
(Bg: I can't control the way I feel
Your love's the highest high)
It's the highest high
(Bg: if I could ever change a thing
Don't think I'd even try)
Oh, don't think I would try
(Bg: cause this is pure, it's love divine
And I know that this is real)
'Cause I can see the change in me
By the way that you make me feel
He feels a pure, divine love towards his lover that makes him see the change in him, and he wouldn't change it for the world
Take my breath away
There's just one word to say,
What it's like bein' with you
I guess the word heaven, would have to do
Being with his lover makes him breathless, with heaven being the only word to describe his emotions.
Heaven's where I wanna be
In heaven, there is love and peace
And you are all that I need, it's so plain to see
Just touchin' me, feels like heaven to me
Feels like heaven to me.
Feels like heaven to me
He wants to be in heaven, where love and peace exist with his lover being the only thing he needs. And touching him feels heavenly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEVE DUBIN, SIEDAH GARRETT, MANUEL SEAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brandon Antonio
Rest In Power Al Jarreau, You Will Be Truly Missed King But Your Smooth Jazz Music Will Live On Forever And That's Real Talk!!!!!!! ~ #Salute
Jason Miles
Instablaster...
Lisa Cunningham
He sang like an angel and was a believer so I know he's in heaven, making beautiful music with all the other greats...including David Bowie, John Lennon and maybe even Chris Cornell.
MG L'orange
I like that ( rest in power) :D
Tee L
Although this is my first time hearing this song, I absolutely love this song! I was introduced to his music at a young age from my late father. I felt like I knew him through his beautiful music! He will be missed! RIP Mr. Al Jarreau.
Lisa Cunningham
He did a whole album called Heaven and Earth. Look it up on YouTube and try all the songs. Maybe it's there.
Fyre Burn
I heard a song of his on the radio today for the first time and oh my God..I'm looking and high and low for it. I only remember he sang about Heaven and Forever and the beat was insane. I can't find it.
Walter Ellerbe
Still hurt by the fact that this man's voice is now silent. I loved this man's music and will always be one of his biggest fans! Rest in much Peace, Al...you are truly missed!
Skyhawk CAS
Same here. He and Michael Franks were two who shaped my view of love and life!
anderson nervais
The incomparable Al Jarreau. Thank you for such wonderful music and entertainment during years The world has lost a great soul