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.
Fire and Rain
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
I won't make it any other way
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows, it'll turn your head around
Well there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again, now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
Na na na. Na na na na na na na na na na. Na na na na na na na na
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again, now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
The lyrics to Al Jarreau's "Fire and Rain" convey a sense of loss, pain, and yearning for someone who has passed away. The song begins with the singer receiving news of someone's death, and the realization that the plans they had with this person will never come to fruition. He then writes a song, expressing his pain and longing for the person who has passed away. The chorus talks of "fire and rain" and "sunny days" that he thought would never end. These lyrics view the ups and downs of life and how they come and go like a cycle. However, the pain and the sense of loss remain constant.
The third verse speaks of the singer's desperation for help, turning to Jesus to "see him through another day." His "body's aching," and his "time is at hand." The singer is physically and mentally exhausted; he needs Jesus's guidance to help him stand strong amidst the turmoil in his life. The final verses talk about trying to find solace in the easy times, enjoying life's simple pleasures with a sense of hope. He ends the song with a plea to see his loved one one more time.
Line by Line Meaning
Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone
Recently, I received news that you have passed away.
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
Your dreams and aspirations were cut short due to unforeseen circumstances.
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
In response to your passing, I felt the need to express my emotions through music.
I just can't remember who to send it to
I have created this song, but I am unsure of who the intended audience is.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
Throughout my life, I have experienced both difficult and joyful times.
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
There were times in my life when happiness seemed to last forever.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
During periods when I felt alone, I struggled to seek out companionship.
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Although difficult times occurred, I never imagined that I wouldn't see you in the future.
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
I am reaching out to a higher power for help.
You've got to help me make a stand
I cannot do this on my own - I need assistance in moving forward.
You've just got to see me through another day
I just need to take things one step at a time.
My body's aching and my time is at hand
Both mentally and physically, I am feeling drained and limited in my capacity to continue.
I won't make it any other way
Despite my struggles, I am determined to move forward in the most positive way I can.
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun
I am trying to focus on positive memories and better times.
Lord knows when the cold wind blows, it'll turn your head around
Even when we believe we are prepared, life can throw curveballs that challenge us mentally and emotionally.
Well there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
I have hours to spend on the phone discussing my future.
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
Even though we may have had dreams and ambitions, there are moments of disappointment.
Thought I'd see you one more time again There's just a few things coming my way this time around now
Due to unexpected events in life, there are only a few things I hope to experience this time around.
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
In light of recent events, I am experiencing mixed emotions of happiness and sadness.
Na na na. Na na na na na na na na na na. Na na na na na na na na
This portion of the song is a musical interlude with no specific meaning attached.
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain now
Despite the turbulence of life, I still hoped to see you again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind