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.
Kissing My Love
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hear a thump thumping in my head
when I'm kissing my love
I close my eyes and see a pretty city
With a million flower beds
I can hear the angels sing
Songs that only angels sing
Just a thumping and a skipping
When I'm kissing my love
When I'm kissing my love
I feel the blood pump pumping in my veins
When I'm kissing my love
She's such a tender send
With a sweet young frame
She's so good at what she does
All she wants to do is kiss and hug
She's got me in love
And I can feel my heart
Just a thumping and a skipping
The lyrics to Al Jarreau's song "Kissing My Love" depict the intense feelings of passion and love that arise when two people kiss. The first stanza uses sensory imagery to describe the physical sensations that the singer experiences while kissing his love. He hears a "thump thumping" in his head and sees a "pretty city with a million flower beds" when he closes his eyes, suggesting that he is transported to a blissful and dreamy state. However, the lyrics also suggest that these sensations are not just physical but spiritual, as he hears "songs that only angels sing" and feels his heart "just a thumping and a skipping." These lyrics suggest that kissing his love is a transcendent experience that makes him feel as though he is in a divine realm.
The second stanza continues with the theme of physical sensations, as the singer describes feeling the blood "pump pumping" in his veins when he's kissing his love. However, these physical sensations are described in the context of his lover's tenderness and loving embrace. She is depicted as a "sweet young thing" who is skilled at making him feel loved and cherished, and all she wants to do is "kiss and hug" him. As a result, the singer is completely smitten and "in love" with her.
Overall, the lyrics to "Kissing My Love" suggest that kissing someone you love is more than just a physical act; it is a profound experience that transcends the physical and taps into the spiritual and emotional realms. Through the use of evocative imagery and sensual language, Jarreau captures the intensity of this experience and makes it come alive for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm kissing my love
The experience of kissing my love is what this song is about.
I can hear a thump thumping in my head
The act of kissing my love causes me to hear a rhythmic sound in my head.
when I'm kissing my love
The experience of kissing my love is what this song is about.
I close my eyes and see a pretty city
Kissing my love inspires a pleasant visual in my mind when I close my eyes.
With a million flower beds
This visual is of a city with an abundance of flowers.
I can hear the angels sing
The experience of kissing my love feels heavenly.
Songs that only angels sing
The sound of the angels singing is unique to this experience.
And I can feel my heart
The physical sensation of my heart beating is present during this experience.
Just a thumping and a skipping
My heartbeat has an irregular pattern of thumping and skipping.
When I'm kissing my love
The experience of kissing my love is what this song is about.
I feel the blood pump pumping in my veins
The physical sensation of blood flowing through my veins is present during this experience.
When I'm kissing my love
The experience of kissing my love is what this song is about.
She's such a tender send
My love is tender and caring.
With a sweet young frame
My love has an attractive and youthful appearance.
She's so good at what she does
My love is skilled in the act of kissing and hugging.
All she wants to do is kiss and hug
My love desires to express affection through physical intimacy.
She's got me in love
I am deeply in love with my partner.
And I can feel my heart
The physical sensation of my heart beating is present during this experience.
Just a thumping and a skipping
My heartbeat has an irregular pattern of thumping and skipping.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL WITHERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind