Alwin Lopez Jarreau (12 March 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 12 february 20… Read Full Bio ↴Alwin Lopez Jarreau (12 March 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 12 february 2017, Los Angeles, California), known popularly as Al Jarreau, was an American, Grammy Award–winning jazz singer. Versatile in his singing style, Jarreau is a twelve-time Grammy-nominated vocalist and the only vocalist in history to win a Grammy Award in three separate categories: jazz, pop, and R&B.

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.

Grandma's Hands
Al Jarreau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Grandma's hands
Clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma's hands
Played a tambourine so well
Grandma's hands
Used to issue out a warning
She'd say, "Billy don't you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass

"Might be snakes there in that grass"
Grandma's hands

Grandma's hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma's hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands
Used to lift her face and tell her,
"Baby, Grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus hands"
Grandma's hands

Grandma's hands
Used to hand me piece of candy
Grandma's hands
Picked me up each time I fell
Grandma's hands
Boy, they really came in handy
She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy
What you want to spank him for?
He didn' drop no apple core"
But I don't have Grandma anymore

If I get to Heaven I'll look for
Grandma's hands

Overall Meaning

The song "Grandma's Hands" by Al Jarreau is a tribute to the singer's grandmother and the impact she had on his life. The song is full of rich imagery and invokes a sense of nostalgia for a time and a person that the singer deeply loved and appreciated. The first verse of the song talks about how grandma's hands clapped in church on Sunday morning and how she played the tambourine so well. This vividly brings to life an image of a grandmother who was deeply religious and enjoyed being a part of her church community.

The second verse of the song speaks about how grandma's hands were used to help others. She would comfort unwed mothers and offer them advice, telling them to put themselves in Jesus' hands. This shows that the singer's grandmother was compassionate and caring towards those who were struggling. The final verse of the song is the most emotional, as the singer reflects on how grandma's hands used to pick him up when he fell and how she always had a piece of candy for him. He remembers how she would protect him from punishment when he didn't deserve it, and how she was always there to take care of him. The final lines of the song reveal the singer's deep longing to see his grandmother again in heaven.

Overall, "Grandma's Hands" is a powerful tribute to the love and guidance that grandmothers can offer their grandchildren. It is a reminder of the important role that grandparents can play in our lives and how much we can learn from their wisdom and compassion.

Line by Line Meaning

Grandma's hands
The focus of this song, referring to the powerful symbol of the love and compassion of the singer's grandmother.

Clapped in church on Sunday morning
The singer's grandmother would use her hands to express her faith and love during Sunday services.

Played a tambourine so well
Grandma's musical talent was evident in her ability to keep the beat with a tambourine in a way that touched others.

Used to issue out a warning
Grandma was not afraid to offer guidance and advice to those she loved.

She'd say, "Billy don't you run so fast Might fall on a piece of glass "Might be snakes there in that grass"
Grandma was protective of her loved ones and would warn against dangers, both physical and otherwise.

Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma had a compassionate heart and would use her hands to offer comfort and care to those in need.

Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands were a reflection of her human frailty and her willingness to work hard and sacrifice for her family.

Used to lift her face and tell her, "Baby, Grandma understands That you really love that man Put yourself in Jesus hands"
Grandma had a deep empathy for others, recognizing the difficulty of life's challenges and offering comfort through faith and love.

Used to hand me piece of candy
Grandma's hands were generous and would offer simple pleasures and treats to those she loved.

Picked me up each time I fell
Grandma was always there to provide support and encouragement to her loved ones, even in their times of failure.

Boy, they really came in handy
Grandma's hands were a source of practical assistance and wisdom, always finding ways to help her loved ones in need.

She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy What you want to spank him for? He didn' drop no apple core"
Grandma was not quick to judge or punish, offering a gentle reminder of kindness and forgiveness even in moments of discipline.

But I don't have Grandma anymore
The singer laments the loss of his grandmother and the absence of her comforting presence and love.

If I get to Heaven I'll look for Grandma's hands
The song ends with the singer expressing the hope and desire to be reunited with his grandmother in the afterlife, a testament to her enduring impact on his life and soul.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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