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.
Fly
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna keep you happy
Hey, pretty mama, wanna keep you happy
We'll find a way to put some sweetness and joy in everyday
I really wanna see you fly, touch the sky
I wanna wrap your laughter with a ribbon
And give it back each time you cry
Oh, pretty mama, wanna keep you happy
I'll betcha we can croon a tune it'll take the blues away
Say pretty mama, see the pretty lily, girl
It doesn't worry 'bout its beauty or purity
You're like a pretty butterfly, kiss the sky
Whatever you are after, you've been given
I'm thinkin' it's no wonder why
That pretty mama, you're bound to be happy
Gonna be amazed, well
When you sing, sing your pretty prayer
With your visions and dreams clear
You've been cookin' and speakin'
And now it's time to spread your wings
And like a kite stringin'
Let me see you fly
Come on baby, see you fly to your heaven
Come on, let me see you fly, girl
Come on, let me see you fly to your heaven
Uh-huh-huh, oh, woo
I wanna keep you happy
Girl, I really wanna see you fly
Fly
Really wanna see you fly to your heaven
Come on lemme see you fly to your heaven
Oh
Oh, ain't it pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty butterfly
Come fly, baby
Come fly, come fly with me, come
Fly
In this particular Al Jarreau song, “Fly,” the lyrics are a metaphor for the journey of life. The first two lines allude to the different paths that people take in their lives, either walking by night or flying by day. This could speak to the different experiences and perspectives that we all have throughout our journey. Despite the path, the singer goes on to say that “nothing could change you” and that you are “set and sure of the way” – essentially saying that no matter the path or the experiences, the core of who you are remains constant.
The following lines, “There is the sun and moon, they sing their own sweet tune, watch them when dawn is due, sharing one space,” represents the vastness of the universe and the idea that everyone and everything is connected in some way. The sun and moon refer to two opposite entities coexisting in the same space, yet with each having their own distinct identity. This could represent how we all have our own unique perspective, even within the same space and through the same experience.
The final lines, “We'll walk by night, we'll fly by day, moonlighting strangers who just met on the way,” describe the unlikely connection and journey of two strangers. They start off as “strangers” but become connected through their journey and the experience that they share. Overall, the song could be seen as a reminder that despite our differences, we all share a journey through life and are connected in some way.
Line by Line Meaning
Some walk by night
There are people who only come out at night
Some fly by day
There are people who only move during the day
Nothing could change you
You are resolute and unwavering in your beliefs
Set and sure of the way
You are firmly convinced and confident in the path you have chosen
There is the sun and moon
The celestial bodies of the sun and the moon exist
They sing their own sweet tune
They each have their own unique character and way of shining and captivating our attention
Watch them when dawn is due
Observe their actions and movements when morning is about to arrive
Sharing one space
They both coexist in the same environment, each with their own role to play
We'll walk by night
Together we will venture forth after dark
We'll fly by day
Together we will take to the skies in daylight
Moonlighting strangers
We are individuals who have come together by chance, under the moon's glow
Who just met on the way
We have only recently encountered each other in our journeys
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Al Jarreau
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind